Weed Research 

About: Weed Research is an academic journal published by Wiley. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Weed & Population. It has an ISSN identifier of 0043-1737. Over the lifetime, 3161 publications have been published receiving 94198 citations.

A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals

Abstract: The decimal code scale for indicating the growth stages of cereals as developed by the authors and published by Eucarpia is explained and described

The role of weeds in supporting biological diversity within crop fields

Abstract: Weeds are major constraints on crop production, yet as part of the primary producers within farming systems, they may be important components of the agroecosystem. Using published literature, the role of weeds in arable systems for other above-ground trophic levels are examined. In the UK, there is evidence that weed flora have changed over the past century, with some species declining in abundance, whereas others have increased. There is also some evidence for a decline in the size of arable weed seedbanks. Some of these changes reflect improved agricultural efficiency, changes to more winter-sown crops in arable rotations and the use of more broad-spectrum herbicide combinations. Interrogation of a database of records of phytophagous insects associated with plant species in the UK reveals that many arable weed species support a high diversity of insect species. Reductions in abundances of host plants may affect associated insects and other taxa. A number of insect groups and farmland birds have shown marked population declines over the past 30 years. Correlational studies indicate that many of these declines are associated with changes in agricultural practices. Certainly reductions in food availability in winter and for nestling birds in spring are implicated in the declines of several bird species, notably the grey partridge, Perdix perdix . Thus weeds have a role within agroecosystems in supporting biodiversity more generally. An understanding of weed competitivity and the importance of weeds for insects and birds may allow the identification of the most important weed species. This may form the first step in balancing the needs for weed control with the requirements for biodiversity and more sustainable production methods.

Non‐chemical weed management in organic farming systems

Abstract: Concern about potential increases in weed populations without the use of herbicides has limited the uptake of organic farming. However, as both public demands for organic produce and the profile of organic farming have increased in recent years, so too has the range of weed control options. Progress in cultural methods of weed control has included the use of novel weed-suppressing cover crops, and the identification of specific crop traits for weed suppression. Direct weed control has also seen developments, with new implements appearing on the market that could benefit in the future from sophisticated machine guidance and weed detection technology. Advances in novel techniques such as steaming have also been made. Many weed control operations in organic systems present the grower with conflicts, and both these and many of the most recent developments in organic weed control are reviewed. An increase in our understanding of weed biology and population dynamics underpins long-term improvements in sustainable weed control. The outcome of these studies will benefit conventional and organic growers alike. Emphasis is given to the need for flexibility and a combination of weed biology knowledge, cultural methods and direct weed control to maintain weed populations at manageable levels.

Integration of soil, crop and weed management in low-external-input farming systems

Abstract: Greater adoption and refinement of low-external-input (LEI) farming systems have been proposed as ways to ameliorate economic, environmental and health problems associated with conventional farming systems. Organic soil amendments and crop diversification are basic components of LEI systems. Weed scientists can improve the use of these practices for weed management by improving knowledge of four relevant ecological mechanisms. First, multispecies crop rotations, intercrops and cover crops may reduce opportunities for weed growth and regeneration through resource competition and niche disruption. Secondly, weed species appear to be more susceptible to phytotoxic effects of crop residues and other organic soil amendments than crop species, possibly because of differences in seed mass. Thirdly, delayed patterns of N availability in LEI systems may favour large-seeded crops over small-seeded weeds. Finally, additions of organic materials can change the incidence and severity of soil-borne diseases affecting weeds and crops. Our research on LEI sweetcorn and potato production systems in central and northern Maine (USA) suggests that these mechanisms can reduce weed density and growth while maintaining crop yields. Low-external-input farming systems will advance most quickly through the application of interdisciplinary research focused on these and other ecological mechanisms.

Natural products as sources of herbicides: current status and future trends

Abstract: Although natural product-based discovery strategies have not been as successful for herbicides as for other pesticides or pharmaceuticals, there have been some notable successes. Phosphinothricin, the biosynthetic version of glufosinate, and bialaphos are phytotoxic microbial products that have yielded commercial herbicides. Cinmethylin, a herbicidal analogue of cineole, has been sold in Europe and Asia. The triketone herbicides are derivatives of the plant-produced phytotoxin leptospermone. These products represent only a small fraction of commercialized herbicides, but they have each introduced a novel molecular target site for herbicides. Analysis of the literature reveals that phytotoxic natural products act on a large number of unexploited herbicide target sites. The pesticide industry’s natural product discovery efforts have so far concentrated on microbially derived phytotoxins, primarily from non-pathogenic soil microbes, involving the screening of large numbers of exotic isolates. Plant pathogens usually produce potent phytotoxins, yet they have received relatively little attention. Even less effort has been made to discover plant-derived phytotoxins. Bioassay-directed isolation has been the preferred method of discovery after a producing organism is selected. This laborious approach often leads to rediscovery of known compounds. Modern tandem separation/chemical characterization instrumentation can eliminate much of this problem by identification of compounds before they are bioassayed.