An ecological perspective on managing weeds during The Great Selection for Herbicide Resistance

Authors: BAGAVATHIANNAN, M - Texas A&M University; Davis, Adam

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2018
Publication Date: 3/30/2018
Citation: Bagavathiannan, M., Davis, A.S. 2018. An ecological perspective on managing weeds during The Great Selection for Herbicide Resistance. Pest Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4920.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4920

Interpretive Summary: Modern agriculture is rapidly losing herbicides, the dominant weed management tool for many farms, due to the widespread evolution of herbicide resistance. Despite the remarkable evolutionary capabilities of weeds, heavy reliance on herbicides have continued, often with little to no management diversity. Production systems that are dominated by herbicides often fail to utilize the connections and synergies associated with integrating diverse management tools and thus are ecologically immature. Evidence suggests that adopting an ecologically-based multi-tactic weed management system, one that utilizes our understanding of how nature works, is both effective and feasible. Here, we discuss key ecological principles as they apply to sustainable weed management within the framework of Barry Commoner’s five laws of ecology. We suggest the need for a paradigm shift where weed management decisions are made based on an ecologically sound, systems-based approach, with an overarching goal of reducing long-term weed population growth rates.

Technical Abstract: Weed populations have shown a tremendous ability to adapt to management interventions imposed on them and despite centuries of implementing control measures, weeds have been persisting and dominating agricultural production systems. Modern agriculture has been witnessing a rapid loss of herbicides, the dominant weed management tool used in many farms, due to the widespread evolution of herbicide resistance. Such an outcome has been predictable and well known to humans, given the many evidences of adaptive evolution in weeds to management practices. Despite the remarkable evolutionary capabilities of weeds, heavy reliance on herbicides have continued, often with little to no management diversity. This common pool resource problem has been jeopardizing the long-term sustainability of critical herbicide resources. Modern agricultural systems that are dominated by herbicides often fail to utilize the connections and synergies associated with integrating diverse management tools and thus are ecologically immature. Evidence suggests that adopting an ecologically-based multi-tactic weed management system, one that utilizes our understanding of how nature works, is both effective and feasible. Here, we discuss key ecological principles as they apply to sustainable weed management within the framework of Barry Commoner’s five laws of ecology. We suggest a paradigm shift where weed management decisions are made based on an ecologically sound, systems-based approach, with an overarching goal of reducing long-term weed population growth rates.