Herbicide Management to Maintain Environmental Quality: Lessons to be Learned from North American herbicide Management Practices
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2000
Abstract
The introduction of organic-based herbicides in the late 1940's revolutionized weed management with low rate chemical applications that selectively control weeds within crops. After 50 years of using herbicides as the major weed management technique in the Western World, we can reflect on benefits and costs associated with herbicide applications. Benefits are easy to list. Herbicide applications reduce labour requirements, mechanical cultivation (thereby reducing soil erosion and compaction potential), and increase crop productivity, harvest efficiency, and grazing capacity of pastures. However, in spite of numerous positive benefits associated with herbicides, there also are problems. Two major problems with herbicides that are frequently cited are: 1) environmental concerns (ground and surface water quality, and offsite movement to sensitive areas); and 2) the development of herbicide resistant weeds. This overview will address these two concerns and give some practical management solutions that have been implemented to alleviate these problems.
Publication Title
Soil Quality, Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Security in Central and Eastern Europe. NATO Science Series (Series 2. Environment Security
Volume
69
First Page
167
Last Page
176
DOI of Published Version
10.1007/978-94-011-4181-9_13
Publisher
Springer
Recommended Citation
Clay, Sharon A., "Herbicide Management to Maintain Environmental Quality: Lessons to be Learned from North American herbicide Management Practices" (2000). Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications. 103.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/plant_faculty_pubs/103