What is integrated weed management and how do I follow it?

Integrated weed management (IWM) means controlling weeds with a combination of methods instead of relying on herbicide alone, which keeps control more reliable, cheaper over time, and slows down herbicide resistance. The main parts are: cultural methods, mechanical methods, chemical methods and preventive methods, used together. Cultural means giving the crop the advantage: timely sowing, a dense competitive stand at the right seed rate, proper spacing, healthy fertiliser and water so the crop shades out weeds, and crop rotation that changes the weed and herbicide system each year. Mechanical means inter-cultivation, hoeing, a power weeder, or timely hand weeding to remove escapes. Chemical means using the right herbicide at the right stage, and importantly rotating modes of action so weeds do not build resistance. Preventive means using clean, certified seed, cleaning machinery and irrigation channels so weed seed does not spread, and removing weed escapes before they set seed to keep the seed bank from refilling. The idea is that no single tool carries the whole load, so when one weakens, like a herbicide losing effect, the others hold the line. Use only herbicides recommended for your crop at label dose, and your KVK can help you build a rotation and plan suited to your fields.