Weed biology and climate change
By: Lewis H. Ziska, Jeffrey S. Dukes
Contributors: Dukes, Jeffrey S.
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Ames, Iowa
Language: eng
Number of pages: 235
ISBN-13: 9780813814179
Subjects: Climatic factors; Control; Weeds
Description: Ziska (plant physiology, United States Department of Agriculture) and Dukes (biological sciences, Purdue University) explain in clear terms the functions of weeds in world ecology. From defining a weed, a term that exists only in relation to human needs, to explaining the effects of increased carbon dioxide on the spread of weeds, the authors gather together information from a plethora of scientific monographs and put them into a form understandable to the general reader. They cover the constant battle between food crops and weeds for the nutrients in the soil and methods used by farmers to combat the latter. Ziska and Dukes also discuss the effects of the herbicides used and the problems encountered when people introduce natural predators, such as kudzu, to non-native areas. They note the allergic affect many plants, especially ragweed, have on sensitive people. Lastly, they suggest ways to keep weeds under control while continuing to study them for beneficial properties. Throughout, the authors remind the reader of the interconnectedness of plants, animals and climate.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: A brief history of weeds and their impact; title: Carbon dioxide and global warming: the green in the greenhouse effect; title: An evaluation of the impact of rising carbon dioxide and climatic change on weed biology: from the cell to the plant; title: An evaluation of the impact of rising carbon dioxide and climatic change on weed biology: competition to community composition; title: Weeds on the farm: assessing the role of climate change and CO2 on agricultural productivity; title: Invasive plants and climate change in natural ecosystems; title: Weeds, CO2, climate and health; title: Weed management: herbicides; title: Weed management: the rest of the story; title: Benefits from weeds; title: Weeds in a time of climate.