On-farm evaluation of integrated weed management tools in maize production: agronomic efficiency, herbicide use reduction and economic sustainability

Results showed that the IWM tools tested in the different countries: (1) provided sufficient weed control without any significant differences in yields, (2) greatly reduced maize reliance on herbicides (i.e. Treatment frequency index reduced as an average across countries from 1.9 in CON to 0.8 in IWM), (3) costs of IWM ranged from -82 (in Italy) to +32 (in Germany) EUR ha-1, however (4) IWM implementation was economically sustainable as no significant differences in gross margin were observed in any country compared to CON. It was highlighted that IWM in Europe, and IPM as a conceptual framework, is not about a unique weed control strategy but is based on general principles that must be adapted to address specific local agro-environmental and social conditions.