Technical demands and political restrictions for weed control

Abstract

Crop production has become very efficient in developed countries. One factor that has contributed to this success is modern weed control tools. Cropping practices have changed considerably within the last century. Today, spring crops are grown on a much smaller scale in Europe than a hundred years ago. Oats and potatoes are minor crops whereas winter cereals and maize have become the most important crops of European agriculture. This fact combined with a high amount of manure from animal production had a much greater impact on biodiversity than herbicides. Efficient herbicides have been used against a number of weed species such as blackgrass or mayweed in cereals or barnyardgrass and lambsquarters in maize for almost forty years. None of these major weed problems, however, has disappeared. Weed species have physiologically adapted and have become resistant. The application of Council directive 91/414/EEC has resulted in a reduction of production tools for the farmer. With the implementation of regulation EC 1107/2009 it can be expected that the number of active ingredients available to the farmer will be even more decreased. Also, the development of new herbicides will become more difficult for agrochemical companies. Farmers will have less tools to control weeds and will face a drastic increase of resistance problems. In consequence, ploughing and other mechanical tools will become necessary resulting in higher production costs and more economic pressure on farmers.

Keywords

• biodiversity
• changes in crop husbandry
• landscape management
• rare weeds
• regulation on plant protection products
• weed resistance