Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) control with the herbicides presently registered in arable crops in Switzerland

Currently, ragweed populations are clearly increasing in Switzerland. As the species give rise too severe health, environmental and agricultural concerns, implement of control measures in arable fields are now compulsory. In order to precise the efficacy against ragweed of the herbicides presently registered in Switzerland, field and glasshouse trials have been carried out between 2003 and 2007. Amongst the fifty herbicides applied, a dozen revealed efficacies equal or superior to 95%. These active ingredients allow a correct ragweed control in most of the crops cultivated in Switzerland. According to glasshouse results, in some cases, weed stage revealed important to assure the efficacy of the treatment.