The use of one particular method, whether chemical or cultural, will reduce some species while encouraging others. It is therefore necessary to develop an integrated approach, combining both chemical and cultural methods. The three main objectives of integrated weed management are prevention, control, and eradication. Prevention involves keeping weeds from being introduced in uninfested areas. Control is the suppression of a weed to the point that its economic impact is minimized.
Eradication is the elimination of all weed plants and plant parts from an area.
It is important to remember that a single treatment of any weed control method will not control all the weeds that are present. A successful weed management program incorporates both chemical and cultural methods to achieve objectives. Prevention Prevention involves preventing the spread of weed seed or vegetative parts and stopping emergence of weed seed present in the soil. Cleaning field equipment such as mowers, winnow machines, and boxes before moving them into other fields will reduce the spread of seed from one field to the next. The use of mulches to exclude light will prevent some weed seeds from sprouting and starve out other weeds.