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Agronomy
Special Issues
Weed Ecology, Evolution and Management
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Weed Ecology, Evolution and Management

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Weed Science and Weed Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 3510

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mihály Zalai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Integrated Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Interests: weed biology; integrated weed management; digital plant protection
Dr. Zita Dorner

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Integrated Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Interests: weed control; weed competition; weed ecology
Dr. János György Nagy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Knowledge Technology, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Rákóczi út 53, 5100 Jászberény, Hungary
Interests: Sphagnum-dominated mires; floristic and coenological studies; ex-situ conservation; pollination of orchids

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Weed cover on agricultural land is influenced by a number of factors, such as the climate, farming practices, tillage, and crop rotation. Changes in these environmental elements have a direct impact on vegetation, including weed development. On the other hand, the tools used for weed control are constantly evolving, following traditional and modern technological conditions, and their influence on weed vegetation varies. The main aim of this Special Issue is to present work on the assessment of weed vegetation change and the analysis of the factors influencing it. Our aim is to highlight papers where different environmental and management effects are analyzed in detail, and where the authors look for links between these factors and weed vegetation change. This Special Issue may include both general overview papers, if they present a novel approach, and original research papers based on the analysis of a specific environmental or management factor or describing the specificities of particular geographical regions or farming/tillage systems. Research work in which the interaction of weed species or functional groups and/or that describes variables in deeper analyses of the background database is particularly welcome.

Dr. Mihály Zalai
Dr. Zita Dorner
Dr. János György Nagy
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • weed vegetation
  • tillage
  • mechanical weed control
  • herbicide weed control
  • weed control

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 1641 KiB  
Article
How Weed Flora Evolves in Cereal Fields in Relation to the Agricultural Environment and Farming Practices in Different Sub-Regions of Eastern Hungary
by Erzsébet Tóth, Zita Dorner, János György Nagy and Mihály Zalai
Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1033; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051033 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 199
Abstract
This study explores the relationship between abiotic factors, farming practices, and weed growth in winter wheat fields in Eastern Hungary. It examines the order of weed dominance and the influence of soil, environmental, and agricultural variables on weed composition and diversity before herbicide [...] Read more.
This study explores the relationship between abiotic factors, farming practices, and weed growth in winter wheat fields in Eastern Hungary. It examines the order of weed dominance and the influence of soil, environmental, and agricultural variables on weed composition and diversity before herbicide application. The research was conducted across four sub-regions in the Great Hungarian Plain, each with distinct soil, hydrological, and geographical conditions. Between 2018 and 2021, 103 fields were surveyed and weed species cover was recorded using EPPO-based identification and quadrat sampling. Soil properties, environmental conditions, and farming practices were documented through soil analysis, geographical data, and farmer interviews. Statistical analyses were preformed including ANCOVA, redundancy analysis, and Shannon diversity index calculations. The results show that common weed species include Veronica hederifolia, Stellaria media, and Apera spica-venti, with winter annuals dominating. Soil compaction and salinity affected weed diversity, while increased copper and zinc concentrations had minor effects on weed coverage. Farming practices, particularly tillage systems and fertilizer use, had a significant effect on species richness and diversity. Different regional and annual weed distributions were observed, with correlation between certain tillage systems and specific weed species. The results emphasize the need for climate-conscious farming practices, and we recommend prioritising shallow cultivation and deep loosening over ploughing in order to manage weed populations effectively. These insights contribute to sustainable weed management strategies in cereal production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Weed Ecology, Evolution and Management)
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16 pages, 33569 KiB  
Article
Assessing Weed Canopy Cover in No-Till and Conventional Tillage Plots in Winter Wheat Production Using Drone Data
by Judith N. Oppong, Clement E. Akumu and Sam Dennis
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2706; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112706 - 16 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1039
Abstract
Weed canopy cover assessment, particularly using drone-acquired data, plays a vital role in precision agriculture by providing accurate, timely, and spatially detailed information, enhancing weed management decision-making in response to environmental and management variables. Despite the significance of this approach, few studies have [...] Read more.
Weed canopy cover assessment, particularly using drone-acquired data, plays a vital role in precision agriculture by providing accurate, timely, and spatially detailed information, enhancing weed management decision-making in response to environmental and management variables. Despite the significance of this approach, few studies have investigated weed canopy cover through drone-based imagery. This study aimed to fill this gap by evaluating the effects of conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT) practices on weed canopy cover in a winter wheat field over two growing seasons. Results indicated that in the 2022–2023 season, weed populations were similar between tillage systems, with a high mean weed cover of 1.448 cm2 ± 0.241 in CT plots. In contrast, during the 2023–2024 season, NT plots exhibited a substantially higher mean weed cover (1.784 cm2 ± 0.167), with a significant overall variation (p < 0.05) in weed distribution between CT and NT plots. These differences suggest that, while CT practices initially mask weed emergence by burying seeds and disrupting root systems, NT practices encourage greater weed establishment over time by leaving seeds near the soil surface. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing weed management practices, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive approaches to improve weed control and overall crop productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Weed Ecology, Evolution and Management)
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21 pages, 6713 KiB  
Article
Interactions between Weeds, Pathogen Symptoms and Winter Rapeseed Stand Structure
by Lucie Vykydalová, Petra Martínez Barroso, Igor Děkanovský, Mária Neoralová, Yentriani Rumeta Lumbantobing and Jan Winkler
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2273; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102273 - 2 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 702
Abstract
Rapeseed, weeds, and pathogens interact with each other. However, these interactions are not well understood. The aim of our work was to describe the relationships between weed vegetation and pathogen manifestations in rapeseed stands. Results from the four seasons show that different rapeseed [...] Read more.
Rapeseed, weeds, and pathogens interact with each other. However, these interactions are not well understood. The aim of our work was to describe the relationships between weed vegetation and pathogen manifestations in rapeseed stands. Results from the four seasons show that different rapeseed stand structures produce different weed and pathogen responses. Eighteen weed species were identified in the rapeseed stands. The selected characteristics of rapeseed stands, pathogens, and weed manifestations were evaluated using redundancy analysis. Rapeseed stands with the highest levels of pathogens present (Alternaria brassiceae (Berk.) Sacc., Botrytis cinerea (De Bary) Whetzel, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, Verticilium longisporum (C.Stark) Karapapa, Bainbr & Heale) had the lowest seed yield. There, the weeds Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip., Sonchus arvensis L. were more abundant in dense stands, and Phoma lingam (telomorph: Leptosphaeria maculans Ces. & De Not.) was more common. Mutual positive interactions may also include the relationship between weed species of the Asteraceae family and increased manifestations of Phoma lingam. A similar relationship can be expected for the weeds Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., Descurainia sophia (L.) Prantl and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Weed Ecology, Evolution and Management)
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Review

Jump to: Research

20 pages, 360 KiB  
Review
The Occurrence and Diversity of Viruses Identified in Monocotyledonous Weeds
by Evans Duah Agyemang, Rita Ofosu, Francesco Desiderio, Zsuzsanna Nagyne Galbacs, András Péter Takács and Éva Várallyay
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010074 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 998
Abstract
In crop fields, weeds are perfect hosts for plant pathogenic viruses. The effects of these viruses can range from latent infection to plant death, affecting crop quality and yield and leading to economic loss in the world. Virus infection threatens cereals used as [...] Read more.
In crop fields, weeds are perfect hosts for plant pathogenic viruses. The effects of these viruses can range from latent infection to plant death, affecting crop quality and yield and leading to economic loss in the world. Virus infection threatens cereals used as food for most of the world’s population. Weeds growing in cereal fields can compete for essential supply and act as virus reservoirs, strengthening their deteriorating effect. In this review, we collected the current information on viruses presenting in the most important monocotyledonous weeds: Echinocloa crus-galli, Setaria viridis, Cynodon dactylon, Sorghum halepense and millet species growing as weeds. Identifying plant viruses in monocotyledonous weed hosts provides more information about viral infection flow and guides the development of management strategies for safeguarding our field crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Weed Ecology, Evolution and Management)
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