The establishment of perennial plantations is a process of vegetational succession. The succession will favour the development of "weeds" as considerable resources are utilized by the almost unlimited number of weeds, compared to only about 500 plantlets/ha, therefore, weed control or vegetation management is necessary to orient the succession into vegetational domination of a good perennial plantation.
Problems of weeds exist in every stage of crop establishment, from pre-planting, nursery, immature, and mature rubber fields. Therefore, it is imperative that weed management strategies/activities address the problem.
Crop establishment using minimum tillage cultivation will necessitate the classification of types of vegetation into those which are useful (A) and whose growth should be encouraged,
those which are harmless (B), those which are useful soil cover as soft grasses (C), those that should be controlled (D), and those which should be eradicated (D).
Weed control activities are directed only toward certain species of weeds, leaving others to grow to be manipulated for the benefit of the plantation.