Mitigating agricultural intensification in the Western Cape with landscape elements: a synopsis of applicable ecological weed management strategies

Abstract

Background  The agricultural landscape has deteriorated rapidly because of human population growth and the concomitant increased demand for food. Although necessary to feed the global population, production intensification accounts for reduced resilience of cropping systems due to the increased inputs required for greater yields.

Objective  The purpose of this synopsis is to highlight applicable ecological weed management strategies in order to promote weed suppression in intensively managed agricultural production systems of the Western Cape.

Methods  In order to achieve sustainable weed management it is imperative that ecological landscape elements become part of agronomic production processes. These practices and strategies include the adoption of cover crops, living and biomass mulches, hedgerows, increased field margins as well as weed seedbank diversity as non-chemical measures and landscape elements.

Results  Cover crops, living mulches and biomass mulches exert positive impacts on weed suppression, microclimate, soil quality and crop yield.

Conclusions  The outcome of ecological weed management strategies is a reduction and mitigation of the negative effects of intensive cropping regarding soil, water and the agricultural landscape.

Biomass mulches; Field margins; Hedgerows; Seedbank; Weed diversity