Non-Chemical Weed Control

Description

Non-Chemical Weed Control is the first book to present an overview of plant crop protection against non-food plants using non-chemical means. Plants growing wild―particularly unwanted plants found in cultivated ground to the exclusion of the desired crop―have been treated with herbicides and chemical treatments in the past. As concern over environmental, food and consumer safety increases, research has turned to alternatives, including the use of cover crops, thermal treatments and biotechnology to reduce and eliminate unwanted plants. This book provides insight into existing and emerging alternative crop protection methods and includes lessons learned from past methodologies. As crop production resources decline while consumer concerns over safety increase, the effective control of weeds is imperative to insure the maximum possible levels of soil, sunlight and nutrients reach the crop plants. Allows reader to identify the most appropriate solution based on their individual use or case Provides researchers, students and growers with current concepts regarding the use of modern, environment-friendly weed control techniques Presents methods of weed management―an important part of integrated weed management in the future Exploits the knowledge gained from past sustainable weed management efforts Content: Front Cover Non-Chemical Weed Control Copyright Contents Contributors Preface Chapter 1: Overview and Significance of Non-Chemical Weed Control 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Herbicide-Resistant Weeds 1.3. Environmental and Health Challenges 1.4. Food Security and Weed Control 1.5. Organic Crop Production and Weed Control 1.6. Role of Non-Chemical Weed Control in Integrated Weed Management 1.7. Role of Non-Chemical Weed Control in Home Lawns, Home Grown Vegetables 1.8. An Overview of Recent Non-Chemical Weed Control Methodologies 1.9. Conclusions References Further Reading Chapter 2: Thermal Weed Control: History, Mechanisms, and Impacts2.1. Introduction 2.2. Effect of Heat on Plant and Environment 2.2.1. Heat Versus Plant Growth 2.2.1.1. Seed Mortality or Reduced Vigor 2.2.1.2. Photosynthesis Inhibition 2.2.1.3. Metabolic Imbalance 2.2.1.4. Membrane Permeability 2.2.1.5. Enzyme Denaturation and Protein Turnover 2.2.1.6. Inhibition of Reproductive Development 2.2.1.7. Reduced Plant Biomass 2.2.2. Effects of Heat on Soil Properties 2.2.2.1. Physical Properties 2.2.2.2. Chemical Properties 2.2.2.3. Biological Properties 2.3. Thermal Weed Control Technologies2.3.1. Soil Solarization 2.3.1.1. Mechanism 2.3.1.2. Effect on Weed Growth and Reproduction 2.3.1.3. Merits and Demerits 2.3.2. Flaming 2.3.2.1. History 2.3.2.2. Mechanism 2.3.2.3. Effect on Weed Growth and Reproduction 2.3.2.4. Merits and Demerits 2.3.3. Hot Water 2.3.3.1. History 2.3.3.2. Mechanism 2.3.3.3. Effect on Weed Growth and Reproduction 2.3.3.4. Merits and Demerits 2.3.4. Saturated Steam 2.3.4.1. History 2.3.4.2. Mechanism 2.3.4.3. Effect on Weed Growth and Reproduction 2.3.4.4. Merits and Demerits 2.3.5. Hot Foam 2.3.5.1. History2.3.5.2. Mechanism 2.3.5.3. Effect on Weed Growth and Reproduction 2.3.5.4. Merits and Demerits 2.4. Conclusions References Further Reading Chapter 3: The Use of Physics in Weed Control 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Thermal Weed Control 3.2.1. Flaming 3.2.2. Steam Treatment 3.2.3. Convective Heating 3.3. Electrical Systems 3.3.1. Electrocution 3.3.2. Electrostatic Fields 3.4. Electromagnetic Fields 3.4.1. Microwave Weed Control 3.4.2. Infrared Radiation 3.4.3. Ultraviolet Radiation 3.5. Lasers 3.6. Robots 3.7. Abrasive Weed Control (Weed Blasting) 3.8. ConclusionsAppendix A Appendix B References Chapter 4: Weed Control Using Ground Cover Systems 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Plastic (Black Polyethylene) Covering 4.3. Straw Covering 4.4. Paper/Newspaper/Cloth Mulch 4.5. Wood Chips 4.6. Use of Mats and Carpets for Weed Control 4.7. Use of Degradable and Paper Mulches 4.8. Other Mulches 4.9. Conclusions References Chapter 5: Weed Control Through Crop Plant Manipulations 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Manipulations of Cover Plants 5.2.1. Weed Suppression During the Period of Cover Crop Growth