Instant Insights: Cultural and Physical Weed Control Methods

This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on the range of cultural and physical weed control methods.

The first chapter summarises the range of cultural techniques used to control weeds in Conservation Agriculture systems. The chapter also discusses the effects of these practices on weed seedbanks, space occupation, competition for resources and weed population density.

The second chapter provides an overview of physical weed control (PWC), focussing on its aims, principles and mechanisms of mortality. The chapter also highlights the influence of tool choice on the efficacy and selectivity of PWC practices.

The third chapter reviews flame weeding requirements, the mechanism by which it reduces weeds and the potential uses of the technique. The chapter also considers the advantages and disadvantages of flame weeding, including its potential environmental impacts.

The fourth chapter explores the variety of thermal weed control techniques, such as hot water/steam treatment and laser technology. The chapter also evaluates their efficacy, energy consumption and impact on soil health and crop safety.

The final chapter highlights recent advancements in mechanical weed control technologies, focussing on novel inventions and the development of mechanical devices for full-width cultivation, inter-row cultivation and intra-row cultivation.

• Chapter 1 - Cultural techniques to control weeds in Conservation Agriculture systems: Francisco Skora Neto, No-till Brazilian Federation (FEBRAPDP)/ formerly Agronomic Institute of Parana (IAPAR), Brazil;
  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 Cultural methods: occupation of space
  • 3 Cultural methods: reduction of the presence of competing species
  • 4 Organic agriculture
  • 5 Case study
  • 6 Conclusion and future trends
  • 7 Where to look for further information
  • 8 References

Chapter taken from: Basch, G., González—Sanchez, E., Geraghty, J., Eslami, S. V., Duiker, S. W., Mkomwa, S. and Bartz, M. (eds.), Weed management in Conservation Agriculture systems, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 20125 (ISBN 978 1 80146 784 1)

• Chapter 2 - Developments in physical weed control: Eric R. Gallandt, University of Maine, USA; Daniel Brainard, Michigan State University, USA; and Bryan Brown, University of Maine, USA;
  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 Tillage
  • 3 Physical weed control: overview
  • 4 Tools, weeds and soil conditions
  • 5 Weed-crop selectivity
  • 6 Fundamental problems with cultivation
  • 7 Future research priorities
  • 8 Where to look for further information
  • 9 References

Chapter taken from: Zimdahl, R. L. (ed.), Integrated weed management for sustainable agriculture, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2017, (ISBN 978 1 78676 164 4)

• Chapter 3 - Flame weeding techniques: Stevan Z. Knezevic, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA;
  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 Flaming specifications, effectiveness and equipment
  • 3 Weed response to heat
  • 4 Uses of flame weeding
  • 5 Advantages, disadvantages and environmental impacts
  • 6 Future research and practical recommendations
  • 7 Where to look for further information
  • 8 References

Chapter taken from: Zimdahl, R. L. (ed.), Integrated weed management for sustainable agriculture, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2017, (ISBN 978 1 78676 164 4)

• Chapter 4 - Thermal weed control in Conservation Agriculture systems: Bernhard Streit and Martin V. Bauer, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland;
  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 Thermal weed control: general aspects
  • 3 Flame weeding
  • 4 Electrical weed control
  • 5 Hot water or steam used for weed control
  • 6 Laser-based weed control
  • 7 Conclusion
  • 8 References

Chapter taken from: Basch, G., González—Sanchez, E., Geraghty, J., Eslami, S. V., Duiker, S. W., Mkomwa, S. and Bartz, M. (eds.), Weed management in Conservation Agriculture systems, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 20125 (ISBN 978 1 80146 784 1)

• Chapter 5 - Advances in mechanical weed control technologies: Bo Melander and Margaret R. McCollough, Aarhus University, Denmark;
  • 1 Introduction
  • 2 The mechanisms of mechanical weed control
  • 3 Full-width cultivation
  • 4 Inter-row cultivation
  • 5 Intra-row cultivation
  • 6 Future trends and conclusion
  • 7 Where to look for further information
  • 8 References

Chapter taken from: Kudsk, P. (ed.), Advances in integrated weed management, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2022, (ISBN 978 1 78676 745 5)