Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming
Ecological weed management begins with careful planning of the
cropping system to minimize weed problems, and seeks to utilize
biological and ecological processes in the field and throughout
the farm ecosystem to give crops the advantage over weeds. In
addition, mechanical and other control measures are usually
needed to protect organic crops from the adverse effects of
weeds. This is particularly true in vegetables and other annual
crops, for which production practices keep natural plant
succession at its earliest stages, thereby eliciting the
emergence of pioneer plants that can become agricultural weeds.
While tillage and cultivation can degrade soil quality and
increase the risk of erosion losses, many other organic weed
management tools (Table 1) are more soil-friendly. For example,
a diversified rotation of vigorous cash crops and cover crops
can enhance soil organic matter, tilth, and fertility, provided
that a sufficient quantity and diversit