Herbicides — A Double Edged Sword

Weeds represent a global agronomic problem that threatens the productivity of cultivated crops. Weeds compete with cultivated crops for the available moisture, nutrients and light. Consequently, weeds significantly reduce either crop yield or quality. Control of weeds is essential to maintaining the production of economic crops. Weed control may be achieved either through manual eradication or herbicide application. Balanced usage of herbicides should be considered in controlling weeds. Low concentrations of herbicides may act as growth regulators for the main crop metabolism [1]. However, in some cases, herbicides may affect the main crop adversely by interfering with its essential biochemical processes such as respiration, photosynthesis, protein metabolism, and hydrolytic enzyme activity [1].