The term weed is used in a variety of senses, generally centering around a plant that is not desired within a certain context. The term weed is a subjective one, without any classification value, since a plant that is a weed in one context is not a weed when growing where it belongs or is wanted. Indeed, a number of plants that many consider “weeds”, are often intentionally grown by people in gardens or other cultivated-plant settings. Weeds are responsible for reductions in crop yield and quality and they lead to environmental degradation through destruction of native plant and animal habitat. Weeds also harbour insects and diseases of crops, create unsafe conditions, reduce property values and the aesthetics of an enjoyable landscape and many can poison humans, livestock and wildlife. This book has been prepared to help farmers, researchers, resource managers and the public identify weeds (Broadleaf Weed and their Control, Grasses and Grasslike Weeds, Noxious and Invasive Weeds). Some of the more common nuisance weeds that interfere with human activities are also detailed. Proper identification of problem weeds is the crucial first step in gaining knowledge about these troublesome plants so that a well planned control strategy can be developed.

Dr. Lal Singh, Ph.D., working as Associate Professor at Division of Agronomy, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar-190 025 (J&K), India. He did his Ph.D. in Agronomy from GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. He also qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) in Agronomy in 1998 and 2004. He is co-author of a book, author of 3 book chapters and coauthor of 5 book chapters. He has compiled a training manual. He is life member of five scientific societies. He is member of editorial board as executive editor of Journal of AgriSearch. He is Member of Executive Council of Society for Upliftment of Rural Economy (SURE), Varanasi, U.P. and Member of Executive Council of Association of Agrometeorologists, Anand Agricultural University, Anand-388 110 (Gujarat), India. He has published several research papers, articles and abstracts in reputed journals, magazines, compendia. He associated with Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS) scheme from 2005 to 2011 as Technical Officer and Forecasting of Agricultural output using Space, atmosphere and Land based observation (FASAL) scheme from 2010 to till date as Co-PI, operated by IMD. He guided 2 M. Sc, 5 PhD., and 3 M. Tech. Students.