Question

How do weeds affect plant growth? ​

Answer 1

Weeds can affect plant growth in the following ways:

• Farmers frequently worry that weeds will reduce crop yields. Weeds consume the same nutrients as crop plants, often in very similar amounts.
• They also consume resources such as water, sunlight, and land that could have been used for crops. Weeds can serve as a recruiting ground for pest species and plant diseases.
• For example, mustard-family weeds can spread canola diseases, making rotation a less effective disease management tool.
• Immature weeds can obstruct harvesting operations. Dockage, as well as spoilage, are ended up caused by broadleaf weeds in crop production.
• Some weeds can limit crop development through chemical means, known as allelopathy, either while alive or as they decompose.
• Some weeds, such as Canada thistle and quack grass, produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of their neighbors. This has an impact on their competitive relationships.