Weed Control in Organic Farming

Abstract

Summary Over the past few years, both producers and consumers have become increasingly interested in organic farming because conventional agriculture relies so heavily on the use of synthetic pesticides, thus causing environmental pollution. Weeds, as inevitable "companions" of cultivated plants, represent a major, everlasting issue in plant production. As organic plant production is legally regulated, the control of undesirable plants such as weeds is further complicated. Using the relevant literature, the purpose of this study is to survey the existing weed control methods in organic crop production. In order to be certified, organic plants have to be grown in the farming system without the application of synthetic herbicides and other chemicals that are commonly used in conventional production. This means that crop growers have to apply non-chemical, alternative methods of weed suppression, i.e. weed control based on the combination of cropping practices, mechanical control, and the use of bioherbicides. There is a large number of plant extracts with bioherbicidal activity, the effect of which is mostly attributed to the biological phenomenon of allelopathy, rendering such weed control sustainable, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. Although bioherbicides are successfully used in organic farming worldwide, there are no registered bioherbicides in Serbia to date (according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia). Both organic producers and experts should raise awareness of the importance of successful weed control to the health of cultivated plants, soil, beneficial organisms, and the entire ecosystem, which requires further research attention.