Robotic weeders can improve weed control options for specialty crops

Abstract

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

Problems and perspectives in weed management

“…In recent years, a series of tactics and tools belonging to mechanical, agronomic and bio-based approaches have been studied offering the possibility of developing case-specific integrated weed management (IWM) strategies with a cumulative impact on weed abundance and weed-competitive ability (Korres et al, 2019). In addition, IWM can rely on modern technologies, remote sensed data and robotics to control weeds (Lopez-Granados, 2011;Fennimore and Cutulle, 2019). IWM now has a diverse suite of tools and strategies that can be used to completement herbicides.…”

Crop signal markers facilitate crop detection and weed removal from lettuce and tomato by an intelligent cultivator

“…Regardless of the technology used to differentiate weeds among crops, development of intelligent weed removal technology has improved weed control programs for horticultural crops that continue to rely on old herbicides and hand weeding (Fennimore and Cutulle 2019). Automated weed removal technology is disruptive in that it shifts the locus of discovery from large agrochemical companies that rely on broad-acre crops for profitability, to small engineering companies that have lower overhead costs and greater flexibility to find profitable markets in small noncompetitive niche crops like vegetables.…”

“…Weeds are difficult to control in lettuce and tomato due to labor shortages, increasing costs of hand weeding, and limited herbicide options (Fennimore and Cutulle 2019). Lettuce must meet industry standards of size and shape and have visual appeal to the consumer (Kader et al 1973).…”

High Speed Crop and Weed Identification in Lettuce Fields for Precision Weeding

“…Speciality crops, such as vegetables, are disproportionally affected by herbicide resistance, as very few herbicides are registered for use in the sector [7]. Such farmers have been forced to use hand-weeding methods, which are expensive, inefficient, and made more difficult by an industry-wide labour shortage [8,9].…”