Weed control versus soil erosion control

Excerpt

WEED control and soil erosion control offer many parallels in agriculture. Both problems are as old as agriculture itself. Both also must be pursued with increasing perseverance as the rising number of people worldwide demands more food and fiber products. And while the effects of inadequate control in either case are primarily site-specific, off-site effects are not uncommon.

Although not perfect, the sciences of weed control and erosion control are well developed. Scientists also recognize that control in both problem areas is almost never complete or permanent. However, acceptable levels of control have been established and can be achieved through alternative techniques that fit with site conditions and personal preferences. A combination of measures is usually most effective.

Yet with all the similarities between weed control and erosion control, it is not uncommon to find efforts to control one at cross-purpose with the other. Conversely, there are instances where efforts to control one complement efforts to control the other. For example, erosion may increase significantly on corn land through use of chemical weed control as opposed to mechanical control (16). Use of chemical control, however, makes no-till production practical from a weed control perspective and may …