Non-chemical Weed Management

The sustainability of food production systems, health and environmental consequences of pesticide use are the important global issue. During the course a different weed management strategies, playing role of alternatives to chemical one, will be discussed.

1. Introduction: basic definitions. Prevention strategies in weed management.

2. Weed-crop interactions in managing weed problems.

3. Cultural weed management.

4. Role of cover crops in weed management.

5. Allelopathy as a tool for weed management.

6. Bioherbicides.

7. Mechanical weed management.

8. Night tillage.

9. Non-living mulches for weed control.

10. Thermal weed control.

11. Soil solarization and weed management.

12. Role of non-chemical weed management in different food production systems.

Projects based on the problem-solving cases:

1. Get to know your weed - project aiming at getting familiar with the most important weeds, their biology and crops they infestate.

2. Designing a crop-rotation including intercrops to manage the troublesome weed species, including the other cultural methods (i.e. competitive crops, increased seed density). Application of mulches and allelopathic plants to the crop rotation for weed management.

3. Designing a proper mechanical soil cultivation and thermal methods to the crop- rotation.

1. Bond W, Turner RJ, Grundy AC A review of non-chemical weed management. www.organicweeds.org.uk

2. Schonbeck M. An ecological understanding of weeds. www.extension.org

3. “Weed Science” journal of Weed Science Society of America

4. “Weed Research”, journal of European Weed Research Society

5. “Progress in Plant Protection”, Journal of Institute of Plant Protection in Poland

Knowledge: Students will know the principles of alternative weed management methods. Student will know the most troublesome weeds and their biology.

Skills: Students will be able to design a crop rotation, to manage the most dangerous weeds. Will be able to apply a proper mechanical tools and other non-chemical methods in the designed crop rotation to manage the most troublesome weeds.

Social competences: Learns to work in a group. Understands the necessity of continuous study, due to the progress in this field of knowledge.

Classes: evaluation of the projects, including quality of data analysis, and interpretation, collaboration with other students

Lectures: written test exam

Grade E (2,0): Does not know the basic types of non-chemical weed management, does not know the biology of the most important weeds, cannot design a crop rotation proper to manage problematic weeds and.

Grade D (3,0): Knows the basic types of non-chemical weed management. Knows the biology of the most important weeds. Is able to design a proper crop rotation to manage weeds.

Grade C (3,5): Knows the basic principles of non-chemical weed management. Knows the biology of the most important weeds. Is able to design a proper crop rotation to manage weeds. Is able to apply intercrops and cultural methods to the crop rotation

Grade B (4,0): Knows well the principles of non-chemical weed management. Knows the biology of the main monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds. Is able to design a proper crop rotation to manage weeds. Is able to apply intercrops, cultural and mechanical methods to the crop rotation

Grade B+ (4,5): Knows fluently the principles of non-chemical weed management. Knows the biology of the main monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds. Designs a proper crop rotation to manage weeds. Is able to apply intercrops, cultural mechanical and physical methods to the crop rotation..

Grade A (5,0): Knows fluently the principles of non-chemical weed management. Knows the biology of the main monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds. Designs a proper crop rotation to manage weeds. Is able to apply intercrops, cultural, mechanical and physical methods to the crop rotation. Is aware of the biochemical interactions between plants that help in weed management and crop improvement.