Herbicides
can kill many weeds that survive by mimicry, e.g. Phalaris minor and Avena spp. in wheat
and Echinochloa spp. in rice.
Herbicides
can be safely used where manual weeding damages the crop, e.g. onion, garlic, cumin etc.
Herbicides
are convenient to use on perennial and parasitic weeds where other methods are not
effective.
Herbicides
can effectively be used in closely planted crops where manual and mechanical weeding is
not possible.
Herbicides
are safe on erodable and sloppy lands where tillage may accelerate soil and water erosion.
Herbicides
enable early and timely planting of crops.
Herbicides
can be used where physical condition of soil is not conducive to manual weeding, e.g.,
during rainy spells.
While
one time application of a herbicide is often enough, the manual/mechanical method is
repetitive.
Herbicides
kill weeds insitu without permitting their dissemination.
Herbicides
can safely be used to control weeds growing in obstructed situations such as right-of-way,
under fruit trees and on undulating lands.
Herbicides
provides benefits of timely weed control by controlling weeds at the critical time.
In
dryland agriculture, effective herbicidal control ensures higher water use by the crops
and less crop failure due to drought.
Planning
and management of labour for various agricultural operations in big farms are facilitated
by use of herbicides.
Loss
of nutrients and moisture is minimized by pre-emergence or pre-sowing application of
herbicides.
Use of
herbicides provides gender equality in the society as manual weeding is largely done by
female labourers.
In
many parts of the country the cost of weed control through herbicides is lower than that
of manual weeding.