Weeds are unwanted guests in our garden. They deprive the light and water of the cultivated plants we care for. Adapted to the conditions of life of useful crops, weeds grow next to them and damage crops.
Types of weeds
Weed plants are distinguished by a wide variety of life forms. By the method of nutrition weeds are divided into:
- parasitic;
- semi-parasitic;
- not parasitic.
Parasitic weeds do not have leaves and developed roots, therefore they completely depend on the host, feed at his expense. There are stem and root weeds. Stem parasites grow on the stems of the host and suck nutrients and water out of them. And root parasites prefer to live on roots.
Semiparasitic weeds are capable of photosynthesis and receive only water and minerals from the host, often clog winter rye, sucking to its roots.
Nonparasitic weeds have developed roots and are underage and perennial.
Juvenile weeds
Juvenile weeds reproduce by seeds and live no more than two years. They, too, are divided into several groups:
- ephemeral - they have a very short life, but in one summer they are able to spread over a vast territory;
- early spring crops - they pollute crops that are planted in early periods (oats, barley, etc.);
- late spring - differ late germination, when the soil has already warmed up and is well lit;
- wintering - begin to grow in the fall, form a good root system, and in the spring, overwinter, develop rapidly and begin to blossom;
- winter crops are similar in development to wintering, but during the summer they are not able to release fruit-bearing shoots, and most of their sunrises appear only in the autumn;
- two-year - for their development requires two seasons. During the first summer they develop, strengthen the root system, and in the second year bear fruit, after which they die.
Perennial weeds
Perennial weeds are the most harmful. In addition to spreading seeds and fruits, they can multiply by rhizomes and bulbs. Perennial weeds are divided into:
- root rooted weeds, developing powerful roots that penetrate the soil to 2 m. Branching, the roots can give new plants;
- fumaceous root weeds with developed filiform roots, clog the crops of perennial grasses, roadside strips;
- rhizome weeds, reproductive organs in which are underground stems - rhizomes;
- root-shoot weeds grow foci, their roots give several tiers of offspring, which form a powerful root system.
Weed control
Planning activities to control weeds, you need to consider their biological characteristics. Each species is dominated by one species, it should be paid special attention to it in the destruction of weeds.
Classification of weed control measures
The classification is based on 2 features: the type of weed and the means for its destruction.
By the first sign, we distinguish the agrotechnical method of combating weeds, which is subdivided into:
- preventive, which includes the cleaning of seed, from getting there seeds of weeds, timely harvesting, quality preparation of animal feed and proper storage of manure;
- Destructive, which is aimed at the destruction of seed and vegetative buds in the soil;
- quarantine, associated with quarantine weeds that do not grow in a given territory, but can be imported from outside.
- By the second sign, physical, mechanical, chemical, biological, phytocoenotic, ecological, organizational and complex means are distinguished.
Useful weeds
Fighting with weeds, we do not even think that they can be edible and even useful. In spring, weeds can supplement our diet with vitamins, and using them as decoctions can get rid of many diseases.
Almost all young spring weeds are edible, and the chance of poisoning is very small. To eatables include the quinoa, plantain, dandelion leaves, wheatgrass - they can be added to the salad. Nettle, sorrel and clover are added to the soups.
To medicinal weeds is nettle. Vitamin C in it is more than in a lemon 5 times. Coffee drink, which contains wild chicory, well helps with hypertension, gastritis, hepatitis. In dandelion, many useful trace elements, for example, phosphorus, copper, boron, cobalt. Especially popular is dill. It contains essential oil and vitamins B and P groups.