Abstract Weed control is necessary in agriculture, but it is also known to be one of the main drivers of plant biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes. Since biodiversity is essential for ecosystem service provision, new approaches in weed management are needed to simultaneously increase biodiversity and prevent yield losses due to weed competition. In this study, we investigated the establishment of undersowing cereals with rare arable plant (RAP) species, their weed suppression ability and influence on spring barley yield. We collected data at the species level for RAP and weed coverage and their fluctuations during a 3‐year on‐farm trial, supplemented by a second 1‐year on‐farm trial to confirm the results, both located in Southwestern Germany. The experiments were set up as randomized complete block designs with four treatments consisting of a control, a topsoil translocation and two treatments with seeded RAP species mixtures at two levels (low vs. high number of seeds). Our results indicate a successful reintroduction of 55% (6 of 11 species) by seeded RAP mixtures and 15% (3 of 20 species) of species translocated via topsoil. Seeded RAP mixtures achieved RAP coverages up to 17%, while topsoil translocation reached a maximum of 11%. Over the 3 years, we recognized a fluctuation in RAP coverage in the topsoil translocation of −4.5%, while we noted a fluctuation in RAP coverage in the seeded treatments of more than −50%. We found a maximum reduction in common weed coverage by 77% in plots containing high numbers of RAP seeds. Spring barley yield achieved 2.5–3.5 t ha −1 and was neither significantly affected by RAP mixtures, common weeds or both. Synthesis and Applications . The establishment of RAP in spring barley suppressed common weeds and reduced their coverage. This led us to the assumption of a natural weed suppression that can be considered for biodiversity‐enhancing approaches in weed management. For weed management, we recommend seeding mixtures of RAP, whereas topsoil translocation requires further investigation to ensure optimal application.

BackgroundWeeds, which have long seen as nutrient competitors for crops, have made chemical weeding mainstream in agriculture. However, in Guangxi’s Longsheng Terraces, a global agricultural heritage site, the Zhuang, Yao and Dong peoples value them as medicine, food, feed and even tools. This undocumented traditional knowledge, under chemical agriculture and tourism pressures, is on the verge of extinction.MethodsThis study integrates research methods from ethnobotany and weed science and conducts a survey on weed species across 11 types of farmlands, including paddy fields and corn fields in the Longsheng Terraces. It focuses on traditional knowledge of weed utilization among the Zhuang, Yao, and Dong ethnic groups. A total of 36 key informants were recruited using snowball sampling supplemented by referrals from local government agencies. Through semi-structured interviews, data on the local names, uses, utilized parts, and frequency of use of these weeds were recorded. Additionally, indicators such as frequency of citation (FC), informant consensus factor (FIC) and use value (UV) were employed to analyze their value quantitatively.ResultsA total of 49 weed species feature traditional utilization value, covering four major categories: medicinal use (41 species, accounting for 81.6%), edible, forage, and tool material use. Among them, Polygonum hydropiper, Plantago asiatica, Lygodium microphyllum, Actinidia chinensis, and Boehmeria nivea had the highest use value. In terms of usage consensus, there was a high level of consensus within the community regarding weed utilization knowledge for conditions such as coryza and snake bites. Notably, 29 medicinal weeds have not been recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. Among the 14 medicinal weeds that are included in the Pharmacopoeia, the uses of nine species remain unrecorded, which indicates that these weeds have potential development value. Analysis of ethnic differences revealed that the Yao ethnic group utilized the most abundant weed species, followed by the Zhuang and the Dong. The similarity coefficient analysis revealed that the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups presented the highest similarity in weed utilization knowledge, whereas the similarity between the Zhuang and Dong ethnic groups was the lowest. The inheritance of traditional knowledge showed a significant intergenerational decreasing trend, with no gender difference observed. Additionally, the impact of tourism development on the weed utilization rate did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionsThis study reveals the multidimensional value of weeds in the Longsheng Terraces and the traditional ecological wisdom they embody, providing significant reference values for biodiversity conservation, traditional knowledge inheritance, and sustainable agricultural development at global agricultural cultural heritage sites. Moreover, systematic research and protective measures are needed to prevent the loss of these valuable resources due to improper management.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13002-025-00832-x.

Hairy fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) is a widespread and troublesome weed in agricultural systems, and estimating its leaf area (LA) is essential for growth analysis and weed management studies. This study aimed to develop equations to estimate the LA based on the linear dimensions of leaf blades. The relationships between the LA and the dimensional parameters of leaf blade (length and width) were studied in C. bonariensis var. angustifolia and C. bonariensis var. bonariensis. Both linear and power regression models were tested, and their performance was assessed using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), index of agreement (dw), BIAS index, Pearson’s linear coefficient (r), and index of confidence or performance (c). The best-performing model used the product of length and width (L×W), yielding the highest r values and the lowest RMSE for both botanical varieties. Specific models provided better estimates than the general model. The linear equations LA = 0.6578 × (L×W) and LA = 0.5896 × (L×W) for C. bonariensis var. angustifolia and C. bonariensis var. bonariensis, respectively, were the most accurate for estimating their LA. These equations offer reliable, non-destructive tools for estimating LA in studies involving each variety, contributing to improved precision in weed science research.

Abstract Waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D. Sauer] is one of the most problematic weeds in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production in the Midwestern United States. In recent years, the adoption of soybean resistant to dicamba, 2,4‐D, and/or glufosinate have enabled the use of these herbicides to improve control of problematic weeds. Field experiments were conducted in Indiana in 2021 and 2022 to determine effective herbicide programs for controlling a waterhemp population resistant to herbicides in Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) Groups 2, 4, 5, 9, and 14. Two soybean varieties, one resistant to dicamba, glufosinate, and glyphosate, and the other resistant to 2,4‐D, glufosinate, and glyphosate were evaluated. Preemergence applications included an auxin herbicide, either 2,4‐D or dicamba, applied with pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin. Postemergence applications included combinations of 2,4‐D or dicamba, glyphosate, and glufosinate. No more than 6% soybean injury from all postemergence applications was observed in 2021 and no injury was observed in 2022. By 21 days after the second postemergence application, two‐pass herbicide programs increased waterhemp control by at least 30% compared to one‐pass systems. Comparatively, two pass postemergence programs were more effective in 2021 and preemergence followed by postemergence programs were more effective in 2022. Control of waterhemp with 2,4‐D and dicamba was similar in 2021; however, 2,4‐D was more effective than dicamba in 2022, indicating the diminishing utility of dicamba in this field. Results from this study suggest that effective control of multiple‐resistant waterhemp population is most likely achieved with two‐pass herbicide programs that include 2,4‐D tank‐mixed with other effective herbicides, such as glufosinate.

Weed control is fundamental to modern agriculture, underpinning crop productivity, food security, and the economic sustainability of farming operations. Herbicides have long been the cornerstone of effective weed management, significantly enhancing agricultural yields over recent decades. However, the field now faces critical challenges, including stagnation in the discovery of new herbicide modes of action (MOAs) and the escalating prevalence of herbicide-resistant weed populations. High research and development costs, coupled with stringent regulatory hurdles, have impeded the introduction of novel herbicides, while the widespread reliance on glyphosate-based systems has accelerated resistance development. In response to these issues, advanced image-based plant phenotyping technologies have emerged as pivotal tools in addressing herbicide-related challenges in weed science. Utilizing sensor technologies such as hyperspectral, multispectral, RGB, fluorescence, and thermal imaging methods, plant phenotyping enables the precise monitoring of herbicide drift, analysis of resistance mechanisms, and development of new herbicides with innovative MOAs. The integration of machine learning algorithms with imaging data further enhances the ability to detect subtle phenotypic changes, predict herbicide resistance, and facilitate timely interventions. This review comprehensively examines the application of image phenotyping technologies in weed science, detailing various sensor types and deployment platforms, exploring modeling methods, and highlighting unique findings and innovative applications. Additionally, it addresses current limitations and proposes future research directions, emphasizing the significant contributions of phenotyping advancements to sustainable and effective weed management strategies. By leveraging these sophisticated technologies, the agricultural sector can overcome existing herbicide challenges, ensuring continued productivity and resilience in the face of evolving weed pressures.

This generation of scientists is living through the genomics revolution. While this revolution has been slower to reach weed science than some other disciplines, genome sequences ecode essential information for meeting the challenges that the agricultural system needs to withstand. Sequencing weed genomes can provide insights into past and current evolutionary processes, allow us to determine the genetic basis of key traits, and to understand the current connections among populations informing effective management strategies. Weed genomics, therefore, can be the factor that allows us to address the chronic challenge represented by the evolution of herbicide resistance because it provides the basis for understanding how weed genomes have changed with their changing environment.

Abstract The history of weed science as a discipline has been a topic of interest for decades, but it is rare for researchers to consider publications prior to the 19th century or that were not focused on North America. In this article, the development of weed identification manuals in early modern England is documented out of two genres of premodern scientific writing: agricultural treatises and illustrated herbals. These two forms of writing intersected in the late 18th century with the publication of Thomas Martyn’s four-volume Flora rustica, an illustrated guide to plants in British agricultural systems. We argue that the key characteristics of modern North American weed identification guides in English (the use of the term weed to categorize plants, descriptions of plant habitats, and the use of detailed descriptions and/or illustrations of plants for identification purposes) originated in these premodern texts.

In winter 2018, the study was conducted during the winter season at the Weed Science Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, to find out whether Amaltas (C. fistula) causes allelopathy in C. arvensis. A total of three replicates were used in a CRD design. Extracts of Amaltas were mixed at 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% and added to field bindweed seedlings at 0.25%, 0.50%, 1%, 2%, 4%, and 8%. Water extracts from C. fistula were used in laboratory experiments. This study used established methods to gather data on seedling emergence, seedling shapes, and the weights of C. arvensis seedlings. A Fisher analysis of variance was used, and results with a 5% probability level were considered significant. It was found that the aqueous extracts from C. fistula significantly suppressed the growth and germination of field bindweed. In particular, the percentage of germination, average germination time, germination index, and the time required for half of the seeds to germinate were all affected by the presence of C. fistula extracts. These compounds also notably cut down on the seedling shoot length, root length, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, and shoot dry weight. It is possible that the phenolics and flavonoids in extracts of C. fistula subdued growth by disrupting the systems important for seeds to grow and expand. It was suggested in the study that water extracts of C. fistula could act as natural herbicides to help manage weeds sustainably. In-depth findings could lead to better application rates, timing, and methods, as well as reveal which allelochemicals cause these effects.

Weeds are a troublesome category because they are plants with a mind of their own. They do not fall neatly into human dichotomies of wild plants versus domesticated plants, and as such have defied absolute definition for hundreds of years. This article traces attempts to define and study weeds from the late medieval period to the present day across disciplinary boundaries, moving between early modern agricultural writing, contemporary weed science, environmental history and archaeology, and biogeography. Two approaches to the study of weeds are laid out in this article: how people have defined the word weed over the course of centuries, and how the concept of the weed has been applied to specific plants. Drawing from work in vegetal agency and relationality, this article argues for weeds to be understood as unintended plants that play a role as neighbors and partners in agroecological systems rather than as unwanted plants, bad plants, or plants in the wrong place. Ultimately, this article argues for this ecological understanding of weeds as independent actors as a way to push scholars to recontextualize the ways in which they study the histories and futures of more-than-human elements in the world, particularly plants.

Abstract Weeds belonging to the Amaranthus family are most problematic for soybean producers. With Palmer amaranth evolving resistance to multiple herbicides labeled for use in soybean, producers seek new sites of action to integrate into season-long herbicide programs. Bayer CropScience plans to launch a Convintro™ brand of herbicides, one being a premixture that will include diflufenican (categorized as a Group 12 herbicide by the Weed Science Society of America [WSSA]), metribuzin (WSSA Group 5), and flufenacet (WSSA Group 15), for use preemergence in soybean. Research trials were conducted in Fayetteville and Keiser, AR, and Holt, MI, in 2022 and 2023, to evaluate the premixture in a season-long program in a dicamba-resistant soybean system. A 0.17:0.35:0.48 ratio of a premixture of diflufenican:metribuzin:flufenacet (DFF-containing premixture) was applied preemergence with different combinations of glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, and acetochlor at 28 (early postemergence) and 42 (late postermergence) days after planting (DAP). At the early postemergence timing, the DFF-containing premixture provided >90% control of Palmer amaranth and prickly sida. However, common ragweed, common lambsquarters, morningglory ssp., and annual grass control was ≤80% at this timing. When the late postemergence applications occurred, treatments that had already received an early postemergence application controlled prickly sida, morningglory ssp., Palmer amaranth, and annual grasses to a greater extent than those that had not, indicating the preemergence application of the DFF-containing premixture was not sufficient to provide control of the weed spectrum through 42 DAP. By 70 DAP, all programs provided ≥93% control of all weeds evaluated. Herbicide programs that included the DFF-containing premixture preemergence followed by (fb) EPOST fb LPOST common ragweed, common lambsquarters, morningglory ssp., and annual grasses to a greater than the one-pass postemergence systems. In addition, all herbicide programs evaluated in this study reduced Palmer amaranth seed production by >99%. However, producers who plan to use the DFF-containing premixture may need two postemergence herbicide applications to obtain high levels of weed control throughout the growing season.

Abstract Italian ryegrass control is one of the most significant limitations in wheat production in the United States today. Resistance to Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC)/Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) Groups 1, 2, and 9 in Arkansas have further complicated postemergence control, whereas residual herbicides still show effective weed control. One problem is the potential of HRAC/WSSA Group 15 herbicides to injure wheat when applied preemergence, indicating the need for a herbicide safener. A series of experiments were conducted in Fayetteville, AR, to evaluate crop tolerance and Italian ryegrass control using a capsule suspension (CS) formulation of S-metolachlor in conjunction with fenclorim-treated wheat. Experiments were conducted as a two-factor factorial with S-metolachlor applied at three rates (0.37, 0.74, and 1.12 kg ai ha–1) and a microencapsulated formulation of acetochlor at 1.05 kg ai ha–1, and three rates of a fenclorim seed treatment at 0, 0.5, and 2.0 g ai kg–1 of seed. Separate experiments utilized either a preemergence (PRE) or a delayed-preemergence (DPRE) application timing. In both experiments, S-metolachlor at 0.74 and 1.12 kg ai ha–1 provided 77% to 96% control of Italian ryegrass by preharvest, whereas acetochlor only provided 49% to 72% control. Visible wheat injury from PRE applications ranged from 7% to 49% for all treatments 21 d after treatment (DAT), with a reduction in injury when fenclorim-treated wheat was used for both the 0.74 and 1.12 kg ai ha–1 rate of S-metolachlor. In the DPRE experiments, wheat injury ranged from 5% to 16% 21 DAT with no noticeable safening from the presence of fenclorim at any herbicide rate. The results of these experiments indicate that a DPRE application using a CS formulation of S-metolachlor would be more favorable for producers to mitigate the potential for injury to wheat while providing Italian ryegrass control. Additionally, at the DPRE application timing, fenclorim is unnecessary for S-metolachlor to be safely applied at the rates evaluated.

The oil palm plant which has the Latin name Elaeis guineensis Jacq. is one of the main plantation commodities in Indonesia. The growth of weeds on oil palm cultivation land causes competition for growth facilities and affects the growth of oil palm plants (TBM). One of the active ingredients of herbicides used to control weeds in TBM oil palm plantations is metsulfuron methyl herbicide. This study aims to determine the effective dose of 20% metsulfuron methyl herbicide in suppressing weed growth in TBM oil palm plants, to determine changes in the composition of weed species that grow after the application of metsulfuron methyl herbicide, to determine the effect of phytotoxicity on TBM oil palm plants due to herbicide application. This research was conducted in an oil palm plantation in Braja Lebah Village, Braja Selebah District, East Lampung Regency and the Laboratory of Weed Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung from August to December 2022. This study used a Randomized Block Design (RAK) with 6 treatments 6 and 4 replications with metsulfuron methyl dose as follows 15; 20; 25; 30g/ha; mechanical weeding and control. The homogeneity of the variance of the data was tested by Barlett's test and the additivity of the data was tested by using the Tukey test and the difference in the mean treatment was tested by the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at the 5% level. The research results show that; (1) The herbicide methyl metsulfuron 20% at a dose of 15 – 30 g/ha is effective in controlling the growth of total weeds, the dominant weeds Asystasia gangetica and Praxelis climatidea, Boreria alata, Melastoma malabathricum and Richardia brasiliensis up to 12 MSA; (2) Metsulfuron Methyl Herbicide 20% at a dose of 15 – 30 g/ha caused a change in weed composition at 4, 8, and 12 MSA; (3) The application of 20% metsulfuron methyl herbicide at a dose of 15–30 g/ha does not cause poisoning in TBM oil palm plants. Keywords : efficacy, herbicide, oil palm, metsulfuron methyl

Abstract Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson, AMAPA) is one of the most troublesome weeds in North America due to its rapid growth rate, substantial seed production, competitiveness and the evolution of herbicide-resistant populations. Though frequently encountered in the South, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, A. palmeri was recently identified in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] fields in Genesee, Orange, and Steuben counties, NY, where glyphosate was the primary herbicide for in-crop weed control. This research, conducted in 2023, aimed to (1) describe the dose response of three putative resistant NY A. palmeri populations to glyphosate, (2) determine their mechanisms of resistance, and (3) assess their sensitivity to other postemergence herbicides commonly used in NY crop production systems. Based on the effective dose necessary to reduce aboveground biomass by 50% (ED50), the NY populations were 42 to 67 times more resistant to glyphosate compared with a glyphosate-susceptible population. Additionally, the NY populations had elevated EPSPS gene copy numbers ranging from 25 to 135 located within extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA). Label rate applications of Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) Group 2 herbicides killed up to 42% of the NY populations of A. palmeri. Some variability was observed among populations in response to WSSA Group 5 and 27 herbicides. All populations were effectively controlled by labeled rates of herbicides belonging to WSSA Groups 4, 10, 14, and 22. Additional research is warranted to confirm whether NY populations have evolved multiple resistance to herbicides within other WSSA groups and to develop effective A. palmeri management strategies suitable for NY crop production.

Weed is one of the major pests for crops with estimated global losses between 100 million and 26 billion USD. Therefore, weed management remains central for crop production. Weed science is evolving with time having paradigm shift from manual to robotic weed management. This transformation needs to be discerned for identifying the future research needs. This study explores global research trends in weed science using a bibliometric analysis. A total of 48,000 articles with ∽115,000 associated keywords were collected and analyzed. Our analysis showed that weed science research primarily focused on ecology of weed i.e., crop-weed-soil environment interactions, and different weed management techniques covering >50% of the keywords. Herbicide research such as formulation, effectiveness, and safe use was the most dominant research topic. Moreover, invasive species and their management using emerging technologies such as robotic weed management also received significant attention. Therefore, modern weed science has evolved as interdisciplinary science with intimate links to biology, ecology, chemistry, and engineering. The overview on weed science may guide the researchers in identifying the future research topics and preparing course contents on weed science.

The development and use of genomic resources has accelerated the advancement of agricultural production over the past several decades. Until recently, development of these resources for weed species lagged compared to other fields. Understanding the sequence and order of weed genomes unlocks the potential for research approaches to identify the genetic basis of important traits like herbicide resistance and abiotic stress tolerance. Knowledge around such traits can inform the development of more productive crops and further our understanding of adaptation mechanisms. Comparison of reference genome assemblies for many weed species also promises to improve weed management through characterization of new herbicide target sites and development of next generation weed control methods. Here, we briefly discuss the history of genomics in weed science and discuss the formation and current outcomes of the International Weed Genomics Consortium, a collaborative group of researchers working to make genomic resources for weed species accessible and usable to the research community. We finish with a forward looking discussion of the direction of genomics in weed science and possible uses of the resources that have recently been developed.

In 1925, the American entomologist Walter Sidney Abbott proposed an equation for assessing efficacy, and it is still widely used today for analysing controlled experiments in crop protection and phytomedicine. Typically, this equation is applied to each experimental unit and the efficacy estimates thus obtained are then used in analysis of variance and least squares regression procedures. However, particularly regarding the common assumptions of homogeneity of variance and normality, this approach is often inaccurate. In this tutorial paper, we therefore revisit Abbott’s equation and outline an alternative route to analysis via generalized linear mixed models that can satisfactorily deal with these distributional issues. Nine examples from entomology, weed science and phytopathology, each with a different focus and methodological peculiarity, are used to illustrate the framework.

Reflections on the Symposium of the Japanese Society for Environmental Education and the Weed Science Society of Japan

Towards a Collaborative Practice Sharing the Fields of Weed Science and Environmental Education Studies

The scarce knowledge about the behavior of seedlings of native forest species relative to sensitivity to herbicides associated with the current strategies for restoring degraded natural ecosystems justifies the execution of studies to assist in this management. This study aimed to evaluate the initial selectivity of two herbicides at three different doses for 80 species that occur in seasonal semideciduous forests and are widely used in restoration projects. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the herbicides oxyfluorfen (Experiment I) and sulfentrazone (Experiment II) at commercial dose, half the dose, and double the dose, as well as control without herbicide application. The experimental design of each experiment was completely randomized, with four replications. The percentage of phytotoxicity following a specific scale in the weed science field was evaluated at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days after treatment application (DAT), while the shoot dry mass was evaluated at 35 DAT. Most native species were classified in the range of 0–10% phytotoxicity for both herbicides. Considering phytotoxicity, the herbicide oxyfluorfen negatively affected the species Inga uruguensis, Erythroxylum argentinum, Pterogyne nitens, Miconia rigidiuscula, and Simira sampaioana. Sulfentrazone showed harmful effects on the species Myrciaria vexator, Piptadenia gonoacantha, Lonchocarpus campestris, Erythroxylum argentinum, Cariniana legalis, Randia armata, Inga vera, Solanum granulosoleprosum, Cupania vernalis, Seguieria langsdorffii, S. sampaioana, Maytenus gonoclada, and Handroanthus ochraceus. Only the species R. armata, Croton floribundus, and I. uruguensis showed a reduction in dry biomass relative to the control. Therefore, the herbicides oxyfluorfen and sulfentrazone can be recommended for weed management for most of the species studied in this study, except those listed above.

Abstract Weed science plays a vital role in mitigating the negative impacts of weeds in agriculture and natural ecosystems. However, the field has received criticism for its limited theoretical foundation and excessive focus on phenomenological and narrow scope. Our contention is that weed science needs to integrate more ecological theories to foster a deeper understanding of weed ecology, biology, and management. By embracing theoretical frameworks, weed science can enhance its ability to predict and explain weed dynamics, identify underlying mechanisms, and develop sustainable management strategies. This insight emphasizes the advantages of integrating theoretical approaches and offers practical recommendations to integrate ecological theory effectively into weed science research.