The management of weeds in irrigation and drainage channels

These guidelines are the result of two years research undertaken by WEDC with collaborators in Zimbabwe and Kenya. They provide a systematic and interdisciplinary approach to the problems caused by aquatic weeds within irrigation and drainage systems in tropical and subtropical areas. This covers identifying the weeds growing in the channels, considering appropriate control options to provide an acceptable level of service, and drawing up a feasible, costed maintenance programme which can be implemented by the responsible institution. Various control methods are discussed; the use of hand tools and mechanical equipment, chemical and biological techniques, and environmental measures.