Effect of Changing Temperature and CO2 Concentration on Weed Dynamics and Behaviour: A Review

Abstract

Agriculture and climate change are interwoven with each other in various measures, as climate change is the main culprit of biotic and abiotic stresses, which has adverse impact on crops and weed flora and the effectiveness of weed management strategies. Indeed weed physiology and crop productivity has been greatly influenced by several means of climate variability. Climate change causes a shift in weed population dynamics by altering the physiological pathways with the changing temperature and CO2 conditions. Climate change can affect crop-weed interactions by favouring C4 weeds in increased temperature scenarios requiring adaptation and mitigation strategies. Weeds can also shift their range by invading into new areas and higher latitudes or altitudes due to climatic variability affecting weed diversity, establishment, and management. These factors helps in understanding the crop interactions, weed infestation and herbicide efficacy. This review paper summarizes the challenges that occur due to climate change in weed behaviour requiring more attention on sustainable agricultural production.