Weed biology: a foundation for weed management

Abstract

Information on the biology of weeds is an important component in the development of integrated control strategies. While 3 complete understanding of their ecology would be ideal, obtaining the answers to just some key ecological questions will help substantially. In an attempt to gain a better understanding of a weed problem and its solution, land managers frequently ask questions about the weed's ecology, including. How long do individual plants live?: How long does it take young plants to become reproductive?; How long will it take fur the seedbank to be depleted once adult plants are removed from a site?; How and how far is the seed dispersed?: and What is the frequency and scale of seedling recruitment? Controlling weeds is an expensive business. A better understanding of their biology will help improve control techniques and ease the financial burden on land managers.