Atmospheric Changes Could Increase Invasive Weed Population

Producers may be seeing more invasive weeds in the coming years as temperatures and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to increase. According to Lewis Ziska, a crop systems and global change specialist with USDA Agricultural Research Service, temperature increases along with elevated carbon dioxide levels will cause invasive weed populations to change. “Carbon dioxide is not a smart molecule — it can’t distinguish between crops and weeds. So with increased growth of crops comes increased growth of weeds as well,” said Ziska. (Southeast Farm Press) Read more.