Camera steered mechanical weed control in sugar beet,maize and soybean

In sugar beet, maize and soybean, weeds are usually controlled by herbicides uniformly applied across the whole field. Due to restrictions in herbicide use and negative side effects, mechanical weeding plays a major role in integrated weed management (IWM). In 2015 and 2016, eight field experiments were conducted to test the efficacy of an OEM Claas 3-D stereo camera^® in combination with an Einböck Row-Guard^® hoe for controlling weeds. Ducks-foot blades in the inter-row were combined with four different mechanical intra-row weeding elements in sugar beet, maize and soybean and a band sprayer in sugar beet. Average weed densities in the untreated control plots were from 12 to 153 plants m^?2 with Chenopodium album, Polygonum convolvulus, Thlapsi arvense being the most abundant weed species. Camera steered hoeing resulted in 78% weed control efficacy compared to 65% using machine hoeing with manual guidance. Mechanical intra-row elements controlled up to 79% of the weeds in the crop rows. Those elements did not cause significant crop damage except for the treatment with a rotary harrow in maize in 2016. Weed control efficacy was highest in the herbicide treatments with almost 100% followed by herbicide band-applications combined with inter-row hoeing. Mechanical weed control treatments increased white sugar yield by 39%, maize biomass yield by 43% and soybean grain yield by 58% compared to the untreated control in both years. However, yield increase was again higher with chemical weed control. In conclusion, camera guided weed hoeing has improved efficacy and selectivity of mechanical weed control in sugar beet, maize and soybean.     

Broad-scale cruciferous weed patch classification in winter wheat using QuickBird imagery for in-season site-specific control

This article explores the potential use of multi-spectral high-spatial resolution QuickBird imagery to detect cruciferous weed patches in winter wheat fields. In the present study, research was conducted on six individual naturally infested fields (field-scale study: field area ranging between 3 and 52 ha) and on a QuickBird-segmented winter wheat image (broad-scale study: area covering approximately 263 winter wheat fields, approximately 2 656 ha) located in the province of Córdoba (southern Spain). To evaluate the feasibility of mapping cruciferous weed patches in both the field-scale and broad-scale studies, two supervised classification methods were used: the Maximum likelihood classifier (MLC) and vegetation indices. Then, the best classification methods were selected to develop in-season site-specific cruciferous weed patch treatment maps. The analysis showed that cruciferous weed patches were accurately discriminated in both field-scale and broad-scale scenarios. Thus, considering the broad-scale study, classification accuracies of 91.3 and 89.45 % were obtained using the MLC and blue/green (B/G) vegetation indices, respectively. The site-specific treatment maps obtained from the best classifiers indicated that there is a great potential for reducing herbicide use through in-season, cruciferous weed patch site-specific control on both a field-scale and broad-scale. For example, it can be determined that by applying site-specific treatment maps on a broad-scale, herbicide savings of 61.31 % for the no-treatment areas and 13.02 % for the low-dose herbicide areas were obtained.     

Patchy weed distribution and site-specific weed control in winter cereals

Site-specific weed control in winter cereals was performed on the same fields every year over a 5-year period (1999–2003). The most common weeds (Apera spica-venti, Galium aparine, Veronica hederifolia, Viola arvensis) were counted by species, at grid points which were georeferenced and the data were analysed spatially. For weed control, weeds were grouped into three classes: grass, broad-leaved weeds (without Galium aparine), and Galium aparine. Based on weed distribution maps generated by the spatial analyses, herbicide application maps were created and site-specific herbicide application was carried out for grouped and or single weed species. This resulted in a significant reduction in herbicide use. Averaging the results for all fields and years, the total field area treated with herbicides was 39% for grass weeds, 44% for broad-leaved weeds (without Galium aparine) and 49% for Galium aparine. Therefore, site-specific weed control has the potential to reduce herbicide use compared to broadcast application, thus giving environmental and economic benefits.     

Site-Specific Weed Control in Maize,Sugar Beet,Winter Wheat,and Winter Barley

A four-year study of site-specific weed control is presented in this paper. Weed seedling distribution was sampled and mapped prior to and after post-emergence herbicide application in four fields planted with maize, sugar beets, winter wheat and winter barley, rotating on one site. Herbicides and other weed control strategies were applied site-specifically according to the spatial variation of weed populations. Different decision algorithms were used for chemical weed control methods in each crop. A weed treatment map was created to direct location and dosage of herbicide application. The sprayer was coupled with a differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The solenoid valves of the sprayer were opened automatically when the tractor entered a weed patch characterized in the weed treatment map. For site specific herbicide application, a patch sprayer was developed that allowed variable rate application and the selective control of each section of the spray boom.     

Beyond patch spraying: site-specific weed management with several herbicides

Site-specific weed management can include both limiting herbicide application to areas of the field where weed pressure is above the economic threshold (patch spraying) and varying the choice of herbicide for most cost-effective weed control of local populations. The benefits of patch spraying with several, postemergence herbicides in irrigated corn were evaluated in simulation studies using weed counts from 16 fields. Patch spraying with one, two or the number of herbicides that maximized net return for a field was simulated. With patch spraying of one herbicide, the average area of a field left untreated is 34.5%. Net return increases by $3.09 ha⁻¹ compared to a uniform application without decreasing crop yield. Additional herbicides increase the average benefits with just 4% more of the field treated. With two herbicides, the increase in net return is almost tripled and herbicide use is reduced nearly 10-fold compared to patch spraying with one herbicide, and weed control is better than the uniform application in 10 fields. Using more than two herbicides for patch spraying further reduces weed escapes, but herbicide use is greater than a uniform application in 10 fields. Growers might be more willing to adopt patch spraying if more than one herbicide is used in a field.     

助剂激健对机插稻田除草剂的减量增效作用

旨在明确助剂激健与机插秧稻田除草剂减量混用是否对机插秧水稻安全以及是否具有增效作用。本试验比较了机插秧稻田3种封闭除草剂配方和3种茎叶除草剂配方的常量处理和相应配方减量40%添加激健处理对机插秧稻田杂草的防除效果及对机插稻安全性影响。结果表明，供试除草剂配方常量处理与减量处理均对机插秧水稻安全，封闭除草剂配方35%丙噁·丁草胺胺EW+19%氟酮磺草胺SC 组合和茎叶除草剂配方3%氯氟吡啶酯EC+100g/L氰氟草酯EC组合、10%噁唑?氰氟EC+38%二甲?灭草松AS组合、60克/升五氟?氰氟草OD+38%二甲?灭草松AS组合的常量处理与减量处理对机插秧稻田杂草均有较高防效，且常量处理与减量处理之间差异不显著，说明激健助剂对机插秧水稻杂草防除具有积极的作用。     

超高茬麦田套稻田间杂草防除效果研究

[目的]采用超高茬麦田套稻技术田间杂草危害严重,是其大面积推广应用的主要障碍之一,通过不同药剂的防效试验筛选最佳除草剂。[方法]选用35.5%丁.恶乳油等除草剂在水稻套播后和小麦收割后,用毒土法先后2次处理麦田套播水稻田,调查防效。[结果]除草效果以35.5%丁.恶乳油2 250 ml/hm2最佳,其后依次为30%丁.苄1 500 ml/hm2、50%杀草丹3 000 ml/hm2＋10%苄磺隆225 ml/hm2、50%苯噻草胺750 ml/hm2＋10%苄磺隆225 ml/hm2,而36%二氯.苄750 ml/hm2效果最差;用药时间越早,对禾本科杂草防效越好,供试药剂持效期均为45 d左右;中、后期可根据田间杂草发生情况辅以茎叶处理,效果更佳。[结论]以稗草和阔叶杂草为主的田块,5种药剂均可使用;以千金子和阔叶杂草为主的田块,除36%二氯.苄750 ml/hm2外,其他4种药剂均可使用;以莎草科和阔叶杂草为主的田块,可用含有苄磺隆的复配除草剂,或单用10%苄磺隆225～300 ml/hm2进行防除。供试药剂均对水稻安全。     

大豆田化学除草技术研究

本文采用随机区组设计方法，于１９９５—９７年使用日本住友公司最新研制的除草剂——５０％速收、１０％利收、１２％收乐通等对大豆田化学除草技术进行了研究。结果表明，大豆田化学除草应以苗前土壤处理为主，苗后茎叶处理为辅。苗前土壤处理春大豆田使用速收１５０ｇ／ｈａ左右、夏大豆田７５—１５０ｇ／ｈａ对阔叶杂草防效显著；与禾耐斯混用对阔叶杂草和禾本科杂草可获得显著而稳定广谱的除草效果；对大豆及后作高度安全。苗后茎叶处理春大豆田利收单用４５０—６００ｍｌ／ｈａ对阔叶杂草防效显著；利收３００—４５０ｍｌ／ｈａ与拿捕净５００—１０００ｍｌ、高效盖草能１５０—３００ｍｌ或收乐通３００—４５０ｍｌ／ｈａ混用可获加成效应，提高药效，扩大杀草谱；对后作安全。     

抗除草剂转基因玉米研究

文中对抗除草剂转基因玉米的研究进行了综述。抗除草剂转基因玉米的转化方法主要有基因枪法和农杆菌介导法,其中基因枪法是转基因技术中经常使用的方法;也是在玉米中应用最成功的方法;农杆菌介导法因其具有费用低、拷贝数少、基因沉默现象少、能转化较大片段、遗传稳定性较高、再生植株可育性较好等优点也越来越受到重视。通常以Bar基因作为标记基因,采用喷施除草剂和PCR检测相结合的方法对抗除草剂转基因玉米进行检测和筛选。抗除草剂转基因玉米的安全性问题主要涉及演化为田间杂草的可能、基因漂移和田间杂草的抗药性3个方面。     

Development of an Image Processing System and a Fuzzy Algorithm for Site-Specific Herbicide Applications

In precision farming, image analysis techniques can aid farmers in the site-specific application of herbicides, and thus lower the risk of soil and water pollution by reducing the amount of chemicals applied. Using weed maps built with image analysis techniques, farmers can learn about the weed distribution within the crop. In this study, a digital camera was used to take a series of grid-based images covering the soil between rows of corn in a field in southwestern Quebec in May of 1999. Weed coverage was determined from each image using a greenness method in which the red, green, and blue intensities of each pixel were compared. Weed coverage and weed patchiness were estimated based on the percent of greenness area in the images. This information was used to create a weed map. Using weed coverage and weed patchiness as inputs, a fuzzy logic model was developed for use in determining site-specific herbicide application rates. A herbicide application map was then created for further evaluation of herbicide application strategy. Simulations indicated that significant amounts of herbicide could be saved using this approach.     

Early season weed mapping in sunflower using UAV technology: variability of herbicide treatment maps against weed thresholds

Site-specific weed management is defined as the application of customised control treatments only where weeds are located within the crop-field by using adequate herbicide according to weed emergence. The aim of the study was to generate georeferenced weed seedling infestation maps in two sunflower fields by analysing overlapping aerial images of the visible and near-infrared spectrum (using visible or multi-spectral cameras) collected by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying at 30 and 60 m altitudes. The main tasks focused on the configuration and evaluation of the UAV and its sensors for image acquisition and ortho-mosaicking, as well as the development of an automatic and robust image analysis procedure for weed seedling mapping used to design a site-specific weed management program. The control strategy was based on seven weed thresholds with 2.5 steps of increasing ratio from 0 % (herbicide must be applied just when there is presence or absence of weed) to 15 % (herbicide applied when weed coverage >15 %). As a first step of the imagery analysis, sunflower rows were correctly matched to the ortho-mosaicked imagery, which allowed accurate image analysis using object-based image analysis [object-based-image-analysis (OBIA) methods]. The OBIA algorithm developed for weed seedling mapping with ortho-mosaicked imagery successfully classified the sunflower-rows with 100 % accuracy in both fields for all flight altitudes and camera types, indicating the computational and analytical robustness of OBIA. Regarding weed discrimination, high accuracies were observed using the multi-spectral camera at any flight altitude, with the highest (approximately 100 %) being those recorded for the 15 % weed threshold, although satisfactory results from 2.5 to 5 % thresholds were also observed, with accuracies higher than 85 % for both field 1 and field 2. The lowest accuracies (ranging from 50 to 60 %) were achieved with the visible camera at all flight altitudes and 0 % weed threshold. Herbicide savings were relevant in both fields, although they were higher in field 2 due to less weed infestation. These herbicide savings varied according to the different scenarios studied. For example, in field 2 and at 30 m flight altitude and using the multi-spectral camera, a range of 23–3 % of the field (i.e., 77 and 97 % of area) could be treated for 0–15 % weed thresholds. The OBIA procedure computed multiple data which permitted calculation of herbicide requirements for timely and site-specific post-emergence weed seedling management.     

Agriculture. Genetically modified crops and farmland biodiversity

The debate about genetically modified crops that are resistant to herbicides and their effects on the environment rages on. In their Perspective, Firbank and Forcella discuss a new model (Watkinson et al.) that seeks to calculate the impact of genetically modified herbicide-resistant sugar beet on growth of the weed Chenopodium album and on the skylark, which feeds on the seeds of this weed.     

Site-Specific Herbicide Decision Model to Maximize Profit in Winter Wheat

A user-friendly computerized agricultural herbicide decision model has been developed for selecting profitable site-specific herbicide applications in winter wheat. The model is based on 6 years of field research in southeastern Washington State, USA. The model calibrates herbicide applications to management unit weed densities, soil organic matter, soil moisture, and preceding management, as well as to expected input and output prices. The model increased broadleaf herbicide rates by an average 0.65 of label rates compared to the recommendations by farmers and weed science professionals, but cut the more expensive grass herbicides by an average 0.56 of label rates. The model increased average projected profitability, excluding model application costs, by 65% compared to four other criteria for determining application rates. The profitability increase relative to local farmers was 19%. Both the model and the cooperating farmers properly chose to use no grass herbicides on the study sites, but the weed science experts chose to use up to 1.0 of label rates. The estimated payoff from using the model substantially exceeded the cost of weed scouting and other information collection. Determining economically optimal sampling and management units is an important challenge for the adoption of precision agriculture models like the one developed in this study.     

除草剂对燕麦田杂草的防效及其对燕麦产量的影响

通过田间试验研究了13种除草剂对燕麦田杂草控制及产量的影响.结果表明:10种苗期茎叶处理除草剂中,皮燕麦和裸燕麦田用药后30d,株防效和鲜重防效均以40%二甲.辛酰溴最高,分别为97.5%、99.0%和90.5%、98.0%;3种土壤处理除草剂以仲丁灵效果最佳;麦草畏对燕麦有轻微药害.除草剂对燕麦产量有显著影响,不同除草剂效应不同,皮燕麦、裸燕麦对除草剂的反应也不尽相同;裸燕麦在相同除草剂处理下产量增幅小于皮燕麦;除草剂的防效是影响燕麦产量的最主要因素,其次为小穗数、穗粒数、株高、穗长、千粒质量.     

六种土壤除草剂对夏玉米田杂草防除效果比较

对50%乙草胺微乳剂等6种除草剂品种进行防除夏玉米田杂草应用研究。结果表明:各药剂处理对一年生禾本科、阔叶杂草55d鲜重总防效均达到85%以上,其中40%异丙草·莠悬浮剂200g/667m2防效最好,为96.15%。     

春玉米化学除草剂药害的发生原因及其预防和缓解技术措施

在河北省隆化县,玉米田化学除草剂药害发生程度逐渐加重、面积逐年加大,严重影响了玉米生产。分析了造成玉米田化学除草剂药害的主要原因,并提出了合理适期选用化学除草剂、注意天气情况、提高喷药技术,运用农业技术并辅助喷洒植物生长调节剂等措施,可以预防和缓解药害的发生。     

除草剂随滴灌水施用的除草效果及对烟草生长的影响

为了探讨不同土壤处理除草剂随滴灌水施用的效果,2012—2014年在河南省襄城县优质烟田,对筛选出的5种土壤处理除草剂(50%敌草胺可湿性粉剂、90%双本酰草胺可湿性粉、96%精异丙甲草胺乳油、72%异丙甲草胺乳油和48%甲草胺乳油)进行了试验,施用量均为生产厂家规定的最佳用量,杂草防治对照为微喷灌不喷洒除草剂(CK-1)处理,除草剂施用量对照为随滴灌水不施用除草剂(CK-2)处理。结果表明,随滴灌水施用除草剂处理的杂草防治效果,以CK-1为对照达90.97%以上,以CK-2为对照达72.56%以上,并且除草剂处理在提高烟叶产量、上等烟产量、有效叶片数、叶面积系数方面,与两对照间的差异达到了极显著水平;不同除草剂处理之间,除对株高的影响没有达到显著水平外,对其他性状的影响均达到了显著水平。其中,50%敌草胺可湿性粉剂和96%精异丙甲草胺乳油处理的除草和增产效果均较好,以CK-1为对照的除草效果分别达96.10%和95.36%,以CK-2为对照的除草效果分别达88.15%和85.90%;烟叶产量较CK-1分别提高19.98%和17.28%,较CK-2分别提高7.50%和5.08%;上等烟产量较CK-1分别提高95.30%和82.98%,较CK-2分别提高48.06%和38.71%;同时其烤烟株高、有效叶片数和叶面积系数也较其他3种除草剂处理有不同程度的提高。因此,这5种土壤处理除草剂随滴灌水施用是可行的,既可以有效防止杂草生长,又可显著改善烟草经济和农艺性状,建议豫中烟区随滴灌水施用土壤处理除草剂时首选50%敌草胺可湿性粉剂和96%精异丙甲草胺乳油。