A guide to dealing with the appearance and management of plants with different traits that occur as weeds on arable land. It describes and discusses matters and relationships that are important as a basis for understanding the varying occurrence of weeds in different crops and cropping systems and, at the same time, the responses of different weeds to specified management measures. This knowledge is particularly crucial in planning systems of weed management measures over long periods of time, in other words, in planning "integrated weed management".
Classification of plants based on traits of ecological significance; annual and perennial crops; weed commodities looked upon as early stages in secondary vegetation succession; weeds with diverse life forms in various types of crop; germination, emergence and establishment of crop and weed plants; competition in plant stands of short duration; weed flora and weed plant adaption to environment and competitive conditions; measurements of competition and competitiveness in plant stands of short duration; soil tillage effects on weeds chemical weed control as an element in the cropping system; special management measures; knowledge of importance for understanding the occurrence and rational management of weeds. (Part contents)