A Case of One Step Forward and Two Steps Back? An Examination of Herbicide-Resistant Weed Management Using a Simple Agroecosystem Dynamics Model

Authors

Srinadh Kodali, South Dakota State University
Chris Flores-Lopez, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Isabelle Lobdell, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Branson Kim, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
James C. Russell, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Lane Michna, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Benjamin L. Turner, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

DOI

10.3390/systems12120587

Publication Title

Systems

Volume

12

Issue

12

Pages

587 (1-29)

Abstract

Global herbicide-resistant weed populations continue rising due to selection pressures exerted by herbicides. Despite this, herbicides continue to be farmers’ preferred weed-control method due to cost and efficiency relative to physical or biological methods. However, weeds developing resistance to herbicides not only challenges crop production but also threatens ecosystem services by disrupting biodiversity, reducing soil health, and impacting water quality. Our objective was to develop a simulation model that captures the feedback between weed population dynamics, agricultural management, profitability, and farmer decision-making processes that interact in unique ways to reinforce herbicide resistance in weeds. After calibration to observed data and evaluation by subject matter experts, we tested alternative agronomic, mechanical, or intensive management strategies to evaluate their impact on weed population dynamics. Results indicated that standalone practices enhanced farm profitability in the short term but lead to substantial adverse ecological outcomes in the long term, indicated by elevated herbicide resistance (e.g., harm to non-target species, disrupting natural ecosystem functions). The most management-intensive test yielded the greatest weed control and farm profit, albeit with elevated residual resistant seed bank levels. We discuss these findings in both developed and developing-nation contexts. Future work requires greater connectivity of farm management and genetic-resistance models that currently remain disconnected mechanistically.

Rights

© 2024 by the authors.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.

Original Publication Citation

Kodali, S., Flores-Lopez, C., Lobdell, I., Kim, B., Russell, J. C., Michna, L., & Turner, B. L. (2024). A case of one step forward and two steps back? An examination of herbicide-resistant weed management using a simple agroecosystem dynamics model. Systems, 12(12), 1-29, Article 587. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12120587

Repository Citation

Kodali, Srinadh; Flores-Lopez, Chris; Lobdell, Isabelle; Kim, Branson; Russell, James C.; Michna, Lane; and Turner, Benjamin L., "A Case of One Step Forward and Two Steps Back? An Examination of Herbicide-Resistant Weed Management Using a Simple Agroecosystem Dynamics Model" (2024). Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications. 166.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/mae_fac_pubs/166