Biology and Management of Weeds in Turkiye
摘要
The agriculture sector plays a crucial role in Turkiye’s economy, providing rural livelihood and economic balance in the country. Overall, Turkiye stands in eighth position in the world and first in Europe by total agricultural output. Cereals, legumes, tubers, and fodder crops are grown in the country for human food, animal feed, and industrial purposes. Among several constraints to crop production, weed problems are prominent ones. The harmful effect of weeds on crop-growing areas of the country is quite high, and these yield losses vary among the regions. The yield losses also vary according to climate conditions and the type of weed flora. It also depends on crop type and the associated weed species as each crop varies in its weed composition and level of competition. The average yield losses due to weeds in Turkiye range from 20% to 35%. Hence, it is important to understand the biology of these weed species and plan an effective weed management program. Different weed management strategies are adopted in the country to tackle the weed problems. These include cultural, mechanical, chemical, biological, and integrated weed control. Herbicide application is the widely used method for controlling weeds, while mechanical tools are also used for managing them. Use of mechanical weeders has also proved effective in managing weeds for crops grown on ridges. Choice of cultivar plays a crucial role in weed management and is a widely used cultural control method for weed control. In conclusion, weed management is essential for sustainable crop production in Turkiye as weeds pose a substantial threat to yield and quality. A sustainable approach by understanding weeds’ biology and adoption of chemical and non-chemical methods along with site-specific weed management will be the key to ensuring future food security.