Weed Management in Organic Cropping Systems

Weeds are widely recognized as one of the main constraints that severely reduce crop yields and their quality. The efficacy of chemical compounds used for managing weeds in agro-ecosystems is gradually slowing down mainly due to the difficulty of producing new active compounds and the development of resistance issues. Nowadays, the incidence of herbicide-resistant weeds is increasing dramatically, and this requires a carefully designed approach to weed control aimed at producing safer food, respecting the environment and human health, and keeping the agro-ecosystems sustainable in the long term. Therefore, it is mandatory to have an integrated weed management strategy that combines various agronomic, ecological, natural and preventive control methods for determining sustainable food production based on a reduction of chemical means. Under organic farming systems, where the use of synthetic active compounds is avoided, weed management must be approached through the adoption of mechanical means adequately integrated with the inclusion of cover crops, thermal means, and the development of natural substances to replace herbicides.