International Book on Weed Management in Conservation Agriculture Published with Contribution from University of Birjand Faculty Member

The international book Weed Management in Conservation Agriculture Systems has been published in 2025 by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing in the United Kingdom, with the participation of Dr. Seyed Vahid Eslami, Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Production and Genetics Engineering at the University of Birjand. Dr. Eslami also served as one of the editors of the volume and as a co-author of its first chapter.

According to the University of Birjand Public Relations Office, the book appears in the Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science and was prepared in collaboration with an international group of researchers and specialists in conservation agriculture and weed management. Spanning 12 chapters and approximately 360 pages, it presents the latest scientific findings and practical strategies for managing weeds in conservation agriculture systems.

The idea for compiling and editing the book was proposed in 2023 by Professor Gottlieb Basch, President of the European Conservation Agriculture Federation (ECAF). Following scientific meetings involving researchers and experts from various countries, the structure of the volume was developed. The final work includes contributions from specialists in Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

The topics covered range widely across weed management issues, including weed population dynamics and the soil seed bank; the effects of reduced tillage, crop rotation, and cover crops on weed communities; agronomic and physical control methods; allelopathy; thermal control; and chemical and biological approaches. Management strategies suited to different agricultural production systems are also examined.

Dr. Seyed Vahid Eslami served as one of the editors alongside Professor Gottlieb Basch, Professor Emilio González-Sánchez, Dr. John Geraghty, Professor Sjoerd W. Duiker, Dr. Saidi Mkomwa, and Dr. Marie Bartz.

The opening chapter, titled “Weed ecology in Conservation Agriculture systems: an overview,” was co-authored by Dr. Eslami together with two leading experts in seed and weed ecology, Professor Carol C. Baskin and Professor Jerry M. Baskin of the University of Kentucky, USA. In 54 pages, the chapter reviews the ecology of weed communities under conservation agriculture, addressing changes in weed density and species composition, seed-bank dynamics, ecological management of competition between weeds and crops, and the role of soil nutrient management.

A central theme of the chapter is the relationship between conservation agriculture and weed management. While practices such as minimal soil disturbance, diversified crop rotations, and the use of cover crops can enhance the sustainability of cropping systems, the resulting changes in environmental and ecological conditions may alter weed species composition, increase certain species, and favor invasive weeds. Understanding these ecological processes and applying integrated management strategies is therefore essential for effective weed control in such systems.

Weed Management in Conservation Agriculture Systems serves as a valuable scientific resource for researchers, specialists, and students in agriculture, particularly those working in conservation agriculture and weed management.

Interested readers can view the book’s details and access further information here.