Weed management challenges in modern agriculture: The role of environmental factors and fertilization strategies

Abstract

In today's agriculture, weed management is a big challenge, globally, because of its negative effects on agricultural output and quality. Most agricultural production systems are dictated by the weed plant, which is a key barrier to advancing sustainable agricultural production systems. Weeds are the major constraint of the agroecosystem often uses nutrients more quickly and in greater quantities than crops which need to keep below the economic threshold. In a particular agro-ecosystem, weed and agricultural crop management strategies (such as tillage, fertilizer, and irrigation management) and environmental conditions have a substantial impact on weed seed and population dynamics. Furthermore, weed seed dormancy in weed-seed stock of preceding seasons has been stimulated by fertilization and weed growth along with changing soil conditions which impact weed community structures and crop development. Nitrogen (N), as an important macronutrient, is primarily involved in this process. However, organic amendments, their source, type, and duration of use depict their effectiveness. Furthermore, under variable climate, understanding crop–weed interference is also vital for sustainable agriculture; changes in global climate have significantly resulted in changes in weed flora throughout the globe. Extreme temperatures and drought can promote the growth of C4 weeds, spreading and invading perennial weeds. There are a variety of environmental factors that can impact weeds and crops' ability to exploit the environment's resources. In addition to influencing weed/crop interactions directly, environmental stresses like temperature and light may also interfere with (or supplement) weed control efforts. Therefore, this review summarizes the consequences of environmental stress and fertility variations on weed dynamics, nutrient uptake, and crop yield under different climate scenarios. However, agro-ecosystem balance can be improved by implementing integrated weed management operations and gaining knowledge on how fertilization impacts the density of noxious and hazardous weeds.