Ecological Management of Agricultural Weeds [Hardcover]

This book presents principles and practices for ecologically based weed-management in a range of farming systems.Concerns over environmental and human health impacts of conventional weed management practices and herbicide resistance in weeds have led agricultural producers and scientists to seek strategies that take greater advantage of ecological processes, thereby allowing a reduction in herbicide use. This book provides principles and practices for ecologically based weed management in a wide range of temperate and tropical farming systems. Special attention is given to the evolutionary challenges that weeds pose and the roles that farmers can play in the development of new weed management strategies.Concerns over environmental and human health impacts of conventional weed management practices and herbicide resistance in weeds have led agricultural producers and scientists to seek strategies that take greater advantage of ecological processes, thereby allowing a reduction in herbicide use. This book provides principles and practices for ecologically based weed management in a wide range of temperate and tropical farming systems. Special attention is given to the evolutionary challenges that weeds pose and the roles that farmers can play in the development of new weed management strategies.This volume provides principles and practices for ecologically based weed management in a wide range of temperate and tropical farming systems. The authors describe how tillage and cultivation practices, manipulations of soil conditions, competitive cultivars, crop diversification, grazing livestock, arthropod and microbial biocontrol agents, and other factors can be used to reduce weed germination, growth, competitive ability, reproduction, and dispersal. Special attention is given to the evolutionary challenges that weeds pose and the roles that farmers can play in the development of new weed management strategies.Preface; 1. Weed management: a need for ecological approaches Ml3