Weeds are a nuisance in any garden and can outcompete desirable plants for nutrients and water. They can also introduce unwanted diseases and pests. Unfortunately, controlling weeds can be a difficult and time-consuming task as they reproduce rapidly and often have deep roots that are hard to remove. To reduce the spread of weeds, gardeners should regularly monitor their garden and remove weeds when they appear. Additionally, they should practice preventive measures such as using mulch or a weed barrier to help prevent weeds from taking root. For existing weeds, cultural, mechanical, and chemical control methods can be used. Cultural methods include crop rotation and soil solarization, while mechanical methods include hand pulling, tilling, and mulching. Chemical control methods include the use of herbicides, but these should be used with caution as they can be toxic and can also damage beneficial plants or organisms. Therefore, a combination of these methods is often recommsended for effective weed control.
Title : Preventing/minimizing development of resistance in fungal plant pathogens to fungicides
Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois, United States
Title : Mycorrhizae and their role in climate resilience in agricultural systems
Mary Cole, The University of Melbourne, Australia