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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #72502

Title: ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO WEED MANAGEMENT

Author
item Buhler, Douglas - Doug

Submitted to: Midwest Soybean Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Herbicide technology and use have been the focus of weed management research for the past several decades. Herbicides are an important component of weed management and will remain so for years to come. However, there is increasing pressure to improve the efficiency of herbicide use and develop alternative control methods. Herbicides are used on over 95% of the corn and soybeans in the Corn Belt because of the presence of weeds and the need to minimize their adverse economic impacts. Large inputs of herbicides and tillage are needed to control weeds because of the lack of knowledge of weed biology and ecology, continuous production of summer annual row crops, and the absence of control alternatives. Currently, weed science has few, if any, alternatives to herbicides and tillage that are both economically and environmentally desirable. Lack of weed control is perceived by many producers as the major deterrent to the development of alternative crop production systems. Society is also asking that we develop new solutions to weed problems. As pressure increases to reduce herbicide use, new approaches to weed management must be developed. It is easy to criticize the herbicide intensive weed management systems currently in use on most of our cropland. However, it is difficult to provide alternative practices that meet the needs of crop producers. Development and implementation of new weed management systems will be a long-term process. The intent of this presentation is to present some of the research that is currently being conducted to develop alternatives to current practices.