Topics of weed science in Germany - as exemplified by the „German Conference on Weed Biology and Weed Control“ between 1955 and 2012

Abstract

Weeds were described very early as an annoying thing of arable farming. The direct weed control was done mechanically until selective herbicides were discovered in the 1940s. Because of that the research in weed science was extended. To find out the topics of weed science in Germany the proceedings of the “Deutsche Arbeitsbesprechung über Fragen der Unkrautbiologie und -bekämpfung / German Conference on Weed Biology and Weed Control” between 1955 and 2012 were investigated. The conference took place 25 times with 159 sections and 1,639 contributions. In this paper some priorities and specifications will be shown. In the 1950s and 1960s wild oat (Avena fatua) was an important weed. The unwanted side effects of herbicides have been in the spotlight since late 1960s and they are still discussed. In the 1990s up to 2002 reports about computer models for decision support were presented. Also the impact of agricultural policies as the mandatory set-aside was topic in the 1990s. Since 1994 Precision Farming was discussed regularly, since 2000 with an own section.

Keywords

• environment
• history
• precision farming
• resistance