Moving goalposts for manufacturers
Moving goalposts for manufacturers
ENVIRONMENTAL concerns and a growing understanding of the competitive effects and population dynamics of weeds could soon move the goal posts for herbicide manufacturers, predicts a leading researcher.
Instead of broad-spectrum weed control being viewed a product asset, in future it could be seen as a liability because of the damage it does to non-competitive, environmentally beneficial weed species, says IACR-Rothamsteds John Cussans.
"At the moment we target control at the key weeds – cleavers, blackgrass and wild-oats – and see control of other species as a bonus. But in future we may find an increasing emphasis on trying to leave "non-target", non-competitive species because of their potential ecological and environmental benefits – things like mouse-eared chickweed or groundsel."
Fortunately, weeds that are the most competitive and aggressive tend not to be beneficial in biodiversity terms, either as insect habitats or as a food source for birds.
Broad-spectrum properties may come to be seen as a disadvantage in herbicides, says John Cussans.