Journal of Weed Science Research

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Science Research ◽  
Weed Science

Survey Results on Environmental Issues and Weed Science Research Priorities within the Corn Belt

1993 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 763-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward W. Stoller ◽  
Loyd M. Wax ◽  
David M. Alm
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Cultural Control ◽  
Corn Belt ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Weed Science

A survey determined the views of individuals in seven groups comprising the weed science community in the corn belt (primarily in Illinois) for importance of 8 environmental and 14 crop production issues and 16 weed species in setting weed science research priorities for the next 3 to 5 yr. The survey also considered if funding of research to solve these environmental and production issues should be from the private or public sector. Velvetleaf, foxtail species, and common lambsquarters were considered the top three weed species by all respondents, and each of these weeds was among the five most important weeds within each of the seven survey groups. Improving ground and surface water quality were the foremost environmental issues for all respondents, but soybean growers listed herbicide carryover as their top environmental concern. Reducing herbicide residues in food and developing sustainable practices were given low preference by all groups. Sustainable growers rated reducing herbicide carryover and minimizing applicator exposure as their lowest priorities. Among all respondents, the top three production issues were improved weed control in conservation tillage, more economical weed control, and improved integrated control strategies. Studying the biology/life cycles of weeds was the third highest production priority of University and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) weed scientists, but was the last choice when averaged over the aggregate survey group. Developing strategies for resistant weeds and herbicide-resistant crops were chemical dealers top two priorities. Industry representatives gave the former subject their highest rating and the latter their lowest rating. Crop consultants seemed to want decision aids, as they chose assessing weed loss/thresholds and developing weed control/economic models among their top three production issues. Both corn and soybean growers desired more economical weed control as a first choice, while sustainable growers wanted improved cultural control strategies. Corn and soybean growers ranked developing new herbicides among their top three choices, but this issue was the lowest choice of the sustainable growers. University, USDA, and industrial weed scientists suggested that their own organizations conduct the research on their highest priorities issues.

Weed Science Research and Funding: A Call to Action

Weed Science ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 442-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam S. Davis ◽  
J. Christopher Hall ◽  
Marie Jasieniuk ◽  
Martin A. Locke ◽  
Edward C. Luschei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Invasion Biology ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Vegetation Management ◽  
Scientific Discipline ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Biological Organization ◽  
Weed Science ◽  
Private Industry

Weed science has contributed much to agriculture, forestry and natural resource management during its history. However, if it is to remain relevant as a scientific discipline, it is long past time for weed scientists to move beyond a dominating focus on herbicide efficacy testing and address the basic science underlying complex issues in vegetation management at many levels of biological organization currently being solved by others, such as invasion ecologists and molecular biologists. Weed science must not be circumscribed by a narrowly-defined set of tools but rather be seen as an integrating discipline. As a means of assessing current and future research interests and funding trends among weed scientists, the Weed Science Society of America conducted an online survey of its members in summer of 2007. There were 304 respondents out of a membership of 1330 at the time of the survey, a response rate of 23%. The largest group of respondents (41%) reported working on research problems primarily focused on herbicide efficacy and maintenance, funded mainly by private industry sources. Another smaller group of respondents (22%) reported focusing on research topics with a complex systems focus (such as invasion biology, ecosystem restoration, ecological weed management, and the genetics, molecular biology, and physiology of weedy traits), funded primarily by public sources. Increased cooperation between these complementary groups of scientists will be an essential step in making weed science increasingly relevant to the complex vegetation management issues of the 21st century.

Research Priority Dynamics in Weed Science

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 396-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Abernathy ◽  
David C. Bridges
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Science Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Weed Science ◽  
Great Loss ◽  
Research Priority ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Control ◽  
And Training

For this presentation we would like to discuss some history of weeds and their control, the evolution of weed science, the development of herbicides and the changing dynamics of weed science research. As mentioned by previous speakers, weeds cause great loss to almost every crop production enterprise in the United States and around the world. Man has sought to control weeds by various methods including cultural practices, cultivation, hoeing, and with herbicides. Pioneer weed scientists were individuals trained in the areas of physiology, botany, and agronomy. They applied their knowledge and training to the understanding of growth, development, and control of weeds in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Proteomics: An Emerging Technology for Weed Science Research

Weed Science ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 306-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Zhang ◽  
Dean E. Riechers
Keyword(s):  
Science Research ◽  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Weed Science

Influencing Agricultural Policy: Symposium Introduction

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 871-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard P. Gianessi ◽  
David C. Bridges
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Science Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Weed Science ◽  
Crop Pest

A major debate is going on in the United States regarding the proper methods for crop pest management. One issue in this debate is whether weed control should be based largely on nonchemical or chemical means. This isn't the only issue that should be of interest to weed scientists, but it is important, and it illustrates the need to extend weed science research to influence public policy.

Weed Science Research, Teaching, and Extension at Land-Grant Institutions in the United States and its Territories

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey F. Derr ◽  
Aman Rana
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Plant Pathology ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Land Grant ◽  
Weed Science ◽  
Land Grant Institutions

Weeds are one of the main limiting factors in crop production, causing billions of dollars in annual global losses through degraded agricultural and silvicultural productivity. Weeds also reduce access to land and water, impair aesthetics, and disrupt human activities and well-being. The number of positions devoted to weed science teaching, research, and extension at 76 land-grant institutions across the United States and its territories was determined and compared with that for plant pathology and entomology. The number of classes and graduate students in these disciplines at those institutions was also determined. There are more than four times as many entomologists and more than three times as many plant pathologists as weed scientists at land-grant institutions. There are approximately five times as many graduate students currently in entomology and almost three times as many in plant pathology compared with weed science. There are approximately five times as many entomology and two and a half times as many plant pathology undergraduate classes compared with weed science classes. These differences increase when graduate courses are considered. Most land-grant universities have either none or few graduate classes in weed science. There are more than six times as many graduate entomology courses and more than five times as many plant pathology courses compared with weed science graduate classes. There are no departments devoted solely to weed science, whereas entomology and plant pathology departments are both common. Most universities have little to no faculty assigned to ornamental, fruit, aquatic, or forestry weed control. Number of faculty assigned to vegetable, turf, non-crop, ecology, and basic/laboratory studies in weed science are also limited. Additional university resources are needed if weed science research, teaching, and extension efforts are to meet the priority needs for the management of weeds in the agricultural, natural resources, and urban ecosystems.

Research Priorities in Weed Science

1988 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chester G. Mcwhorter ◽  
William L. Barrentine
Keyword(s):  
Ground Water ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Science Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Technology ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Weed Science ◽  
Research Committee

Members from all four Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) regions in the United States ranked the research need to “develop new methods for controlling the movement of herbicides and their metabolites into ground water, surface water, and air” first of six major weed science research needs. Canadian members ranked the need to “devise more efficient and less costly weed control technology for conservation-tillage crop-production systems” first; but they also gave high ratings to “improve base knowledge of weed science, improve applicator training, and transfer of information to Extension Service personnel, farm producers, and administrators” and to “discover new ecological, biological, and non-chemical methods of weed control.” The needs to “develop improved methods of increasing the tolerance of crops to herbicides” and to “develop new technology for control of perennial weeds of crops and rangeland” were ranked low. The WSSA Research Committee, at the request of WSSA Presidents J. D. Riggleman (1985) and O. C. Burnside (1986), asked 977 members to rank weed science research needs. The members (ca 50% of the active membership in North America) were selected at random from every other state, federal, industry, and “other” member of each state or province from the up-to-date list of the WSSA business office. Within the highest ranked priority research need, the 422 U.S. and Canadian respondents consistently ranked the research areas (a) to “develop new application techniques that minimize or eliminate herbicides and their residues in air and water”, and (b) to “conduct research to regulate movement of herbicides through the soil profile to avoid contamination of ground water” high, regardless of the type of employment. They emphasized increasing research on the morningglory (Ipomoea spp. # IPOXX) complex, yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L. # CYPES), quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. # AGREE], and several other weeds. More members, regardless of region or type of employment, ranked conservation tillage the most important crop or situation that needed new and improved weed control technology.

Future Directions and Needs for Weed Science Research

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 410-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold D. Coble
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Weed Science ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Economic Thresholds ◽  
Alternative Weed Control ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
Control Methodology

There is no question that weeds negatively impact human endeavors, both in agricultural and non-agricultural environments. The need for weed population management is inarguable. The important issue is “how will we manage weeds in the future”? Will it be business as usual, or will we be able to develop and implement a fully integrated approach to weed management? If Weed Science is to become a full partner in utilizing the concepts of Integrated Pest Management, there are at least four research areas that must be significantly strengthened. These research areas include: biology and ecology of weeds and crop/weed interactions, economic thresholds for weeds, alternative weed control methodology, and information delivery systems. New or non-traditional sources of funding will be required to adequately address these important issues.

The Status of Weed Science at Universities and Experiment Stations in the Northeastern United States

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1150-1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey F. Derr
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Plant Pathology ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Science Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Weed Ecology ◽  
Weed Science ◽  
The Status

Weed science is an important component of pest management. Weeds cause approximately 12% loss in United States crop production, reduce crop quality, poison livestock, and adversely affect human health, recreation, and transportation. Herbicides comprise approximately 65% of pesticide expenditures, whereas insecticides and fungicides each comprise less than 20%. The total effect of weeds, including crop losses and costs of control, in the United States was estimated in 1994 to be $20 billion annually. A survey was prepared and mailed to weed scientists at universities and experiment stations in the northeastern United States to determine the number of faculty positions and course offerings devoted to weed science. There are approximately five times as many entomologists and more than three times as many plant pathologists as weed scientists at universities in the northeast. There are more than six times as many graduate students currently in entomology and more than four times as many in plant pathology compared with weed science. Few undergraduate courses in weed science are taught, and most universities have no graduate classes in weed science. There are almost seven times as many undergraduate entomology courses and more than twice as many plant pathology courses as weed science classes in this region. There are more than 17 times as many graduate entomology courses and more than 15 times as many plant pathology courses compared with weed science graduate classes. There are no departments devoted solely to weed science in the northeast, whereas entomology and plant pathology departments are both common. Most universities have little to no faculty assigned to aquatic, forestry, noncrop weed control, weed ecology, or laboratory trials, and numbers assigned to agronomic and horticultural crop weed management are limited. Additional university resources are needed if weed science research, teaching, and extension efforts are to meet the priority needs in weed management.

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