Edible Weeds Research Articles

Quelites—Agrobiodiversity beyond our crops

The monoculture of a handful of energy-dense crops that dominates contemporary agriculture has resulted in an erosion of agrobiodiversity, environmental issues, agroecosystem dependency on off-farm inputs, and diets with poor diversity in nutrients and flavors. However, diversified agriculture persists in communities characterized by subsistence farming, many of them Indigenous. Although movements across Latin America aim to rescue agrobiodiversity, they are widely limited to cropping system diversification, including practices such as crop rotations, intercropping, and cover crops. The agrobiodiversity of plants associated with crops, often labeled as weeds, is commonly not considered in this context. Yet edible weeds are the essential components of traditional food systems where they increase the functional diversity of agroecosystems and contribute to human nutrition. In Mexico, the term “quelite” describes noncultivated but edible plants growing on a crop field. Across the American continent, there are nutritious quelites that are commonly perceived as “weeds.” In this article, we discuss the concept of quelites, their origin in traditional Mexican agriculture, their significance for agroecosystem diversification, and their potential for the future. We demonstrate, with 12 examples, that quelites have always been part of agroecosystems across the Americas. We aim to spread the concept of quelites beyond traditional farming in Mexico to promote the use of these promising plants. We conclude the article with suggestions for strategies to achieve this goal. Please refer to Supplementary Materials, Full text Spanish version of this article, for a full text Spanish version of this article.

Isparta Yöresinin Bazı Yenilebilir Yabani Otları

The using of edible weeds in the diet of the people living in rural areas of Anatolia is quite common. Due to the awareness of natural and organic nutrition, the using of wild herbs has tended to increase in cities in recent years. In this study, it was aimed to determine the wild herbs consumed as edible food by the people in Isparta region, which has an important place in terms of plant diversity, and the consumption patterns of these herbs. This study, which was carried out in 2022 and 2023, was conducted face-to-face interviews with 100 local people in order to determine the plants consumed as traditional food by the people of Isparta. Wild plants consumed by the people of Isparta were collected and identified. In accordance with the data obtained, 23 wild edible plant taxa belonging to 15 families were determined. Questionnaire forms were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 program. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that individuals and women between the ages of 45-65 were mainly interested in and knowledge about wild herbs and that the majority of the local people knew naturally growing plants. It has been also determined that they have knowledge about edible and non-edible wild herbs, in which period and which parts of wild herbs should be collected (flowers, leaves, roots, stems, etc.) and they had esperience how to consume it (boiling, roasting, drying, tea, etc.).

Assessment of heavy metal accumulation and health risk in three essential edible weeds grown on wastewater irrigated soil

The main problem facing Egypt recently is the shortage of available water resources. Therefore, farmers resort to use wastewater for irrigation. So, the present work aims to assess the impacts of wastewater irrigation on the productivity of three edible weeds (Cichorium endivia, Sonchus oleraceous and Beta vulgaris) and its effect on the nutritional value of plants and its risk on human health. This study will focus on Shibin Al Kanater region, and the physicochemical characteristics of drainage water, canal water, drainage water-irrigated soils and canal-irrigated soils were estimated. The vegetative and traits of edible weeds were determined including their photosynthetic pigments, organic and inorganic nutrients content, and heavy metals content. The health risk index (HRI) associated with consumption of polluted plants was created using the estimated exposure factor of a crop to the oral reference dosage of the toxic metal. The main results showed that biomass productivity of S. oleraceous, B. vulgaris and C. endivia increased due to drainage water irrigation with increasing percentage as 27.9, 19.6, and 19.1%, respectively. Irrigation with drainage water significantly increased the photosynthetic pigments of edible weeds. Irrigation with drainage water increased carbohydrate content, crude protein, total soluble sugar, and gross energy in all studied weeds. C. endivia, S. oleraceus and B. vulgaris plants irrigated with canal and drainage water could accumulate Fe, Zn, Cu, and Co in their roots. C. endivia, S. oleraceus and B. vulgaris plants irrigated with canal water indicated HRI more than the unit for Mn, Cu, Pb, and Cd. This research advises that regulation be put in place to prohibit irrigation using untreated drainage and to restrict the discharge of industrial, domestic, and agricultural wastewater into irrigation canals.

Weed diversity in oil palm plantation: benefit from the unexpected ground cover community

Weeds in oil palm plantations are commonly associated with harmful ground cover species that can compete with oil palm at some level. Here, we discuss weeds from the perspective of communities impacting other taxonomic groups of agro-biodiversity in oil palm plantations. Differences in the age of oil palm in large-scale plantations affect micro conditions such as differences in canopy cover, light intensity, and humidity. The young oil palm provides less canopy, which allows more sunlight on the plantation floor, whereas older plantation supports less canopy with lower light intensity. Each weed species has a different level of adaptation to changing micro conditions. The adaptation differences affect the composition, distribution, and community structure of weeds and thus affect the diversity of other related taxa. We tried to observe the relationship between oil palm age and weeds. This results showed that the structure of the weed community changed with the age difference of the oil palm plant. The younger oil palm plantations supported a higher number of weed species compared to older plantations. The management of oil palm plantations needs to maintain the sustainability of beneficial weed species to ensure the contribution of existing agro-biodiversity, especially for pest control.

Herbicide screening for weed control and crop safety in California melon production

AbstractWeed management in cantaloupe and other melon crops is important to maximize fruit yield; however, there are few registered herbicides available in California. Several independent herbicide trials were conducted at University of California field stations in Davis (Yolo County), Five Points (Fresno County), and Holtville (Imperial County) from 2013 to 2019 to evaluate both registered and unregistered herbicides and incorporation methods (sprinklers, cultivation, or none) for crop safety and weed control in melons. Although specific treatments varied among locations depending on local practice and research objectives, ethalfluralin and halosulfuron were used in all experiments, and bensulide and S-metolachlor were evaluated in 4 of 6 site-years. Additional herbicides included clethodim, clomazone, DCPA, napropamide, pendimethalin, sethoxydim, and sulfentrazone. Among registered herbicides, halosulfuron, halosulfuron + ethalfluralin, and ethalfluralin + bensulide combinations provided consistently beneficial weed control across all site-years compared to the nontreated control. S-metolachlor performed as well as the best of the registered herbicides tested at each site-year; although moderate injury was noted at the Davis location, this did not reduce melon yield. The method used to incorporate preplant herbicides had a significant impact on weed control efficacy but varied by location. Mechanical incorporation of preplant herbicides resulted in improved weed control and yield compared to sprinklers. Early-season weed control, whether by herbicides or hand weeding, resulted in significant yield increase in most site-years.

Detection of a New Strain of the Yambean mosaic virus in Senna hirsuta (Irwin and Barneby) in Calabar, Southern Nigeria

Background: Hairy senna is an edible weed grown for both its vegetables and as a hedge plant in farms and backyard gardens in Calabar. Senna hirsuta leaf samples showing virus-like symptoms were collected in the growing seasons of between 2018 and 2020 from backyard gardens and farms in Calabar and the surrounding area. Methods: The virus was isolated and transmitted by mechanical inoculation for host range studies. Seed transmissibility and transmission by aphids were further used for detection. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers specific to the cylindrical inclusion protein gene (CI) of potyviruses followed by sequencing was used for molecular identification. The neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the relationship of the Calabar isolate with those from other parts of the world. Result: For the host range studies, four species belonging to the Fabaceae family were infected by the isolate, indicating a narrow host range. The virus was found to be seed transmissible and could be vectored by both Aphis craccivora and Aphis spiraecola. Obtained DNA fragments with the expected size of~700 bp were amplified and a pairwise comparison with other potyviruses revealed a 94-95.87% similarity with complete sequence of YBMV (JN190431). Phylogenetic analysis placed the senna isolate in the same clade as the Brazilian isolates (MK825543 and MK825544) and JN190431. On the basis of this, the virus is adjudged to be the Nigerian strain of YBMV (JN190431).

GELENEKSEL KÖY HAYATINDA AÇLIĞIN ÖNLENME VE GIDA GÜVENCESİNİN SAĞLANMA BİÇİMLERİ

People benefit from various animals and plants to meet their food needs and pass on their experiences in this direction from generation to generation. Villagers sometimes feed on animals and plants they grow, and sometimes on plants and animals that exist spontaneously in nature. The people living in the village have done various studies to prevent hunger and ensure food security by diversifying food and developing storage methods.
 In this research, the food diversity situation between 1878-1960 in the villages of Oltu, Olur, Tortum, Uzundere, Narman and Şenkaya districts of Erzurum province was revealed. It focuses on the efforts to prevent hunger, which the villagers implement in their self-sufficient lives, away from the products produced in the city. The researcher determined the forms of preventing hunger and providing food security by making participant observations and in-depth interviews over a period of approximately five years (2016-2021).
 As a result of the research, it has been determined that hunger is prevented and food security is ensured by raising various animals and products, storing them, expanding agricultural lands, making use of edible weeds and wild animals, using water effectively, assuming social responsibilities, providing food for the disadvantaged and getting rid of dependence on others. On the other hand, solidarity and sharing are very important for the village community.

Edible weeds and food and nutrition security in the face of the herbicide revolution. A case study from Zambia

ABSTRACT Herbicides are on the rise across the developing world. Herbicides may come with several advantages but can also undermine environmental and human health. In the quest to assess the trade-offs of herbicides one aspect has received limited attention: the role of edible weeds, which can be key elements of rural food baskets, yet are targeted by herbicides. Using a survey with 158 households and a range of qualitative methods, this study examines the role of edible weeds for rural diets in Zambia and how herbicides affect the consumption of edible weeds. The results suggest that edible weeds are an integral part of rural diets, i.e. during the ‘hunger months’. While the herbicide revolution poses risks to the availability of edible weeds, herbicide use did not (yet) affect their consumption, likely because still few households use herbicides and only fractions of the farmland are sprayed. Long-term herbicide users are, however less likely to consume edible weeds. Given the potential trade-offs between herbicides, edible weeds, and food and nutrition security, this topic should continue to be monitored and policymakers should pay more attention to such trade-offs when promoting herbicides.

Bioactivity of Amaranthus spinosus L. leaf extracts and meals against Aeromonas hydrophila.

Plant-based protein is being sought after as a substitute for fish meals (powdered fish) in tilapia feeds. This is to promote sustainable aquaculture, as fish meals contribute to the dwindling marine fish catch. Amaranthus spinosus is an edible weed that shows potential to improve the growth and immunity of Nile tilapia. However, most studies only consider the survivability of fish to evaluate the benefit of using plant-based feeds and do not necessarily elucidate whether a pathogen is affected in vivo. A. spinosus leaf meals (ASLMs) were used to determine effectiveness against Aeromonas hydrophila (BIOTECH 10089) injected intraperitoneally into Nile tilapia. Formulated feeds with fish meals substituted with 50 % (ASLM50) and 75 % (ASLM75) A. spinosus leaves were fed to Nile tilapia challenged with A. hydrophila . Then spleen and kidney tissue were collected and analysed 10 days post-injection for total plate count. The fish fed with ASLM50 appeared healthier than those fed with ASLM75 and those fed with control feeds. Fish fed with ASLMs had lower A. hydrophila counts (P=0.03). Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity determination for crude methanolic A. spinosus leaf (ASL) and ASLMs were also conducted to enhance the in vivo results. The metabolites present in the extracts were carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins, cardiac glycosides, saponins and terpenoids. The ASL and ASLM extracts had antimicrobial activity (MIC=115 mg ml−1). Overall, the study showed that ASLMs can make tilapia more resilient against A. hydrophila infections. Fish meal substitution was best at 50 %. Higher substitution had unwanted effects (more bacterial counts), possibly due to antinutritional factors.

CHEMICALS AND NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF SOME EDIBLE WEEDS SPECIES AS POTENTIAL FOODS AND FUTURE CROPS

Edible weed species are of great interest in human food demand due to their contributions in the provision of people’s daily intake or as supplemented nutrition over the world. Therefore, a survey study was conducted to record wild edible plants in Egypt. Which, about 44 plants species were distributed into 21 genera belonging to 14 botanical families which have domestic usages. Based on the chemical analysis of elemental composition (Mg, Ca, Na, K, Mn, and Fe) and dietary nutritive values including ash content, fiber, fat, protein, and total carbohydrates were ranked. Considerably interested found in Corchorus olitorius which recorded the highest nutritive values with higher content of nutritional values and amino acids, followed by Portulaca oleracea in the second order. Australian Weed Risk Assessment protocols revealed that Cichorium intybus, Sonchus oleraceus and C. olitorius were achieved an accepted risk, while the other species had low risks scoring. The analysis revealed a positive correlation between oxalate content and risk assessment of edible weeds. Therefore, these species can be considered as a good and low-cost source for amino acids and minerals compared with the locally consumed vegetables. Finally, this information can provide the priority species for future domestications as promising food crops.

SURVEY, IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL OF WEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH MULBERRY (Morus spp.) IN THE PROVINCES OF AURORA, LA UNION, ILOCOS SUR AND ILOCOS NORTE, PHILIPPINES

Surveys, collections and identification of weeds were done in the sericulture projects of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; Marcos, Ilocos Norte; Aurora, Aurora; and aat the SRDI, Bacnotan, La Union, in both wet and dry seasons. A total of 75 species of weeds were collected and identified. Survey, collection and identification of weeds in the sericulture projects of Sta Maria, Ilocos Sur;Marcos, Ilocos Norte; Ma. Aurora, Aurora; and at the Sericulture Research Development Institute in Bacnotan, La Union were done through quadrant sampling. Dominant weeds during the wet season in Sta Maria, Aurora, and Bacnotan were Digitaria sp., Fimbristylis littoralis, Ageratum conyzoides and Cyperus rotundus while during dry season, Diqitaria sp., Chloris sp., Centrosema pubescens and Dactyloctenium aeqyptium were the dominant weed species, respectively.
 On a per hectare basis, results showed mulching was found to be the most economical and beneficial weed control method. Total cost of weed control was P5,080.00 as against herbicide application with P7,224.00 and hand-weeding at P7,620.00.

Ethnobotanical Wild Edible Plants Used by the Tribes of Sahebganj District, Jharkhand

The Wild edible plants form an important Constituent of traditional diets of the tribal Community .Most of the rural populations residing in different parts of the country depend on plants and their parts to fulfill their daily needs and have developed unique knowledge about their utilization. The Present study has been conducted to document the indigenous knowledge related to the diversity and uses of wild edible weeds in day- to- day life of tribals of Sahibganj District. A total of 51 different herbs, 7 shrubs, 26 trees and 41 Climbing herbs belonging to 48 families were recorded in the present investigation out. The diversity of wild edible plants in Sahibganj district was also found to be depleting due to their over exploitation and unsustainable harvesting for foods, medicines as well as because of various other biotic interferences including grazing, herbivory and anthropogenic fire. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conserve these valuable wild edible plants and use it in a sustainable manner to ensure future demand.

Detection of Target-Site Herbicide Resistance in the Common Ragweed: Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotyping by Targeted Amplicon Sequencing

Background: The spread of herbicide-resistance Ambrosia artemisiifolia threatens not only the production of agricultural crops, but also the composition of weed communities. The reduction of their spread would positively affect the biodiversity and beneficial weed communities in the arable habitats. Detection of resistant populations would help to reduce herbicide exposure which may contribute to the development of sustainable agroecosystems. Methods: This study focuses on the application of target-site resistance (TSR) diagnostic of A. artemisiifolia caused by different herbicides. We used targeted amplicon sequencing (TAS) on Illumina Miseq platform to detect amino acid changes in herbicide target enzymes of resistant and wild-type plants. Results: 16 mutation points of four enzymes targeted by four herbicide groups, such as Photosystem II (PSII), Acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS), 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) and protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO) inhibitors have been identified in common ragweed populations, so far. All the 16 mutation points were analyzed and identified. Out of these, two mutations were detected in resistant biotypes. Conclusions: The applied next-generation sequencing-targeted amplicon sequencing (NGS-TAS) method on A. artemisiifolia resistant and wild-type populations enable TSR detection of large sample numbers in a single reaction. The NGS-TAS provides information about the evolved herbicide resistance that supports the integrated weed control through the reduction of herbicide exposure which may preserve ecological properties in agroecosystems.

Repetitive Overseeding for Ecological Management of Grass Playing Fields

Because of public concern about exposing children to pesticides, legislation restricting its use on school playing fields has increased. One way to manage weeds without chemical herbicides is overseeding or the practice of repetitively seeding with a rapidly germinating turfgrass species. Overseeding for broadleaf weed control was tested on eight fields in Central New York (CNY) for three seasons and 40 fields across the northeastern United States for two seasons. Half of each field was treated each season by overseeding Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) three to five times each season for a total of 731 kg seed/ha (15 lb per 1000 ft2). Changes in the percent broadleaf weeds, grass, bare ground, soil moisture, Dark Green Color Index (DGCI) of grass cover, depth to soil compaction, and shear strength were measured after each treatment. The percent broadleaf weeds decreased and the percent grass cover increased due to overseeding in the Northeast fields, but not in CNY fields. Depth to compaction, percent soil moisture, and shear strength varied over time in the Northeast fields, and the percent bare ground, DGCI, and soil moisture varied over time in CNY fields. DGCI in the Northeast and soil compaction in CNY were affected by the interaction of overseeding × time. Although overseeding can be a beneficial weed management tool and affect other turf and soil traits in an integrated turf management program, monitoring environmental conditions and supporting field maintenance routines are critical weed management strategies for maintaining healthy turfgrass.

Wild edible plants of Jharkhand and their utilitarian perspectives

The wild edible plants (WEPs) form an important constituent of traditional diets of the tribal community of Jharkhand. Most of the rural populations residing in different parts of Jharkhand depend on plants and their parts to fulfil their daily needs and have developed unique knowledge about their utilization. The present study has been conducted to document the indigenous knowledge related to the diversity and uses of wild edible weeds in day to day life of tribal in Jharkhand. A total of 77 different herbs, shrubs, and small trees have been recorded belonging to 38 families of which 73 are edible either as a vegetable or as medicine or in both forms directly or after proper processing. The common wild edible herbs frequently distributed in the study area are Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. (51 quadrats out of 134) and Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (47 quadrats out of 134). Similarly, the most frequent edible shrubs are Clerodendrum viscosum Vent., nom. superfl. (40), Lantana camara L. (35), Croton oblongifolius Roxb. (34) and Flemingia stobilifera (L.) R.Br. (20). The diversity of WEPs in Jharkhand has found to be depleted due to their over exploitation and unsustainable harvesting for foods, medicines as well as because of various other biotic interferences including grazing, herbivory and anthropogenic fire. Therefore, there isan urgent need to conserve these valuable Wild edible plants (WEPs) and use it in a sustainable manner to ensure future demand. Besides, further research is also warrant to explore the therapeutic potentials as well the nutritive values of WEPs, so that, it can give a scientific basis for the further development of herbal drugs and traditional foods.

The common and the rare: a review of Early Modern Dutch plant food consumption based on archaeobotanical urban cesspit data

Past plant food consumption has been studied diachronically and spatially for many Dutch settlements. However, research into the plant food consumption of Early Modern Dutch inhabitants of urban settlements is somewhat underrepresented in the scientific archaeobotanical literature. To fill this knowledge gap, archaeobotanical data from cesspits dating to the period ad 1500–1850 contained in the Dutch Relational Archaeobotanical Database were analysed. First, edible plant taxa were distinguished from medicinal plants and potentially edible weeds. Then, seeds and fruits were distinguished from pollen. Finally, the remains were quantified to form an overview of the plant taxa consumed per urban settlement and, from there, to provide insight into regional and temporal changes in plant food availability and preferences. The combined archaeobotanical dataset, consisting of cesspit material from 51 cities, comprised 97 edible plant taxa. Surprisingly, 20 of these taxa are consistently present in 50–100% of all settlements in the 350 years under study. Based on the archaeobotanical finds from the cesspits, we conclude that the overall plant food consumption of Early Modern Dutch urban inhabitants does not seem to have changed very much over time.

Economic Importance of Weeds: A Review

Weeds are plants that are unwanted in a given situation and may be harmful, dangerous or economically detrimental. They are responsible for substantial losses of farm production and extensive damage to the environment. Weeds, through competition with other plants, would almost always have deleterious effects on them and can have a lethal effect on livestock through consumption of weeds containing poisonous chemicals in the pasture. Weed invasion has become the most dreaded and deleterious impact of weeds in nature; it adversely affects agriculture, alters the balance of ecological communities, disrupts the natural diversity and interferes in the aesthetic value of the environment. Weeds can interfere in water management, thereby reducing the economic value of water. Weeds, however, besides their deleterious impacts in nature, have many beneficial properties, which include, but not limited to benefits of weeds to companion plants, ethnomedical and ethnopharmaceutical uses of weeds, ethnobotanical uses of wild edible weeds, and the use of weeds as feed for livestock. In the light of myriads of deleterious effects and benefits accompanying weeds, it is suggested that more studies should be carried out on weed control and weed management. Also, further explorations on the potential uses of weeds to man, his environments and livestock should be undertaken.

Edible weeds: Are urban environments fit for foraging?

Foraging wild-growing edible plants (WEPs) is a re-emerging practice with increasing popularity worldwide, including in urban areas. However, in cities, this practice raises questions about the safety of foraging these plants for human consumption, due to the potential exposure of plants to higher levels of pollutants. In this study, the concentration of 12 elements (Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Rb, Cd, Ba and Pb) in three different WEPs (Amaranthus spp., Plantago tomentosa and Taraxacum officinale) were determined according to different traffic categories in the municipality of São Paulo. Additionally, plants were sampled within the inner areas of three municipal parks in the same study region. Different gradients of elemental concentrations were obtained according to the traffic categories. Freeways presented higher concentrations of several elements than local roads or parks. For the WEPs collected along freeways and some plants along arterial roads, the concentrations of Pb exceeded safety levels for human consumption. Our data suggest that foraging in large urban centres should be performed preferentially in low-traffic areas.

Control of butters in lines culinaris medic

Goal. To develop an effective system for the protection of crops of lentils from weeds by chemical methods. Objective: to investigate the dynamics of the processes of weed infestation, the species composition of weeds, the structure, number and mass of weeds; to study the factors of the negative impact of weeds on lentil plants in the process of their joint vegetation; search and evaluation in field conditions of the effectiveness of herbicides and their compositions on edible lentil crops.
 Methods. Common and special methods: field — the study of the influence of growing conditions and winter hardiness on the performance indicators of edible lentils; laboratory — determination of quantitative and qualitative signs; statistical — the establishment of mathematical models and statistical dependencies between the studied factors and processes.
 Results. It has been established that with the use of the herbicide Zenkor, 70WG, the consumption rate of 0.6 kg / ha of edible lentil yield was 1.45 t / ha and was the highest in the experience with the use of herbicides.
 Conclusion. Edible lentil weeds are dangerous competitors for life factors of plant crops. The presence of weeds in crops during the entire vegetation can reduce the yield of seeds by 86.7%. For a high yield of lentil seed, reliable protection against weeds is a prerequisite.

Management practices influence the competitive potential of weed communities and their value to biodiversity in South African vineyards

SummaryWeeds have negative impacts on crop production but also play a role in sustaining biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. This trade‐off raises the question of whether it is possible to promote weed communities with low competitive potential but high value to biodiversity. Here, we explored how weed communities respond to different vineyard management practices in South Africa's Western Cape, aiming to identify whether any specific practices are associated with more beneficial weed communities. Eight weed community characteristics representative of abundance, diversity and functional composition were used as indicators of competitive potential and biodiversity value. We explored how these responded to farm management strategy (organic, low input or conventional) and weed management practices (herbicides, tillage, mowing or combinations of these) using ordination and mixed models. Mown sites were associated with weed communities of high biodiversity value, with higher weed cover in both winter and summer, higher diversity and more native weeds. Mowing also promoted shorter weeds than either tillage or herbicides, considered to be less competitive with grapevines. However, high summer weed cover may be problematic where competition for water is critical, in which case tillage offers a method to limit summer weed cover that did not adversely affect diversity or native weeds. In contrast, herbicide‐treated sites had characteristics indicative of a lower biodiversity value and higher potential for competitiveness with few native weeds, lower diversity and relatively tall, small‐seeded weeds. Mowing in winter combined with tillage in spring may thus optimise the biodiversity benefits and production costs of Western Cape vineyard weeds.