Organic weed control - back to the future

Some of the current and potential future options in cultural and direct wee d control for organic growers are outlined. It is recognised that no single non-chemical technique is as effective as the application of the best sele ctive herbicide. However, the aim is not total eradication but a balance be tween the weeds and the crop. Cultural measures are needed to maintain weed s at a manageable level for the direct non-chemical control methods to succ eed in preventing yield loss. As yet untapped knowledge of weed biology cou ld help to manipulate the equilibrium in favour of the crop.