Options for effective weed management

Abstract

An array of techniques across many disciplines is available for effectively controlling many exotic weeds. Despite the large expenditure of resources, weeds continue to spread and new weeds still emerge. To achieve long-term weed control, weeds need to be targetted more precisely, and the dependence on the use of single treatments such as herbicides or machinery reduced, with greater adoption of integrated methods. An effective integrated weed management system needs to define the current and future impacts of that weed on pasture yield, natural diversity and profitability, and determine whether and when any control should be implemented and which techniques and level of integration are appropriate at that stage and for that circumstance. Incorporating weed population dynamics data (for example reproductive output, seedbank and seedling recruitment, dispersal, seed predation and half-lives) will also help determine the longer-term consequences of leaving weeds untreated. Prevention and early intervention still remain the most cost-effective methods of weed control.