Ecological Management of Agricultural Weeds

This book presents principles and practices for ecologically based weed-management in a range of farming systems.

Matt Liebman (Author), Charles L. Mohler (Author), Charles P. Staver (Author)

9780521037877, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 July 2007

548 pages, 81 b/w illus. 39 tables
24.2 x 16.9 x 2.7 cm, 0.862 kg

'… it reads very well. The book's eleven chapters flow smoothly … This text would be appropriate for an advanced course or seminar; it is an important piece from which to draw the next generation of all crop protection professionals, not just week scientists. Furthermore, the approaches presented here should be the basis for future weed science textbooks. I laud the authors for their balanced - not shrill - call for a philosophical shift in how we view and sustainably manage pests in agroecosystems.' American Entomologist

Concerns over environmental and human health impacts of conventional weed management practices, herbicide resistance in weeds, and rising costs of crop production and protection have led agricultural producers and scientists in many countries to seek strategies that take greater advantage of ecological processes and thereby allow 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. After examining weed life histories and processes determining the assembly of weed communities, 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 Matt Liebman
2. Weed life history: identifying vulnerabilities Charles L. Mohler
3. Knowledge, science and practice in ecological weed management: farmer-extensionist-scientist interactions Charles P. Staver
4. Mechanical management of weeds Charles L. Mohler
5. Weeds and the soil environment Matt Liebman and Charles L. Mohler
6. Enhancing the competitive ability of crops Charles L. Mohler
7. Crop diversification for weed management Matt Liebman and Charles P. Staver
8. Managing weeds with insects and pathogens Matt Liebman
9. Livestock grazing for weed management Charles P. Staver
10. Weed evolution and community structure Charles L. Mohler
11. Weed management: the broader context Charles L. Mohler, Matt Liebman and Charles P. Staver
Taxonomic index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Agriculture & farming [TV], Botany & plant sciences [PST]