Integrated weed management in different agro ecosystems of Central America - long term results and visions of the future.
Pohlan J., Leyva Galán A., Toledo Toledo E., Gamboa W., Salazar D., Blandón V., Agreda F. M., Borgman J.
Author Affiliation: ECOSUR, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km. 2,5, Apdo. Postal 36, C.P. 30700 Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico.
XVII Congreso de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Malezas (ALAM) I Congreso Iberoamericano de Ciencia de las Malezas, IV Congreso Nacional de Ciencia de Malezas, Matanzas, Cuba, 8 al 11 de noviembre del 2005 : 178-184
Abstract : The tropical agriculture has copied strategies of weed control developed for intensive cropping under temperate conditions, with high inputs and specialized technical supports. This causes negative impacts in the sustainable management of major and minor tropical crops. Research on integrated weed management has been conducted since the 80s of the past century and include Cuba, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Mexico. The most important investigated annual crops were maize, sorghum, soybean, beans and cucurbitaceous plants, and among perennial crops sugar cane, coffee, chayote, fruits (mango, rambutan) and agro forestry systems. The strategy included (i) studies of the usefulness of preventive, indirect and direct weed control methods; development of concepts adapted to real site conditions; (iii) analyses of the interactions between crops - weeds - flora and fauna; (iv) use of weeds as spice and medicine plants, host and trap plants, biomass producers, biofertilizers and green manure; (v) studies of the potential as carbon capture and (vi) recovery of knowledge of weeds as edible plants. During 30 years concepts were offered to small holders and large farmers, as well as for intensive and organic farming. In all cases, the uselessness of weed eradication has been demonstrated, but rather to have available alternatives for efficient long term integrated weed management strategies for different tropical farming systems, in harmony with high diversity and stability of agro ecosystems.