Ecologically based weed management strategies

Abstract

Weeds are the most important biological constraints in crop production systems. Herbicides are used to manage weeds; however, a heavy reliance on herbicides is not sustainable in the long run. Therefore, there is a need to develop ecologically based weed management strategies in different crop production systems, which aim to reduce the weed seed bank before crop sowing and reduce weed emergence and weed growth in crops. Some of the strategies to reduce the seed bank before crop sowing are the use of the stale seedbed technique and the adoption of practices that enhance seed predation and seed decay. Strategies to reduce weed emergence and weed growth in crops may include the use of appropriate tillage systems; retention of crop residue on the soil surface; the use of crop cultivars with weed competitiveness, allelopathy, and tolerance of germination under anaerobic conditions; the use of a high crop density; and the use of narrow row spacing. This chapter aims to provide a perspective on what can be done to improve ecologically based weed management strategies.