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Agronomy
Special Issues
Ecology and Management of Weeds in Different Situations
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Ecology and Management of Weeds in Different Situations

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 5560

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Bhagirath S. Chauhan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
Interests: weed biology; seed biology; IWM; non-chemical approaches; crop competition; cultural approaches
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Weeds persist as a significant concern in various ecosystems, agricultural fields, and natural landscapes, impacting biodiversity, productivity, and sustainability. This Special Issue aims to consolidate the current understanding of weed ecology and management across diverse environments. The historical context underscores humanity's persistent struggle against invasive plants, highlighting the need for innovative approaches and sustainable solutions.

We invite contributions presenting cutting-edge research revealing weed dynamics, biological traits, ecological interactions, and novel management strategies. Original research articles, comprehensive reviews, perspective pieces, and case studies exploring innovative techniques or offering new insights into weed control, adaptive management, and ecological restoration in varied contexts are solicited.

This Special Issue aspires to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and offer a comprehensive resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers engaged in combating weed-related challenges across diverse landscapes. Join us in advancing knowledge and devising sustainable weed management practices for different situations.

Prof. Dr. Bhagirath S. Chauhan
Guest Editor

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 ecology
  • seed biology
  • chemical control
  • non-chemical control
  • cultural control
  • biotechnological approaches

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 3553 KiB  
Article
Environmental Influences on Seed Germination and Seedling Emergence in Four Echinochloa Taxa
by Guohui Yuan, Yuan Gao, Jiapeng Fang, Guohui Shen and Zhihui Tian
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020401 - 3 Feb 2025
Viewed by 920
Abstract
Echinochloa species are troublesome weeds that cause serious problems in paddy fields. Due to the fact that the genus Echinochloa comprises numerous species and subspecies, research on its seed germination and emergence ecology is still insufficient. In this study, the influence of varying [...] Read more.
Echinochloa species are troublesome weeds that cause serious problems in paddy fields. Due to the fact that the genus Echinochloa comprises numerous species and subspecies, research on its seed germination and emergence ecology is still insufficient. In this study, the influence of varying temperatures; light, osmotic, and saline conditions; and depth of seed burial on the germination of Echinochloa seeds and the emergence of seedlings was determined through laboratory and pot tests: E. crus-galli var. crus-galli, E. crus-galli var. mitis, E. crus-galli var. praticola, and E. caudata. Seed germination of the constant temperatures in the four Echinochloa taxa was examined between 15 and 40 °C, and optimum germination occurred over the following temperature ranges: 25–35 °C for E. crus-galli var. crus-galli; 15–25 °C for E. crus-galli var. mitis; 15–40 °C for E. crus-galli var. praticola; and 15–35 °C for E. caudata. Fluctuating temperatures were conducive to seed germination in all four Echinochloa taxa. Except for E. crus-galli var. crus-galli and E. crus-galli var. mitis exposed to very acidic conditions (pH = 4), germination of seedlings from the four taxa of Echinochloa was not evidently affected by pH or light. Seed germination of the four Echinochloa taxa decreased as water stress decreased (<−0.2 MPa); however, it occurred across a wide spectrum of salt concentrations (0–320 mM NaCl). The seeds that were placed 0–0.5 cm below the surface had the highest rate of seedling emergence, which declined gradually as burial depth increased. This result demonstrates that deep tillage is an efficient management method for decreasing the seedling emergence of various weed species. This study’s findings will enhance our comprehension of the conditions necessary for the germination and emergence of Echinochloa seeds, as well as furnish information that may assist in managing its growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Weeds in Different Situations)
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9 pages, 241 KiB  
Article
Utilization of the Neighborhood Design to Evaluate Suitable Pasture Crops and Their Density for Navua Sedge (Cyperus aromaticus) Management
by Chanwoo Kim and Bhagirath Singh Chauhan
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 759; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040759 - 7 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1082
Abstract
Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus), a perennial plant native to Africa, poses a significant weed concern due to its capacity for seed and rhizome fragment dissemination. Infestations can diminish pasture carrying capacity, displacing desirable species. Despite the burgeoning interest in integrated weed [...] Read more.
Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus), a perennial plant native to Africa, poses a significant weed concern due to its capacity for seed and rhizome fragment dissemination. Infestations can diminish pasture carrying capacity, displacing desirable species. Despite the burgeoning interest in integrated weed management strategies, information regarding the efficacy of competitive interactions with other pasture species for Navua sedge management remains limited. A pot trial investigated the competitive abilities of 14 diverse broadleaf and grass pasture species. The results indicated a range of the reduction in Navua sedge dry biomass from 6% to 98% across these species. Subsequently, three broadleaf species—burgundy bean (Macroptilium bracteatum), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and lablab (Lablab purpureus), and three grass species—Gatton panic (Megathyrsus maximus), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana), and signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) were chosen for a follow-up pot trial based on their superior dry biomass performance. These six species were planted at three varying densities (44, 88, and 176 plants/m2) surrounding a Navua sedge plant. Among the grass pasture species, Gatton panic and Rhodes grass exhibited high competitiveness, resulting in a minimum decrease of 86% and 99%, respectively, in Navua sedge dry biomass. Regarding the broadleaf species, lablab displayed the highest competitiveness, causing a minimum decrease of 99% in Navua sedge dry biomass. This study highlights the increasing efficacy of crop competition in suppressing weed growth and seed production, with the most significant suppression observed at a density of 176 plants/m2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Weeds in Different Situations)
17 pages, 2720 KiB  
Article
Weed Species’ Diversity and Composition as Shaped by the Interaction of Management, Site, and Soil Variables in Olive Groves of Southern Greece
by Petros Vahamidis, Demosthenis Chachalis, Antigoni Akrivou, Evangelos Karanasios, Maria Ganopoulou, Apostolia Argiri, Athanasia Mandoulaki, Evangelos Hatzigiannakis, Georgios Arampatzis, Andreas Panagopoulos, Irene Mantzouni and Emilia Markellou
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030640 - 21 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2324
Abstract
Gaining a comprehensive understanding of how weed communities respond to both environmental and human-induced factors is of paramount importance in developing effective and ecologically sound weed control strategies. The objectives of the current research were to (1) assess the effect of the main [...] Read more.
Gaining a comprehensive understanding of how weed communities respond to both environmental and human-induced factors is of paramount importance in developing effective and ecologically sound weed control strategies. The objectives of the current research were to (1) assess the effect of the main weed management practices used in Greek olive groves on weed species’ diversity; (2) explore the filtering effect of management, site, and soil variables in determining weed species’ composition; and (3) shed light on the association between weed species’ composition and the diversity of the understory vegetation of olive groves. To accomplish these objectives, winter weed species’ coverage was assessed in 116 olive groves, both conventional and organic, distributed across three provinces in southern Greece. The investigation encompassed 29 explanatory variables, categorized into three groups: soil (22), management practices (6), and site conditions (1). It was confirmed that glyphosate use may lower biodiversity and species richness; however, this trend was not universal. In fact, the negative influence of the presence of Oxalis pes-caprae L. on species richness and diversity far outweighed the effect of spraying glyphosate. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that among the 29 variables used to describe the ecological niche, eight (i.e., Mn, Mg, chemical spraying, mowing, rotary tiller, grazing, irrigation, and elevation) were significant and explained 21.5% of the total variation in weed species’ data. Interestingly, the soil Mn concentration was identified as the most influential one, highlighting the importance of soil micronutrients in determining weed species’ composition. The variation partitioning procedure demonstrated that the effect of the management variables on weed species’ composition accounted for 2.2 times the variance of soil variables and 4.5 times the variance of elevation. The present findings might help to enhance optimal management in olive groves that can sustain the biodiversity of flora and, in turn, provide various ecosystem services to agro-ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Weeds in Different Situations)
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