Dominant weed species exert significant impacts on hazelnut orchards and rural livelihoods

Abstract

Turkey contributes ~76% towards global hazelnut production; thus, it has significant socioeconomic impacts in the country. However, product losses due to weeds and challenges faced during harvesting impair hazelnut production. Therefore, weed management in hazelnut orchards is one of the major challenges faced by hazelnut producers in Turkey. Multiple complaints are received regarding weed spreading in hazelnut orchards of Turkey to different institutes. This study aimed at determining the dominant weed taxa faced by hazelnut producers and providing basic data for the precautionary measures and management strategies that could be opted to manage weed spreading. For this purpose, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the hazelnut producers between 2018 and 2020. Weed species causing significant problems in hazelnut orchards were identified according to their life forms, morphological and biological characteristics and defined as “dominant/robust” species. Considering this definition, the hazelnut producers complained of 32 taxa belonging to 19 families in hazelnut orchards. The identified taxa were compared with the earlier reported taxa from hazelnut orchards in the Black Sea region (the primary growing region of hazelnut production in Turkey) and this comparison revealed 14.81–38.89% similarities. In addition, it has been determined that the most problematic weeds in hazelnut orchards are Calystegia sepium, Coronilla varia, Dioscorea communis, Hedera spp., Rubus spp. The results showed that significant changes occurred in hazelnut fields over time and the main reason for this change was the dominant weeds. For this reason, it is recommended to consider the management strategies according to the dominant weed species in the hazelnut production areas. The results also provide empirical data for the development of effective management strategies in the region.