Site-specific weed control technologies

AbstractThe widespread use of herbicides in cropping systems has led to the evolution of resistance in major weeds. The resultant loss of herbicide efficacy is compounded by a lack of new herbicide sites of action, driving demand for alternative weed control technologies. While there are many alternative methods for control, identifying the most appropriate method to pursue for commercial development has been hampered by the inability to compare techniques in a fair and equitable manner. Given that all currently available and alternative weed control methods share an intrinsic energy consumption, the aim of this review was to compare methods based on energy consumption. Energy consumption was compared for chemical, mechanical, and thermal weed control technologies when applied as broadcast (whole-field) and site-specific treatments. Tillage systems, such as flex-tine harrow (4.2 to 5.5 MJ ha−1), sweep cultivator (13 to 14 MJ ha−1), and rotary hoe (12 to 17 MJ ha−1) consumed the least energy of broadcast weed control treatments. Thermal-based approaches, including flaming (1,008 to 4,334 MJ ha−1) and infrared (2,000 to 3,887 MJ ha−1), are more appropriate for use in conservation cropping systems; however, their energy requirements are 100- to 1,000-fold greater than those of tillage treatments. The site-specific application of weed control treatments to control 2-leaf-stage broadleaf weeds at a density of 5 plants m−2 reduced energy consumption of herbicidal, thermal, and mechanical treatments by 97%, 99%, and 97%, respectively. Significantly, this site-specific approach resulted in similar energy requirements for current and alternative technologies (e.g., electrocution [15 to 19 MJ ha−1], laser pyrolysis [15 to 249 MJ ha−1], hoeing [17 MJ ha−1], and herbicides [15 MJ ha−1]). Using similar energy sources, a standardized energy comparison provides an opportunity for estimation of weed control costs, suggesting site-specific weed management is critical in the economically realistic implementation of alternative technologies.

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Summary and Overview of the Odour Regulations Worldwide

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12020206 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 206

Author(s):

Anna Bokowa ◽

Carlos Diaz ◽

Jacek A. Koziel ◽

Michael McGinley ◽

Jennifer Barclay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Site Specific ◽

Animal Feeding Operations ◽

Odour Source ◽

The Usa ◽

Odour Dispersion ◽

Odour Emissions ◽

Control Technologies ◽

Survey Review ◽

The Uk

When it comes to air pollution complaints, odours are often the most significant contributor. Sources of odour emissions range from natural to anthropogenic. Mitigation of odour can be challenging, multifaceted, site-specific, and is often confounded by its complexity—defined by existing (or non-existing) environmental laws, public ordinances, and socio-economic considerations. The objective of this paper is to review and summarise odour legislation in selected European countries (France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium), North America (the USA and Canada), and South America (Chile and Colombia), as well as Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) and Asia (Japan, China). Many countries have incorporated odour controls into their legislation. However, odour-related assessment criteria tend to be highly variable between countries, individual states, provinces, and even counties and towns. Legislation ranges from (1) no specific mention in environmental legislation that regulates pollutants which are known to have an odour impact to (2) extensive details about odour source testing, odour dispersion modelling, ambient odour monitoring, (3) setback distances, (4) process operations, and (5) odour control technologies and procedures. Agricultural operations are one specific source of odour emissions in rural and suburban areas and a model example of such complexities. Management of agricultural odour emissions is important because of the dense consolidation of animal feeding operations and the advance of housing development into rural areas. Overall, there is a need for continued survey, review, development, and adjustment of odour legislation that considers sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic realities, all of which are amenable to a just, site-specific, and sector-specific application.

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Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Uptake of Striga Weed Control Technologies in Kenya

Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science ◽

10.9734/ajrcs/2021/v6i430126 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 51-59

Author(s):

Godfrey Nakitare Nambafu ◽

Richard Ndemo Onwonga

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Factors ◽

Weed Control ◽

New Technologies ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Modern Technology ◽

Sample Population ◽

Population Type ◽

Control Technologies ◽

Land Size

Over the years, new technologies have been tested and introduced to control Striga in maize producing areas but adoption has remained low. The study done in 2013, determined the demographic and socioeconomic factors that influenced the adoption of Striga control technologies in Kisumu West, Bumula and Teso South sub counties of Western Kenya. Through Multi stage sampling technique, 40 households were selected per sub county for questionnaire administration; to gather information on demographic profiles of the sample population, type of fertilizer and seed variety used, income of the household, source of credit facilities and challenges faced in weed control. Chi square test at P<0.05 and logistic regression analysis, using R software was used to determine the relationship between demographic and socioeconomic factors and uptake of Striga control technologies. Farmers cited high cost, poor availability of improved varieties and lack of adequate knowledge as reasons for non-adoption of the Striga control strategies. Farmer’s age, education, land size and hiring of labour were found to significantly influence the adoption of the Striga control technologies. The low levels of adoption of modern technology indicate that they were not meeting farmers’ expectations, thus, researchers should put into consideration farmers’ education, age, land size and ability to high labour in their planning for an informed technology adoption. In addition, alternative options should be extended to farmers who are not able to use expensive technologies.

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

Precision Agriculture ◽

10.1007/s11119-006-9015-8 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 219-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Henning Nordmeyer

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Site Specific ◽

Winter Cereals ◽

Weed Distribution

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Determinants of Smallholder Maize Farmer’s Perception on Use of Improved Weed Control Technologies in Eswatini

Journal of Sustainable Development ◽

10.5539/jsd.v13n3p12 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 12

Author(s):

Khumalo M ◽

D. Kibirige ◽

M. B. Masuku ◽

H. R. Mloza-Banda ◽

W. O. Mukabwe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Principal Components ◽

Group Membership ◽

Control Method ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Primary Data ◽

Control Methods ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Control Technologies

Environmental concerns, increase labour cost and increase in demand for food has urged farmer to use the most economic and concomitant method to their farming objectives. Therefore, this study focused on ascertaining maize farmer’s perceptions on the weed control methods they choose and the socio-economic characteristics that determine these perceptions. This study was conduct countrywide in the four agro-ecological zones of Eswatini. Primary data was collected from 240 randomly selected maize farmers in the four Agro-ecological Zone of Eswatini. Factor analysis was used to estimate principal components about farmer’s perception on the different weed control methods. Multiple regression method was used to ascertain the socio-economic factors determining farmers’ perceptions. Farmers were interviewed about their perception on the usage of herbicides and integrated weed control method. The five likert scale of attitudinal statements related to herbicide and integrated weed control methods was developed. Four principal components were generated by the analysis from the positive attitudinal statement on the use of herbicides. These include productivity and economical, inclusive and confidence, knowledgeable and readiness, environmental impact. Farmer perceived that herbicides are associated with increased productive, can be used with confidence, farmers were ready to use herbicides, on the other hand, farmers perceived herbicides to have a negative impact on the environment. The socio-economic drivers of these farmers’ perceptions included sex of the farmer, education level, farming experience, access to agricultural trainings, amount of farm incomes and group membership. Integrated weeding method (hand hoe weeding + herbicide use) was perceived to be labour saving, productive and has no harm on the environment. The socio-economic drivers of these farmers’ perception towards the use of integrated weed control method included group membership and education. The study recommends that government should increase the number of extension officers to extend extension contact to more farmers, thus improve information sharing to farmers on best agricultural practices. Sensitization workshops, trainings and On-farm demonstration related to the usage of the improved weed control technologies is desired to increase farmers’ access to knowledge about the use of these improved weeding technologies.

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OpenWeedLocator (OWL): an open-source, low-cost device for fallow weed detection

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-03858-9 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Guy Coleman ◽

William Salter ◽

Michael Walsh

Keyword(s):

Open Source ◽

Weed Control ◽

Technology Development ◽

Low Cost ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Low Density ◽

Weed Detection ◽

Site Specific ◽

South Wales ◽

Control Community

AbstractThe use of a fallow phase is an important tool for maximizing crop yield potential in moisture limited agricultural environments, with a focus on removing weeds to optimize fallow efficiency. Repeated whole field herbicide treatments to control low-density weed populations is expensive and wasteful. Site-specific herbicide applications to low-density fallow weed populations is currently facilitated by proprietary, sensor-based spray booms. The use of image analysis for fallow weed detection is an opportunity to develop a system with potential for in-crop weed recognition. Here we present OpenWeedLocator (OWL), an open-source, low-cost and image-based device for fallow weed detection that improves accessibility to this technology for the weed control community. A comprehensive GitHub repository was developed, promoting community engagement with site-specific weed control methods. Validation of OWL as a low-cost tool was achieved using four, existing colour-based algorithms over seven fallow fields in New South Wales, Australia. The four algorithms were similarly effective in detecting weeds with average precision of 79% and recall of 52%. In individual transects up to 92% precision and 74% recall indicate the performance potential of OWL in fallow fields. OWL represents an opportunity to redefine the approach to weed detection by enabling community-driven technology development in agriculture.

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Summary and Evaluation of the Odour Regulations Worldwide

10.20944/preprints202012.0137.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anna Bokowa ◽

Carlos Diaz ◽

Jacek Koziel ◽

Michael McGinley ◽

Jennifer Barclay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Dispersion Modeling ◽

Site Specific ◽

Animal Feeding Operations ◽

Odour Source ◽

Specific Source ◽

Odour Dispersion ◽

Odour Emissions ◽

Control Technologies ◽

Survey Review

When it comes to air pollution complaints, odours are often the most significant contributor. Sources of odour emissions range from natural to anthropogenic. Mitigation of odour can be challenging, multifaceted, site-specific, and is often confounded by its complexity—defined by existing (or non-existing) environmental laws, public ordinances, and socio-economic considerations. The objective of this paper is to review and summarize odour legislation in selected European countries (France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, United Kingdom, Spain, The Netherlands, Italy, Belgium), North America (USA and Canada), South America (Chile and Colombia), as well as Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) and Asia (Japan, China). Many countries have incorporated odour controls into their legislation. However, odour-related assessment criteria tend to be highly variable between countries, individual states, provinces and even counties and towns. Legislation ranges from (1) no specific mention in environmental legislation that regulates pollutants which are known to have an odour impact to (2) extensive details about odour source testing, odour dispersion modeling, ambient odour monitoring, (3) setback distances, (4) process operations, and (5) odour control technologies and procedures. Agricultural operations are one specific source of odour emissions in rural and suburban areas and a model example of such complexities. Management of agricultural odour emissions is important because of the dense consolidation of animal feeding operations and the advance of housing development into rural areas. Overall, there is a need for continued survey, review, development, and adjustment of odour legislation that considers sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic realities, all of which are amenable to a just, site-specific, and sector-specific application.

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