PapersFlow Research Brief
Weed Control and Herbicide Applications
Research Guide
What is Weed Control and Herbicide Applications?
Weed control and herbicide applications refer to the practices and chemical interventions used to manage weed populations in agricultural systems, including the application of herbicides like glyphosate to minimize crop losses while addressing challenges such as herbicide resistance.
This field encompasses 54,396 published works on weed management, herbicide resistance, and herbicide impacts on crop losses. Key areas include glyphosate use, integrated pest management, non-chemical methods, dose-response analysis, crop rotation, and herbicide effects on plant physiology. Studies document the global distribution of resistant weeds and the evolution of resistance under persistent herbicide selection.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Glyphosate Resistance Evolution
This sub-topic examines mechanisms of glyphosate resistance (EPSPS mutations, gene amplification, vacuolar sequestration) and evolutionary dynamics in weed populations. Researchers model resistance spread and management thresholds.
Herbicide Resistance Multiple Species
This sub-topic surveys multiple herbicide resistance across weed species, fitness costs, and cross-resistance patterns. Global databases track resistance cases and inform herbicide rotation strategies.
Integrated Weed Management Systems
This sub-topic develops diversified weed control combining cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods within cropping systems. Researchers evaluate IWM economic viability and long-term weed suppression efficacy.
Non-Chemical Weed Control Methods
This sub-topic investigates mechanical (tillage, mowing), physical (flaming, mulching), and biological (cover crops, allelopathy) weed suppression tactics. Field trials assess weed control efficacy and crop safety.
Herbicide Dose-Response Modeling
This sub-topic applies log-logistic and other nonlinear models to characterize herbicide dose-response curves and resistance detection. Researchers develop standardized protocols for resistance monitoring programs.
Why It Matters
Weed control and herbicide applications directly reduce crop losses by targeting weeds that compete with crops for resources. Heap (1997) conducted an international survey documenting 3087 citations worth of data on herbicide-resistant weeds, highlighting the scale of resistance as a global challenge affecting food production. Powles and Yu (2010) explained how herbicides enable weed removal across vast areas but drive rapid resistance evolution in huge weed populations, as seen with glyphosate, which Benbrook (2016) traced in usage trends showing its dominance since 1974. Duke and Powles (2008) noted glyphosate's role as a broad-spectrum herbicide safe for toxicology and environment, applied in systems substituting soil cultivation. Seefeldt et al. (1995) provided log-logistic models for dose-response, essential for calibrating applications against resistant biotypes.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
Start with 'Glyphosate: a once‐in‐a‐century herbicide' by Duke and Powles (2008) because it explains glyphosate's foundational role, efficacy, and safety, providing context for resistance and management challenges cited 1660 times.
Key Papers Explained
Heap (1997) 'International survey of herbicide-resistant weeds' (3087 citations) establishes global resistance patterns, which Powles and Yu (2010) 'Evolution in Action: Plants Resistant to Herbicides' (1676 citations) mechanistically explains through selection pressures. Duke and Powles (2008) 'Glyphosate: a once‐in‐a‐century herbicide' (1660 citations) details glyphosate's dominance, building on Heap's data. Benbrook (2016) 'Trends in glyphosate herbicide use in the United States and globally' (1755 citations) quantifies usage trends driving resistance. Seefeldt et al. (1995) 'Log-Logistic Analysis of Herbicide Dose-Response Relationships' (1342 citations) offers analytical tools to measure responses in resistant weeds.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Frontiers involve modeling resistance evolution and integrating non-chemical methods with herbicides. Powles and Yu (2010) highlight ongoing selection in vast croplands. Seefeldt et al. (1995) models support precision dosing against resistant biotypes.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Speed of Germination—Aid In Selection And Evaluation for Seedl... | 1962 | Crop Science | 4.4K | ✕ |
| 2 | International survey of herbicide-resistant weeds | 1997 | — | 3.1K | ✕ |
| 3 | The biology of Canadian weeds | 1991 | Canadian Journal of Pl... | 2.5K | ✕ |
| 4 | The World’s Worst Weeds. Distribution and Biology | 1978 | Pedobiologia | 2.5K | ✓ |
| 5 | Jasmonates: An Update on Biosynthesis, Signal Transduction and... | 2007 | Annals of Botany | 1.8K | ✓ |
| 6 | Trends in glyphosate herbicide use in the United States and gl... | 2016 | Environmental Sciences... | 1.8K | ✓ |
| 7 | Evolution in Action: Plants Resistant to Herbicides | 2010 | Annual Review of Plant... | 1.7K | ✕ |
| 8 | Glyphosate: a once‐in‐a‐century herbicide | 2008 | Pest Management Science | 1.7K | ✕ |
| 9 | Growth–Defense Tradeoffs in Plants: A Balancing Act to Optimiz... | 2014 | Molecular Plant | 1.6K | ✓ |
| 10 | Log-Logistic Analysis of Herbicide Dose-Response Relationships | 1995 | Weed Technology | 1.3K | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the global status of herbicide-resistant weeds?
Heap (1997) in 'International survey of herbicide-resistant weeds' cataloged resistant weed populations worldwide. The survey tracks species, herbicides, and regions affected. It serves as a key resource for monitoring resistance spread.
How has glyphosate usage trended globally?
Benbrook (2016) in 'Trends in glyphosate herbicide use in the United States and globally' analyzed patterns since its 1974 introduction. Glyphosate became the dominant herbicide due to efficacy and safety. Usage data reveal increases tied to genetically modified crops.
What causes rapid evolution of herbicide resistance in weeds?
Powles and Yu (2010) in 'Evolution in Action: Plants Resistant to Herbicides' described persistent selection from herbicides applied over vast areas. Modern herbicides remove weeds effectively but select for resistant individuals in large populations. This process substitutes for tillage in food production.
How are herbicide dose-response relationships analyzed?
Seefeldt et al. (1995) in 'Log-Logistic Analysis of Herbicide Dose-Response Relationships' introduced log-logistic models for weed science studies. These replace prior transformations and equations for resistant weed assessments. The method quantifies sensitivity shifts accurately.
Why is glyphosate considered a major herbicide?
Duke and Powles (2008) in 'Glyphosate: a once‐in‐a‐century herbicide' detailed its broad-spectrum efficacy since 1974. It offers low toxicity and environmental safety. Adoption stems from compatibility with no-till systems.
What are common methods in weed control?
Topics include integrated pest management, non-chemical weed management, and crop rotation. Dose-response analysis evaluates herbicide efficacy. Agricultural intensification influences weed ecology.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can integrated pest management reduce reliance on glyphosate amid rising resistance?
- ? What physiological mechanisms enable weeds to evolve resistance to multiple herbicide modes of action?
- ? How do crop rotation and non-chemical methods alter weed ecology under intensified agriculture?
- ? What dose-response thresholds predict field-level failure of herbicides in resistant populations?
- ? How does jasmonate signaling interact with herbicide stress in weed plants?
Recent Trends
The field holds 54,396 works with no specified 5-year growth rate.
Foundational papers like Heap with 3087 citations and Benbrook (2016) with 1755 citations continue to frame discussions on resistance and glyphosate trends.
1997No recent preprints or news in the last 12 months indicate steady reliance on established analyses.
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