Weed Management in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Current Strategies and Future Perspectives—A Narrative Review
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Date
2026-04-29
Authors
Aćimović, MilicaNavarro Rocha, Juliana
Bratovcic, Amra
Vieweger, Anja
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MDPI
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artículo de revisiónAbstract
Weeds represent a major constraint in the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), causing significant reductions in yield, biomass, and essential oil quality while increasing labor and production costs. Effective weed management is particularly critical during early crop growth, when young plants are most vulnerable to competition. Non-chemical strategies, including cultural practices, mechanical and thermal weeding, mulching, and crop diversification, have proven effective in suppressing weeds, enhancing crop competitiveness, and maintaining yield and quality, especially in organic or low-input systems. Mulching and optimized cultivation strategies consistently provide reliable weed control, improve soil moisture and nutrient use efficiency, and can influence secondary metabolite accumulation. Chemical weed control, including selective pre- and post-emergence herbicides, remains important in slow-growing MAPs but is increasingly constrained by regulatory restrictions and concerns over residues in raw plant material and essential oils. Integrated weed management combining cultural, physical, and reduced chemical approaches offers the most effective solution, balancing efficacy, crop safety, and product quality. Emerging strategies such as bioherbicides, precision agriculture, and robotic systems hold promise but require further research. Advancing weed management in MAPs will depend on interdisciplinary studies, field-scale validation, and technology-driven innovations to support sustainable, high-quality production.
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Bibliographic citation
Aćimović, M., Navarro Rocha, J., Bratovčić, A., & Vieweger, A. (2026). Weed Management in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Current Strategies and Future Perspectives—A Narrative Review. Agronomy, 16(9), 901. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16090901
AGROVOC subjects
Planta aromáticaPlanta medicinal
Bibliografía
Acolchado de suelo
Cultural practices
Crop diversification
Sponsorship
Esta investigación ha sido financiada por la Cooperación Europea en Ciencia y Tecnología (COST), con el número de subvención CA23123 («Control de malas hierbas sin productos químicos en plantas medicinales y aromáticas — Weeding MAPS»).