Effects of weed control practices on plant diversity in a homogenous olive-dominated landscape (South-east of Italy)

several olive groves were chosen in which weeds were managed by farmers with different strategies (WCPs) that were classified into three broad categories: (1) chemical herbicides (He), including various types of treatments, although foliar ones (glyphosate) are the most commonly used in the area; (2) mowing (Mo), i.e., mechanical shredding of the aboveground portion of weeds without any soil disturbance and leaving residues covering the soil; (3) soil tillage (Ti), with various techniques, although the most common is to use a shallow (at least 20–25 cm) disk or chisel plowing, operating without the inversion of soil, i.e., only stirring it.