Ecologically Based Weed Management: Concepts, Challenges, and Limitations - 5. Chapter: The Underestimated Role of Cultural Practices in Ecologically Based Weed Management Approaches

Abstract

Globally, the overreliance of agriculture on herbicides has created environmental, human health, and herbicide-resistance concerns. There is an urgent need to develop alternative, ecologically based weed management systems based on the use of cultural practices that reduce the emergence and growth of weeds in the field. Although not widely adopted by farmers, the current chapter highlights that the role of cultural practices in developing of sustainable ecologically based weed management systems should not be further underestimated. Concerning crop diversification practices, weeds are subjected to diverse agronomic practices becoming less adaptable and competitive in crop rotation systems. Crop selection must follow specific criteria to facilitate successful weed management. Including a cover crop in the rotation is another beneficial practice to further suppress weed emergence and seed production. Moreover, intercropping promotes more efficient and complementary resource use from crop mixtures and reduces the availability of resources to weeds. The selection of competitive cultivars and hybrids is a major agronomic practice to achieve higher levels of weed suppression. The use of increased seeding rates and planting in narrow row spacing increase crop populations and, thus, improve crop competitiveness against weeds. Optimal sowing dates, in relation to weed emergence, and optimal resource management should also be considered as important components of ecologically based weed management systems. Research shows that combinations among different cultural practices may facilitate reductions to weed emergence and weed seed production and could lead to higher crop yields