A global perspective of education in weed science

Abstract

In modern agriculture, weed problems are predicted to worsen and become more complicated as a result of increasing invasiveness, herbicide resistance, and emphasis on high-input methods. Weeds cause huge economic yield losses that range from US$100 million to US$26 billion globally. The knowledge of weed science has offered success in the past through effective, reasonably priced, and secure technologies; specifically, synthetic herbicides to effectively control weeds in agroecosystems. Weed science is accepted and adopted by many universities with teaching, research, and/or extension programs in agriculture. Globally, approximately 7% of all the universities offering agricultural education have dedicated weed science departments focusing on weed biology, ecology, and management. Some universities also offer weed science degree programs or at least certain courses in their degrees related to associated disciplines, such as plant protection, agronomy, and ecology. Although substantial advances have been made in weed science, such as a separate weed science discipline, specialized journals, and specific weed science societies and conferences worldwide, many constraints (e.g., lack of trained weed scientists) and barriers to adoption of new weed science technologies remain. Slow modernization in weed science research and low funding has slowed the progress of this discipline. New curricula in the weed science discipline should focus on the role of biochemistry, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, and genetics in weed science research.

Minimizing Weed Impacts and Yield Losses by Application of Broad-Spectrum Herbicides in Maize in the Central Highland of Ethiopia

“…The decreased yield losses show improved weed control that, aids the plants to consume more growth resources while increasing yield loss in control perhaps extreme opposition of weeds. This is consistent with the observations of Abbas et al (2018) and Ahmad et al (2023) who concluded the smallest yield loss was gained where the lowest weed crop opposition to nutrients and water happened.…”

Detection and mapping of Amaranthus spinosus L. in bermudagrass pastures using drone imagery and deep learning for a site‐specific weed management

“…Weeds are defined as any undesired plant and are considered one of the main challenges in agricultural fields (Ahmad et al., 2023; Ghanizadeh & Harrington, 2019). Despite agricultural weeds exhibiting a distinct set of traits, most of them tend to present increased aboveground biomass in response to nutrient inputs (Little et al., 2021), quickly encroaching on pastures.…”