ABSTRACT
Weed management systems in cereals are designed to create conditions which allow cereals to reach their potential yield within limits imposed by cereal genotype and environment. Managing weeds minimizes yield losses due to weeds rather than increasing the theoretical yield potential. While entomologists and plant pathologists have developed pest management strategies for individual pests, farmers and weed scientists have been concerned with developing weed management for several grass and broadleaf weed species at a time. Current weed control measures were developed under the assumption that controlling weeds maximizes yield. However, maximizing yields may not always maximize profits because profitability of cereal production depends on fluctuating crop price, input costs, and weed density and distribution, among other factors. Currently used weed control methods may sometimes conflict with other goals, such as maximizing farmer profit, minimizing environmental degradation, or managing other crop pests. Nevertheless, some farming systems which were 402developed to minimize soil erosion and improve water quality, such as no-tillage, would not be feasible without herbicides for weed management.
