Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Near Term Challenges For Global Agriculture - Herbicide Resistant Weeds, Sharon Clay

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Prior to the 1950s weeds were controlled by a wide variety of mechanical and cultural methods with limited use of inorganic chemicals at very high rates (100s kg ha–1). With the advent of selective carbon-based herbicides in the 1950s, herbicide weed management became the norm throughout much of the world using grams to a few kg of active ingredient per ha. However, with the benefits, there are problems. A few resistant weeds were recognized in the 1970s, but today, in 2021, 521 unique cases of resistance have been documented throughout the world. It is imperative for farmers to rethink the …