Joe,
"Effects of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant cropping
systems on weed seedbanks in two years of following crops"
L.G. Firbank, et. al.
"genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) cropping systems
could influence farmland biodiversity because of their effects on
weed biomass and seed production... ...a switch to GMHT crops significantly affected weed seedbanks for
at least 2 years after the crops were sown...
Yeah, of course. These herbicide-resistant varieties do a good job
controlling weeds. That is why farmers buy them. Rather than looking
for species diversity *within* monocultured row crops (mostly futile
anyway), you get a lot more diversity by maintaining hedgrows and
adjacent wild places. Farmers need weed control, whether done with a
hoe or with Roundup. The better the weed control the lower the weed
seed production. Is that a surprise?
Dale
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