Weeds compete with tomato plants for nutrients, moisture and light. They can also harbour pests and diseases. Weeds such as khaki weed (Tagetes minuta) and blackjack (Bidens bipinnata) emit substances that inhibit the growth of tomatoes.
"Effective weed control can also ease the process of harvesting and reduce weed pressure on follow-up crops," says Antonius Lecuona at horticulture.org.za.
There are two forms of weed control: mechanical and chemical.
• Mechanical
This story is from the Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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This story is from the Farmer's Weekly 26 May 2023 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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