Advances in understanding the dynamics of weed communities in integrated weed management systems

Publication date: 25/04/2022
Extent: 20 pages

Contributions by: Jonathan Storkey, Sustainable Agriculture Science, Rothamsted Research, UK

Chapter synopsis: The shift towards integrated weed management necessitated by the negative unintended consequences of over-reliance on herbicides is a significant challenge for predicting the dynamics of weed communities. In response to this challenge, the novel approach of applying trait-based methodologies to weed science problems has emerged as a solution. This chapter reviews the progress that has been made in the application of this approach to IWM in two areas: 1) the analysis of survey and experimental data from contrasting weed management systems and 2) the extension of the scope of weed population dynamics models by quantifying relationships between traits and model parameters. While great progress is being made in both areas, defining individual IWM approaches in terms of their impact on ecological processes and identifying a standard set of traits that respond to those interventions would be valuable for delivering the full potential of the trait-based approach in the future.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2021.0098.02