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Weed management in arid
and semi-arid climate working group |
| Background Arid and semi-arid climate
is characterized by low precipitations (–50 to 500 mm/year) and with rain
falls only during a short winter (November-March). Dry land farming is
dominant On terms of acreage) and irrigation is essential for intensive
farming. The natural flora and weeds are well adapted to these dry
conditions strongly competing with crop plants on the limited supply of
water. Special attention should be paid to the fate and behaviour of
herbicides applied under these conditions that require development of
suitable weed managements practices.
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Mission of the WG:
To bring together scientists and professionals from Europe and neighbouring
arid and semi-arid countries interested in weed science, and to promote
collaborative research and discussions on weeds and weed management
strategies as related to the specific climatic and edaphic conditions. To
improve information exchange and technology transfer flow among other EWRS
WG and EWRS members and to initiate and encourage educational activities and
public awareness to the potential contribution of weed science to safe and
clean environment.
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Research topics to be covered:
Aspects of weed science related to the specific climatic condition of the
arid and semi-arid climate. Development of environmentally-safe and
sustainable weed management practices in dry land farming and in irrigated
crops. Development and adoption of alternative weed management strategies
(organic and regular farming) under water shortage conditions. Studies on
the ecology and biology of arid and semi-arid weeds including seed bank
behaviour. Investigations related to the behaviour and fate of herbicides in
soil and the environment. The threat of herbicide-resistant weeds to the
sustainability of the local farming and the ecological impact of
herbicide-resistant crops.
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Activities 2006-07
Formal inauguration of the WG will take place at the International
Conference: "Novel and Sustainable Weed Management in Arid and Semi-Arid
Agro-Ecosystems" to be held at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot,
Israel, October 7-12, 2007. Please visit:
http://agri3.huji.ac.il/aridconference |
| For more information and joining the
Working Group please contact the coordinator: Baruch Rubin,
Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environmental Sciences,
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Telephone +972 8 9489248;
Fax- +972 8 9362083
E-mail: Baruch Rubin |
