Believe it or not, weeds actually have a purpose. They were once nature's cover crop.
One of the largest obstacles to overcome in crop production is weed control.
Today, we also have to navigate through herbicide resistance issues with different modes of action, and that means our toolbox of effective herbicides to fight these weeds is shrinking.
The common definitions of a weed include, “A valueless plant growing wild, especially one that grows on cultivated ground to the exclusion or injury of the desired crop.”
Also, “Any undesirable or troublesome plant, especially one that grows profusely where it is not wanted”.
Maybe it is time to understand what the intended purpose of a weed, as it occurs in nature, really is.
Like any plant, a weed’s purpose is first and foremost to grow and reproduce.
No one in agriculture would disagree with that—we have all witnessed how prolific certain weed species can be—but weeds are actually nature’s way of protecting and building the soil.
Weeds can often grow faster than our desired crop plants by design.
They contribute carbon to the soil at a rapid pace compared to many cash crops, and weeds have diversity in their structure above and below the soil surface.
Planted cover crops provide a specific, chosen set of characteristics and benefits to the fields on which they’re planted.
Weeds, AKA “nature’s cover crop,” consists of a multitude of weed species.
There are approximately 250,000 plant species worldwide, but only 3 percent, or around 8,000 species, are considered weeds. For that we can be thankful.
Weeds that have a taproot can actually help to reduce soil compaction issues.
Grasses have thick root masses that can hold soil in place from water and wind damage.
The carbon produced by some weeds builds the organic matter of the soil, which helps with water retention, nutrient availability and soil tilth.
Weed roots also absorb and move nutrients to a more accessible location to be released when the weed completes its life cycle.
Certain weeds can indicate what soil nutrient is deficient by their nutrient uptake.
Weeds produce sugars through photosynthesis, some of which are extruded from its roots. These sugars attract and feed the microscopic organisms in the soil to add to soil health.
Certain weeds can attract insects to prevent insect damage from desired plants and provide food and habitat for wildlife.
Weeds even provide employment in the control of them.
This is what makes weed control so difficult and frustrating at times.
But it can be helpful to realize that weeds can possess a desirable function to the soil naturally.
Unfortunately, the negative effects of weeds on crops and fields seems to always outweigh the potential benefits.
Thank goodness we have more productive cover crops today, and there are a number of benefits to planting them.
Read Three Tips for Cover Crop Success.
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