Weed Pressure and Management Approaches in Maize on the Žitný Ostrov Region

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) production on the Žitný Ostrov region of Slovakia takes place under highly productive soil conditions that also promote intensive weed growth, making weed management one of the most critical agronomic challenges. This review synthesizes current knowledge and practical experiences with weed control strategies applied in the region, with a focus on the dominant weed species such as Amaranthus retroflexus L., Chenopodium album L., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Convolvulus arvensis L., and Setaria spp. Conventional practices in Žitný Ostrov rely primarily on chemical control, especially post-emergence herbicides, due to their efficiency, economic viability, and flexibility in targeting specific weed communities. Preventive practices such as maintaining clean seed material, crop rotation and managing weed populations on field margins are widely adopted by most farmers and play an important role in reducing overall weed pressure. Although integrated weed management (IWM) approaches combining mechanical, chemical, cultural, and biological methods offer greater ecological sustainability, their adoption in the region is still limited. Innovative strategies such as precision agriculture, thermal weed control, cover crops, and biostimulants show promising potential but face barriers including high costs, technical demands, and insufficient farmer training. Overall, weed management in Žitný Ostrov is undergoing gradual development, and future progress will depend on expanding farmer education, improving technological accessibility, and strengthening the transfer of scientific knowledge into agricultural practice.