The objective of this book is to introduce to readers the (i) multifarious problems created by excessive growth of aquatic plants in our canals, lakes, ponds, drainage channels, lowland paddies, and other aquatic situations, leading to huge economic losses to the Nation year after year and (ii) various options available with us to curb these to within harmless levels. Thus far, these aquatic plant management options have been developed and used on field scale only in certain advanced countries of the world. We, in India, have yet to think about a constructive strategy to deal with this enormous problem by suitable Research and Development (R&D) procedures.

Presently, the research on aquatic weed management conducted in India has been largely based on laboratory studies, with little, if any, long term field-testing and development in the problematic waterbodies. In other words, the combined R&D efforts are completely lacking, except in 1-2 cases of biological control of specific aquatic weeds. This is a very unfortunate state of affairs. We require in the country 2-3 specialised centers for research and development each in (i) biological control, (ii) mechanical control, and (iii) mass utilization of aquatic weeds, supported by several field testing stations in different Agricultural Universities. The present book provides adequate subject matter to make 

a concrete beginning on these lines in the country.

Further, it seems no Agricultural University in the country offers even one course on the management of excessive aquatic plants. It is high time that a beginning is made in creating a course on this burning problem so that at least some students get oriented towards devoting to aquatic weed management in right earnestness. The present book provides the latest text available for formulating and conducting a post-graduate level course on aquatic weed management.