Weeds have been a persistent problem in rice since the beginning of settled agriculture. For Asia as a whole, weeds cause an estimated 10-15% reduction in rice yields equivalent to about 50 million tons of rough rice annually.

The papers in this book define the links between the economics of weed control, herbicide use, and weed ecology. The presentations provide a basis for developing a much broader array of weed management tools from which integrated weed management strategies can be designed. Understanding the linkages and developing rational methods are critical in efforts to achieve greater sustainability of rice production.