Agronomic interventions for weed management in canola (Brassica napus L.) - A review

The rapid spread of herbicide-resistant weeds coupled with the decline in the number of new herbicide modes-of-action under development poses a serious threat to the future productivity of canola (Brassica napus L.). Crop competition is now an essential component of integrated weed management to reduce weed impacts and retard the spread of resistance. Canola plays an important role in any cereal-dominated crop rotation by providing diversification to broaden options for weed management, as well as other agronomic benefits for disease, pest and nutrition management. This review examines the opportunities to manipulate canola agronomy and increase the competitive ability by choice of cultivar, seeding rate, row spacing and orientation, and fertilizer use. The integration of such options for weed management prolongs the effectiveness and availability of herbicides.