Biology And Ecology Of Weeds

Weeds are a fascinating study for specialists, not only because of their economic importance, but also since in this case biology must be combined with history and agriculture (and its economic aspects). Thus, weed scientists may be concerned with pure basic research, concentrating on general aspects, or with applied science, i.e. having a practical orientation. One of the aims of this book is to create a synthesis between these two branches of study and to review the literature of both fields. The agrestals, the weeds of arable land ~ the most important group from an economic point of view ~ was chasen as the main topic. Other weed groups could only be mentioned briefly (e.g. grassland weeds), or superficially (e.g. aquatic weeds), or had to be omitted completely (e.g. ruderals, because they are so heterogeneous), to keep this volume to an acceptable size and price. Nevertheless, nearly all subsections of botanical science have been treated.

Weeds are successful plants, but on their own terms. Looking at weeds from an ecological viewpoint, emphasising the way in which one species interacts with others, the authors show that weeds are questionable mainly in that they are out-of-place.

Weeds hold an enigmatic and sometimes-controversial place in agriculture, where they are generally reviled, grudgingly tolerated, and occasionally admired. In most cases, growers make considerable effort to reduce the negative economic impact of weeds because they compete with crops for resources and hinder field operations, thereby affecting crop productivity and quality, and ultimately the sustainability of agriculture. Weed control in production agriculture is commonly achieved through the integration of chemical, biological, and mechanical management methods. Chemicals (herbicides) usually inhibit the growth and establishment of weed plants by interfering with various physiological and biochemical pathways. Biological methods include crop competition, smother crops, rotation crops, and allelopathy, as well as specific insect predators and plant pathogens. Mechanical methods encompass an array of tools from short handled hoes to sophisticated video-guided robotic machines. Integrating these technologies, in order to relieve the negative impacts of weeds on crop production in a way that allows growers to optimize profits and preserve human health and the environment, is the science of weed management.

Weed Biology and Climate Change will provide a synthesis of what is known regarding the probable impact of environmental change on weed biology. Chapters will look at impacts of weed biology on agriculture, invasive species that limit ecological diversity and weeds that serve as health risks. In addition it looks at current weed management strategies and how they will be affected by global climate change. The book covers an increasingly important area in plant science, crop science and ecological research, and will be essential reading for anyone exploring the biological impacts of a changing environment.

Despite the fact that fighting weeds was of paramount importance to the agricultural development of Canada, there has scarcely been any research on understanding the origins and history of these lowly plants. The War on Weeds in the Prairie West is the first full-blown environmental history of weeds in western Canada.