scholarly journals Sustainable Approach to Weed Management: The Role of Precision Weed Management

Agronomy ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
António Monteiro ◽  
Sérgio Santos

In the last few decades, the increase in the world’s population has created a need to produce more food, generating, consequently, greater pressure on agricultural production. In addition, problems related to climate change, water scarcity or decreasing amounts of arable land have serious implications for farming sustainability. Weeds can affect food production in agricultural systems, decreasing the product quality and productivity due to the competition for natural resources. On the other hand, weeds can also be considered to be valuable indicators of biodiversity because of their role in providing ecosystem services. In this sense, there is a need to carry out an effective and sustainable weed management process, integrating the various control methods (i.e., cultural, mechanical and chemical) in a harmonious way, without harming the entire agrarian ecosystem. Thus, intensive mechanization and herbicide use should be avoided. Herbicide resistance in some weed biotypes is a major concern today and must be tackled. On the other hand, the recent development of weed control technologies can promote higher levels of food production, lower the amount of inputs needed and reduce environmental damage, invariably bringing us closer to more sustainable agricultural systems. In this paper, we review the most common conventional and non-conventional weed control strategies from a sustainability perspective, highlighting the application of the precision and automated weed control technologies associated with precision weed management (PWM).

Author(s):  
Godfrey Nakitare Nambafu ◽  
Richard Ndemo Onwonga

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.


1965 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 477-486
Author(s):  
R. Grover

Several pre-emergence herbicides were tested, both in the greenhouse and in the field, for tolerance to germinating and 1-year-old seedlings of caragana (Caragana arborescens Lam.) and for effectiveness in controlling weeds.Dinoseb (4,6-dinitro-o-sec-butylphenol) and its alkanolamine salt at 8 lb/ac, trifluralin (alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) at 4 to 6 lb/ac, DCPA (dimethyl 2,3,5,6-tetrachloroterephthalate) at 15 lb/ac, swep (methyl 3,4-dichlorocarbanilate) at 6 to 9 lb/ac, and Tenoran (N-4-(p-chlorophenoxy)-phenyl-1,1-dimethylurea) at 6 lb/ac gave satisfactory weed control with no injury to germinating caragana seedlings. Liquid formulations of dinoseb or dinoseb-amine were more effective than the granular dinoseb formulation at rates of 8 lb/ac or less. Mixtures of dinoseb, trifluralin, and DCPA were also effective and these may be used where a wider weed species spectrum is encountered.Trifluralin at 6 lb/ac and mixtures of granular dinoseb at 8 to 12 lb/ac with DCPA at 10 lb/ac also provided satisfactory weed control with no injury to 1-year-old caragana seedlings.In the greenhouse tests, pre-emergence applications of trifluralin, diphenamid (N,N-dimethyl-2,2-diphenylacetamide), swep, DCPA, and DMPA (Q-(2,4-dichlorophenyl) O-methyl isopropylphosphoramidothioate) did not retard the germination of weed seeds, but the young weed seedlings were either killed or retarded in growth as the experiments progressed. On the other hand, linuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea), dichlobenil (2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile), and dinoseb affected the emergence of weed seedlings. The weeds surviving the dinoseb treatment grew well. Hand-weeding stimulated the germination of more weed seeds.


2022 ◽  
pp. 003072702110703
Author(s):  
Bart Gremmen

As populations increase and economic affluence expand, conventional farmers will be unable to meet the demand for food. Two main scenarios offer different solutions. The first scenario aims to further intensify scientific- and technology-driven agriculture research. The second scenario aims to radically switch to nature-based solutions in agricultural systems. There seem to be two interpretations of the nature-based solutions scenario: on the one hand, the interpretation of the IUCN regards nature-based solutions, such as regenerative agriculture, as using nature and denies a link with biomimicry; and on the other hand, the interpretation of the EU regards regenerative agriculture as an example of biomimicry. This raises the question: is regenerative agriculture a prime example of biomimicry or is it only a very important way to use nature in agriculture? To answer this question, we take a step back and philosophically reflect on biomimicry. Based on two definitions of mimesis, we distinguish between two concepts of biomimicry, a ‘strong’ concept which emphasizes natural principles and copying natural models, and a ‘weak’ concept, which emphasizes inspiration by nature and creative invention. Secondly, we describe and analyze regenerative agriculture as part of the nature-based solutions scenario and interpret regenerative agriculture first as ‘weak’ and then as ‘strong’ biomimicry. Both interpretations have their problems. To address these, we propose a new concept of biomimicry based on a new definition of mimesis. This enable us to differentiate between biomimicry, strict imitation of nature, and nature-inspired invention. We argue that our conceptualization of biomimicry helps to operationalize regenerative agriculture as a biomimetic technology.


2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 538-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan C. Holmes ◽  
Christy L. Sprague

Field studies were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at two locations in Michigan to examine the effect of row width and herbicide combination on weed suppression and yield in the new Type II black bean variety ‘Zorro.' Black bean was planted in 38- and 76-cm rows. Six weed control strategies were examined:S-metolachlor + halosulfuron (PRE),S-metolachlor (PRE) followed by (fb) bentazon + fomesafen (POST), halosulfuron (PRE) fb clethodim (+ fomesafen at one site in one year) (POST), imazamox + bentazon (POST), a weed-free control, and a nontreated control. Weed control and crop injury were evaluated throughout the growing season. In addition, weeds were counted by species in late July, and weed biomass was harvested and weighed at the end of the season. Black bean yield was obtained by direct harvest. Narrow rows reduced weed populations in two of the four site–year combinations (referred to hereafter as site–years), reduced weed biomass in three of the four site–years, and often improved control of upright broadleaf weeds. All herbicide combinations generally reduced weed populations and biomass, but control of specific weeds was variable. Crop injury was generally slight and transient. Yield was greater in narrow rows in two of the four site–years. All herbicide combinations increased yield compared with the nontreated control and resulted in similar yields to one another. Yield and weed suppression was often maximized in narrow rows, while herbicide performance varied by year and weed spectrum.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.H.S. ZOBIOLE ◽  
F.H. KRENCHINSKI ◽  
G. MORATELLI ◽  
N.V. COSTA

ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of a new product has a great importance to weed control, especially those that are difficult to control or resistant to, such as the sumatran fleabane (Conyza sumatrensis). The objective of this research was to evaluate the control of C. sumatrensis at different growth stages, using halauxifen-methyl in combination with other herbicides. The experimental design used was a randomized blocks in a 3x10 factorial scheme, with four replications. The plants of C. sumatrensis were evaluated at different growth: stage 1: plants with 8 leaves; Stage 2: plants with 19 leaves and stage 3: plants with 45 leaves fully expanded. The herbicides used were the association of glyphosate with the herbicides 2,4-D at 806, 943 and 1,209 g a.e. ha-1, halauxifen-methyl + diclosulam at 5.06 g a.e. ha-1 + 25.52 g a.i. ha-1 and 6.32 g a.e. ha-1 + 31.87 g a.i. ha-1, halauxifen-methyl + 2,4-D at 5.00 + 783 g a.e. ha-1 and 6,0 + 940 g a.e. ha-1 and halauxifen-methyl at 5.0 and 6.0 g a.e. ha-1 and untreated, totaling 10 treatments. The herbicides demonstrated satisfactory control of the plants in Stage 1 at 50 DAA, with the exception of the glyphosate + 2,4-D treatment at the lowest rate. However for Stages 2 and 3 the halauxifen-methyl + diclosulam in both rates, provided superior controls in relation to the other treatments. The control of sumatran fleabane was facilitated when their management occurs in the early stages of development, however independent of the development stage, the best controls obtained were with the treatment containing glyphosate + halauxifen-methyl + diclosulam at 1,440 g a.e. ha-1 + 6.32 g a.e. ha-1 + 31.87 g a.i. ha-1. Thus, combinations of herbicides containing halauxifen-methyl are another option to control C. sumatrensis in agricultural systems.


2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1157-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Doyle ◽  
Marian Stypa

Identification of the appropriate use rate is a critical first step in the herbicide development process because use rates affect product utility, market value, and the various risk assessments within the regulatory review process prior to registration. For a given herbicide to be commercially successful, it must provide consistent and sustained efficacy based on a use rate structure that meets customer requirements over a wide range of conditions. Recently, recommendations have been made that advocate the use of herbicide use rates below those outlined on registered product label text. Such advice tends to be based on field work and predictive models designed to identify specific conditions where reduced herbicide use rates are theoretically optimized as dictated by threshold values with assumed levels of commercially acceptable weed control. Unfortunately, many other studies indicate that the use of reduced herbicide rates is not without variability of herbicide efficacy and economic risk. Consequently, reduced use rate theories and related predictive models are often of limited practical value to growers. Aside from inconsistent performance, weed control strategies based on reduced herbicide use rates are not a solution to prevent or even delay target site resistance. In fact, prolonged use of sublethal use rates may select for metabolic resistance and add future weed management challenges by replenishing the weed seed bank. Much effort in terms of development time and resources are invested before product commercialization to ensure that product labels are easily understood and provide value to growers. In this regard, every effort is made to identify the lowest effective use rate that will consistently control target weeds and lead to economic optimization for both the grower and manufacturer.


2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentín A. Esqueda ◽  
Liviana Altamirano ◽  
Yanett Hernández ◽  
Alicia López

An experiment was established at Rancho Casablanca, located in the Municipality of Puente Nacional, in the State of Veracruz, Mexico, in order to evaluate the toxicity caused by the mixture of the herbicides ametryn + clomazone to the sugarcane varieties MEX-79-431, MEX- 69-290, MEX-68-P23 and CP-72-2086. Four weed control treatments were evaluated: 1. Ametryn + clomazone (1200 + 800 g/ha), 2. Ametryn + clomazone (1800 + 1200 g/ha), 3. Ametryn + 2,4-D (1225 + 650 g/ha) and 4. Weeded control. Herbicides were applied when sugarcane plants had from two to four leaves. The mixture of ametryn + clomazone caused leaf bleaching in all the sugarcane varieties. The bleached area varied from 36.3 to 47.5% with the highest dose of the mixture, and from 25 to 39.4%, with the lowest dose, and it practically disappeared about 45 days after application. On the other hand, the mixture of ametryn + 2,4-D did not cause any bleaching. Toxicity caused by the mixture of ametryn + clomazone did not affect the number of plant leaves, the number of stalks in 2 linear m, nor the plant height. Stalk yield and sucrose content were not affected either.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 72-76
Author(s):  
István Kristó ◽  
Gábor Vaczkó ◽  
Melinda Tar ◽  
Péter Jakab ◽  
László Hódi

In our investigation, we used different weed control technologies in the different phenology states of the maize. The farm experiment has been carried out in 2017, in Hungary, Kunágota, on good quality chernozem soil, on 20 x 50 m plots. The experiment can be regarded as 9 weed-control strategies where, in addition to the untreated control, two chemicals are applied (Laudis, Capreno) in different doses, two mechanical weed-control technologies, and two combination of chemicals and mechanical weed-control technologies were used. Mechanical weed-control was connected to the herbicide treatments in different times: until 4-6-leaves age weedless, in 4-6-leaves age hoed once, in 4-6-leaves age cultivation once. In our farm experiment, there were assessed the number of plants, length of plants, leaf number of maize, corncob-number, corncob-length, line number of corncob, thousand seed weight yield and profitability of maize production. Our results were evaluated by a one-factor analysis of variance. Our one-year weed control experiment show that Capreno performed better, than Laudis with respect of plant height, number of leaves, length of corn-cob, number of lines of corn-cob, thousand seed weight and yield. By increasing the dose of Capreno, all the tested values of crop elements degraded except for plant height, so the crop yield also decreased.


Geoadria ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Pejdo ◽  
Željka Šiljković

Groundwater is an important but under-utilized water resource in Croatia. If compared to other European countries Croatia is one of the richest regarding groundwater and total renewable reserves. In spite of that, water management systems have been built only on approximately 0.5 per cent of the total arable land. As Croatia has been affected by more frequent and longer droughts in the last decade, the scarcity of irrigated areas has become one of the vital issues in Croatian agriculture. On the other hand predominance of inefficientirrigationtechniques, lack or no maintenance of irrigation systems coupled with the absence of adequate government involvement can result in groundwater pollution. 


2003 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinrich Mintrop

The article reports on a study of 11 schools that were labeled as low-performing by the state accountability systems of Maryland and Kentucky, nationally known for complex performance-based assessments. The study shows that putting schools on probation only weakly motivated teachers because the assessments were largely perceived as unfair, invalid, and unrealistic. Administrators responded with control strategies that rigidified organizations, forestalling dialog and learning processes. Instructional reform developed only feebly. On the other hand, some schools remedied inefficiencies and were able to "harvest the low-hanging fruit." The schools struggled with severe problems of teacher commitment.


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