The farmer thinks that weeds are the scourge of the farm and are sucking the nutrition out of their crops. This is anything but true. Many, or if not, most weeds are beneficial in a multitude of ways. Weeds are little pieces of agricultural technology, that prevent erosion, help shade the soil, break it up and inject organic matter into it, circulate water, convert air into more organic matter, produce oxygen… and they also provide food and housing to a host of little critters.

Benefits
Prevent erosion of the soil.
Restore and replenish organic matter, as well as feed and restore soil life
Soluble nutrients that would otherwise leach away can be absorbed, conserved, and recycled.
Remove CO2 from the atmosphere by absorbing it
Make space for insects and animals.

Some of the weeds we think are essential
Sesbania – Dhaincha
Clover – all trifoliums
Purslane
Dandelion
Alfafa – Lucerne
Azolla
Fenugreek
Lablab

Grass
One of the most abundant living organisms in the planet must have a vital and critical role in the ecosystem. Besides being a binder for the topsoil and preventing all kinds of erosion of the soil, it is a host for various nitrogen fixing bacteria. This bacterium has been found in association with grasses and is all capable of fixing nitrogen without the plant. However, the grasses have evolved into a unique kind of host for these bacteria.

Cover Crops
The farmer must at least consider cover crops, in rotation, for their fields. We believe the fields must be constantly under green cover but a 3 crop system is unstainable in the long run. One crop must be replaced with nitrogen fixing plants that can be mulched into the soil as green manure.

Cover crops are like protective blankets for soil and are grown not for eating, but to keep the soil healthy. They are planted when regular crops aren’t growing. These crops are like soil superheroes and they protect and improve the soil in various ways.

Different types of cover crops do different good deeds for the soil:
Brassicas (mustards, radishes): They loosen tight soil and help water and air move better underground.
Grasses (wheat, barley): They cover the soil like a mat, preventing soil and nutrients from washing or blowing away.
Legumes (clover, peas): They grab nitrogen, an essential nutrient, from the air and put it into the soil, reducing the need for fertilizer.
Non-legume broadleaves (buckwheat): They block weeds and attract helpful insects.

These soil guardians offer big benefits:
Nutrient Management: They help keep the soil rich and ready for the next crop.
Weed Control: They cover the soil so weeds can’t grow, meaning less need for chemicals to kill weeds.
Pest and Disease Fighters: Some can even scare away pests or stop diseases from spreading.
Soil Protectors: They prevent soil erosion and make the soil better, helping it soak up and hold water.
Climate Helpers: They capture carbon from the air, helping to fight climate change.
Boosting Biodiversity: They provide homes for many creatures, keeping the farmland healthy and balanced.

Conclusion
Cover crops are key for the future of farming in India. They help make the land healthier, support the environment, and can improve farming overall. Encouraging farmers to use cover crops is important for a greener future.

Side Note
While we firmly believe that everything has a place in this universe, we are yet to find that for 2 particular weeds in India. These weeds may have their individual benefits but they are in general an invasive species and are yet to find their moderate place in our agricultural ecosystem. These weeds have also developed a strong resistance to weedicides so we heartily recommend that you stop and pull out these weeds every time you see them. Constant uprooting is the only solution for control of these weeds.

Motha – Cyperus Rotundus has many beneficial uses and used as a medicine and as a source of staple carbohydrate. But it is one of the most invasive weed known, having spread out to a worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate regions. It has been called “the world’s worst weed” as it is known as a weed in over 90 countries, and infests over 50 crops worldwide.
Its existence in a field significantly reduces crop yield, both because it is a tough competitor for ground resources, and because it is allelopathic, the roots releasing substances harmful to other plants. Similarly, it also has a bad effect on ornamental gardening. The difficulty to control it is a result of its intensive system of underground tubers, and its resistance to most herbicides. It is also one of the few weeds that cannot be stopped with plastic mulch.

Congress Grass – Parthenium hysterophorus commonly known as Santa Maria feverfew ‘altamisa’, carrot grass, bitter weed, star weed, white top, wild feverfew, the “Scourge of India” is amongst one of the most dreaded weeds of the world. The plant produces allelopathic chemicals that suppress crop and pasture plants, and allergens that affect humans and livestock. Contact with the plant causes dermatitis and respiratory malfunction. The main substance responsible is parthenin, which is dangerously toxic. Side effects after ingestion of any part of plants that encumber the trichomes and pollen are eczema skin inflammation, hay fever, asthma, burning and blisters, breathlessness and choking, allergic rhinitis, black spots, diarrhoea, severe erythematous eruptions.
Among other allelopathic effects of the species, the presence of parthenium pollen grains inhibits fruit set in tomato, brinjal, beans, and a number of other crop plants.