Weed Control in Organic Agriculture

University of Saskatchewan PLSC 234.3

The principals and practices of weed control in organic agriculture will be covered. Students will learn the application of cultural, mechanical and biological techniques to control weeds within an integrated organic weed control system. Basic weed ecology and weed identification skills will also be learned.

Outline of Course

1.0 Weed Identification
1.1 Introduction to Weeds
1.2 Weedy Characteristics
1.3 Weed Classification
1.4 Weed Family Identification

2.0 Weed Ecology
2.1 Introduction and seed ecology
2.2 Intra- and interspecific plant interactions
3.3 Yield loss
3.4 Spacial aspects, control strategies, weed communities and field scouting

3.0 Cultural Weed Control
3.1 Cultural weed control and enhancing crop interference
3.2 Crop and disturbance diversification
3.3 Soil parameters and the soil microclimate
3.4 Crop and weed seed management

4.0 Physical weed management
4.1 Physical weed management and hand weeding
4.2 Physical weed management through tillage
4.3 Mowing
4.4 Thermal and other methods of physical weed management

5.0 Biological Weed Control module
5.1 Introduction and the broad spectrum approach to biological weed control
5.2 Classical biological weed control
5.3 Inundative biological weed control
5.4 Conservative biological weed control

6.0 Integrated Weed Management
6.1 Herbicides for organic agroecosystems
6.2 Weed management thresholds
6.3 Integrated weed management

Prerequisite(s)
Introductory course in BIOL or permission of the instructor.

Note
This course is offered online to University of Saskatchewan students as well as to visiting students.

Instructor
Brenda Frick, Ph.D., P.Ag.

Offered
Winter semester 2009

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