Ecology of weeds and invasive plants: relationship to agriculture and natural resources management. 2017. illus. 290 p. gr8vo. Hardcover.

Weed ecology is the relationship of weeds to their environment and is concerned with the effect of climatic, edaphic (Soil) and biotic factors on the distribution, prevalence, competing ability, behavior and survival of weeds. Weeds are commonly defined as plants that are growing in a place where they are not desired. Although that definition has some practical utility, it does little to further understanding of how weeds operate as species or how to use an understanding of weed biology to improve management of garden weeds.

Invasions are managed largely through the removal of invasive organisms (i.e. through spraying or mowing). It is unrealistic to expect that all impacts of an invasive species can be reversed through control; some effects will quickly reverse with removal (e.g. shading by large plants) whereas others may take years or decades (e.g. increased soil fertility under N-fixing plants). Understanding which effects can be reversed quickly or slowly will allow better predictions of what benefits are likely to arise from weed management and over what time scales.

The book is also an excellent book for senior undergraduate or graduate students learn agriculture, ecology, natural resources management, ecological management, or connected fields.

Contents: Weed/ An Ecological Understanding of Weeds/ Weed Ecology and Biology/ Herbicides/ Invasion Ecology and Species/ Weed Control Management/ Invasive Plant/ Crop Weeds Control Management/ Guidelines for Weed Risk Assessment in Developing Countries/ The Ecological Impacts of Agricultural Biotechnology.