This study assessed the effectiveness of integrated weed control strategies in irrigated maize in southeastern Romania (Poarta Albă, 2021–2024). Three technological variants were compared: untreated control, pre-emergence herbicide plus one hoeing, and combined pre- and post-emergence herbicides with two hoeings. Weed infestation exceeded 78 plants/m2 in untreated plots, dominated by Sorghum halepense, Amaranthus retroflexus, and Setaria viridis. The most intensivestrategy reduced weed density by more than 90%, increased crop uniformity, and significantly improved plant biomass and yield components. Strong negative correlations (r = –0.99) were observed between weed density and biometric traits. A preliminary economic assessment indicated that the combined strategy provided the highest yield advantage relative to control costs. These findings highlight the importance of integrated approaches under irrigated conditions in southeastern Europe, where climate variability intensifies weed competition.
Integrated weed management; Irrigated maize; Sorghum halepense; Climate stress; Weed–crop competition; Grain yield; Economic efficiency