Manual weeding most common for weed control in Macaronesian agroecosystems

Stakeholder perceptions show manual weeding is the most common agroecological weed control method in the Macaronesian Region, used by 83% of custard apple and 80% of vine growers. Crop rotation is adopted by 66% of custard apple and 60% of vine producers. Physical and mechanical methods like mulching and green cover crops are recognized as effective. Flame weeding is not used. Tillage is known by 66% of custard apple and 80% of vine growers but applied less frequently. Past practices such as high planting densities are no longer used by 50% of custard apple and 60% of vine producers. Inter-row cultivation and mixed cropping are known but not widely adopted. Soil cover and flame weeding are familiar to 63% but rarely implemented. Figures illustrate soil uniforming after tillage and mechanical weed cutting. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme (grant agreement No. 10105084).