The foundation of economic threshold weed control farming rests on three critical factors The pest density at which management action should be taken to prevent an increasing pest population from reaching the economic injury level. Weed density per square foot, expected yield loss percentage, and control cost versus crop value.
Threshold concepts can be integrated with cultural and chemical controls to optimize weed management An economic threshold is the weed population at which the cost of control is equal to the crop value increase from control of the weeds present. For example, using crop rotation and sanitation practices can reduce weed densities, thereby increasing the economic threshold.
Until the advent of the economic threshold (et), sprays were applied in a preventive manner, usually on a calendar basis. However, adoption of the threshold concept has spurred the development of decision models and use of methods of decision analysis. Damage threshold is the term used to define the weed population at which a negative crop yield response is detected
