Weeding is the removal of weeds from the field. It is an effective pre-harvesting method of crop protection and crop production management. Weeds act as competitors of the crop for various resources required for growth like nutrients, light, water, etc. so they have to be removed as they may cause interference and decrease the yield.

Weeds can be controlled in many ways. Weed management includes land preparation, water management, hand weeding, hand hoeing, crop rotation, and herbicides.

Land preparation helps in the removal of seeds and uprooting of weeds before sowing seeds of the main crop. Hand weeding is done manually which is very tiresome and time-consuming.

Nowadays, weedicides and herbicides are most commonly used and are effective ways of weeding. Chemicals like MCPA and 2,4-D are some commonly used weedicides. They can be applied at three stages like before and after crop planting and after weed emergence. But these chemicals can cause health hazards and environmental issues.