Machines for non-chemical intra-row weed control in narrow and wide-row crops: a review

Peruzzi, Andrea; Martelloni, Luisa; Frasconi, Christian; Fontanelli, Marco; Pirchio, Michel; Raffaelli, Michele

doi:10.4081/jae.2017.583

Cited by 69 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Looking well ahead, one possible scenario may involve new developments employing robots that can detect weeds using computer vision [95]. Commercial robotic machines, using RTK GPS (Real Time Kinematic Geographical Positioning System) will be coming available for spot weed control with herbicide [96], laser [97]; and non-soil inversion mechanical weed control systems for no-till crops may also become a possibility [98]. Being light and cheap, robotic weeding machines have the potential to practically eliminate damaging soil compaction caused by the passage of heavy spray rigs during the weed management operation ( Figure 6).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Weed Management for Conservation Agriculture: Options for Smallholder Farmers

Sims¹,

Corsi²,

Gbèhounou³

et al. 2018

Agriculture

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Land degradation and soil fertility deterioration are two of the main causes of agricultural production stagnation and decline in many parts of the world. The model of crop production based on mechanical soil tillage and exposed soils is typically accompanied by negative effects on the natural resource base of the farming environment, which can be so serious that they jeopardize agricultural productive potential in the future. This form of agriculture is destructive to soil health and accelerates the loss of soil by increasing its mineralization and erosion rates. Conservation agriculture, a system avoiding or minimizing soil mechanical disturbance (no-tillage) combined with soil cover and crop diversification, is considered a sustainable agro-ecological approach to resource-conserving agricultural production. A major objective of tillage is supposed to be weed control, and it does not require very specific knowledge because soil inversion controls (at least temporarily) most weeds mechanically (i.e., by way of burying them). However, repeated ploughing only changes the weed population, but does not control weeds in the long term. The same applies to the mechanical uprooting of weeds. While in the short term some tillage operations can control weeds on farms, tillage systems can increase and propagate weeds off-farm. The absence of tillage, under conservation agriculture, requires other measures of weed control. One of the ways in which this is realized is through herbicide application. However, environmental concerns, herbicide resistance and access to appropriate agro-chemicals on the part of resource-poor farmers, highlight the need for alternative weed control strategies that are effective and accessible for smallholders adopting conservation agriculture. Farmers in semi-arid regions contend with the additional challenge of low biomass production and, often, competition with livestock enterprises, which limit the potential weed-suppressing benefits of mulch and living cover crops. This paper reviews the applicability and efficacy of various mechanical, biological and integrated weed management strategies for the effective and sustainable management of weeds in smallholder conservation agriculture systems, including the role of appropriate equipment and prerequisites for smallholders within a sustainable intensification scenario.Keywords: smallholder farming; conservation agriculture; sustainable and ecological weed management; preventive; cultural and direct control methods of weed management

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Weed Management for Conservation Agriculture: Options for Smallholder Farmers

Sims¹,

Corsi²,

Gbèhounou³

et al. 2018

Agriculture

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“…Robotic weeders have great potential for adoption by conventional and organic specialty crop growers due to the high cost of manual weeding in those crops . Commercially available robotic weeders include the Ferrari Remoweed, Robovator, Garford In‐row cultivator and Steketee IC . These robotic weeders all function by detecting crop row patterns and cultivating around the individual crop plants with cultivator knives, i.e.…”

Section: Alternative Weed Control Technologies For Specialty Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Actuators consist of devices such as cultivators that uproot weeds, those that damage weed foliage with propane burners, lasers or steam, others such as abrasives that physically degrade weed foliage, and mowers that cut weeds. Weed detection systems and processors signal the actuator to target the weed but not the crop …”

Section: Weed Control Robotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Automation is a means to take a proven weed control device like a cultivator knife, and combining it with intelligent technology to create something very different—a robotic weeder. Several weeding devices are on the market and more are possible …”

Section: Weed Control Robotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Legislation that limits the use of herbicides (e.g. registration removal of old products) has led to increased use of mechanical and thermal weeders . Older standard mechanical and thermal weed control practices in organic specialty crops need technological updates to provide more effective weed control.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Robotic weeders can improve weed control options for specialty crops

Fennimore

Cutulle

2019

Pest Management Science

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Specialty crop herbicides are not a priority for the agrochemical industry, and many of these crops do not have access to effective herbicides. High-value fruit and vegetable crops represent small markets and high potential liability in the case of herbicide-induced crop damage. Meanwhile, conventional and organic specialty crop producers are experiencing labor shortages and higher manual weeding costs. Robotic weeders are promising new weed control tools for specialty crops, because they are cheaper to develop and, with fewer environmental and human health risks, are less regulated than herbicides. Now is the time for greater investment in robotic weeders as new herbicides are expensive to develop and few in number, organic crops need better weed control technology and governments are demanding reduced use of pesticides. Public funding of fundamental research on robotic weeder technology can help improve weed and crop recognition, weed control actuators, and expansion of weed science curricula to train students in this technology. Robotic weeders can expand the array of tools available to specialty crop growers. However, the development of robotic weeders will require a broader recognition that these tools are a viable path to create new weed control tools for specialty crops. ActuationActuators consist of devices such as cultivators that uproot weeds, those that damage weed foliage with propane burners, lasers Pest Manag Sci 2019; 75: 1767-1774

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The Ecological Base of Nonchemical Weed Control

Nosratti,

Chauhan

2023

Ecologically‐Based Weed Management

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Machines for non-chemical intra-row weed control in narrow and wide-row crops: a review

Cited by 69 publications

References 69 publications

Sustainable Weed Management for Conservation Agriculture: Options for Smallholder Farmers

Sustainable Weed Management for Conservation Agriculture: Options for Smallholder Farmers

Robotic weeders can improve weed control options for specialty crops

The Ecological Base of Nonchemical Weed Control

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