Global and local trends in weed management under conventional and conservation agriculture

Weeds pose a persistent and multifaceted challenge to global agricultural systems, causing significant yield losses and undermining agroecological sustainability. This review explores contemporary trends in weed management across both conventional and conservation agriculture frameworks. Under intensive farming, chemical control remains predominant but faces growing limitations due to herbicide resistance, environmental contamination, and disruptions of soil biota. The emergence of multiple-resistant weed biotypes worldwide highlights the urgency of transitioning to integrated weed management (IWM) strategies that combine herbicides with mechanical, biological, and agronomic measures. By contrast, conservation agriculture – founded on minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and diversified crop rotations – offers a more sustainable pathway but introduces new challenges for weed control due to reduced tillage and limited chemical use. The paper examines recent innovations, such as site-specific herbicide applications, cover cropping, and the use of drones and AI for precision weed detection. Special attention is given to the role of weed seed bank management, allelopathic cover crops, and biological control agents in enhancing long-term control effectiveness. The Ukrainian experience is contextualised within global patterns, identifying constraints to conservation adoption such as limited infrastructure, knowledge gaps, and insufficient policy support. The review also identifies critical research gaps, including the lack of long-term field data and insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration. Emerging technologies – robotics, sensor-based systems, digital modelling, and the breeding of competitive crop cultivars – are discussed as potential breakthroughs in sustainable weed management. Ultimately, this synthesis underscores the need for a paradigm shift from single-method approaches to holistic, climate-resilient systems that integrate ecological principles with technological innovation. Future progress depends on policy incentives, stakeholder education, and international research cooperation.