Weed Management Affects Pasture Productivity and Livestock Performance - Tropical Perspective

Weed competition in pastures has a great impact on livestock productivity, as, in addition to competing with forage, it interferes with animal grazing. Without question, weeds can compete with forage for water, space, light and nutrients. Weeds reduce the feed value of forage, decrease pasture carrying capacity, and can be toxic or unpalatable to livestock. For most weeds in pasture, the root system is robust, which contributes to the survival of these plants, affecting the development of the pasture. Due to the large number of seeds, they usually produce, they are very easily dispersed. In addition, when there are weeds in the pasture, cattle tend to select the grazing site, keeping away from species that can harm them. Productivity losses resulting from competition between forage and weeds are extensively studied by the scientific community, both from a qualitative and quantitative point of view. Studies show that there is a direct relationship between the period of coexistence of forage and weeds in a pasture that impacts biomass productivity