Weeds detection efficiency through different convolutional neural networks technology

The preservation of the environment has become a priority and a subject that is receiving more and more attention. This is particularly important in the field of precision agriculture, where pesticide and herbicide use has become more controlled. In this study, we propose to evaluate the ability of the deep learning (DL) and convolutional neural network (CNNs) technology to detect weeds in several types of crops using a perspective and proximity images to enable localized and ultra-localized herbicide spraying in the region of Beni Mellal in Morocco. We studied the detection of weeds through six recent CNN known for their speed and precision, namely, VGGNet (16 and 19), GoogLeNet (Inception V3 and V4) and MobileNet (V1 and V2). The first experiment was performed with the CNNs architectures from scratch and the second experiment with their pre-trained versions. The results showed that Inception V4 achieved the highest precision with a rate of 99.41% and 99.51% on the mixed image sets and for its version from scratch and its pre-trained version respectively, and that MobileNet V2 was the fastest and lightest with its size of 14 MB.

Herbicide effectiveness — a mean to improve quality of maize grain

Исследования влияния системного применения гербицидов при ресурсосберегающей обработке почвы на качественные показатели зерна кукурузы проведены на землях ОАО «Агросоюз» Рузаевского района Республики Мордовия в 2014–2016 годах. Установлено, что обработка посевов гербицидом «Дублон» (1,2 л/га) и баковой смесью «Дублон Голд» (0,07 кг/га) + «Балерина» (0,25 л/га) способствовала повышению содержания сырого протеина в зерне до 93,67 и 94,97 г/кг соответственно. Анализ содержания жира в зерне кукурузы выявил, что наибольшим оно было в контрольном варианте. Внесение препаратов «Дублон», «Дублон Супер», «Дублон Голд» и их сочетаний с «Балериной» статистически достоверно снижало концентрацию жира. Используемые пестициды достоверного влияния на увеличение содержания крахмала в зерне кукурузы не оказывали. Содержание клетчатки снижалось: при использовании препаратов «Дублон Супер», «Дублон Голд» и «Дублон» + «Балерина» её уровень был ниже контроля на 5–10%. В результате увеличения урожайности зерна кукурузы за счёт высокой эффективности гербицидов во всех вариантах опыта возрастал сбор протеина с 0,51 до 0,75 т/га. В исследованиях также установлено, что в вариантах с применением баковых смесей гербицидов «Дублон + «Балерина» и «Дублон Голд» + «Балерина» по сравнению с контролем валовой сбор крахмала, сахара, сырого жира был наивысшим. Между содержанием в зерне кукурузы сырого протеина, клетчатки, сырого жира, сахара и крахмала наблюдалась достоверная слабая положительная зависимость. Гербициды группы «Дублон» повышали концентрацию сахара до 32,6–33,3 г/кг. В результате повышенного содержания жира в зерне кукурузы уровень валовой энергии был наивысшим в контрольном варианте — 19,37 МДж/кг. При внесении гербицидов она снижалась вследствие повышения доли белка в органическом веществе зерна кукурузы. The investigation was carried out at the OAO “Agrosoyuz” (the Ruzaevskiy district, Republic of Mordovia) in 2014–2016. The effect of herbicide application was tested on maize under minimum tillage. Plant treatment with “Dublon” (1.2 l ha-1) as well as the mixture of “Dublon Gold” (0.07 kg ha-1) and “Balerina” (0.25 l ha-1) increased crude protein in grain up to 93.67 and 94.97 g/kg, respectively. The highest fat content was observed in the control. Application of “Dublon”, “Dublon Super”, “Dublon Gold” and their mixtures with “Balerina” significantly reduced fat accumulation. The preparations had no significant impact on starch formation. “Dublon Super”, “Dublon Gold” and “Dublon” + “Balerina” reduced fiber content by 5–10%. As a result of herbicide use grain productivity increased, and protein yield raised from 0.51 to 0.75 l ha-1. Mixtures of “Dublon” + “Balerina” as well as “Dublon Gold” + “Balerina” provided the highest gross yields of starch, sugar, and crude fat. Significant positive correlation was observed among crude protein, fiber, fat, sugars and starch. The “Dublon” herbicides positively affected sugar concentration up to 32.6–33.3 g/kg. Due to higher fat content gross energy yield was the highest in the control — 19.37 MJ/kg. Herbicide treatment reduced gross energy due to the higher protein content in grain organic matter.

Assessment of Safety Measures and Costs Effect of Herbicide Usage among farmers in Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State

Weed is one of the most important constraints that limit food production. Checking weeds with herbicides could be harmful if safety precautions are not followed by users. This study assessed the use of safety practices and costs associated with herbicide use among farmers in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique were used to select 160 respondents that were interviewed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and costs addition. Results revealed that contact (Paraquat), selective (2,4-Dimethylamine), non-selective systemic (Glyphosates) and mixture of (2-4-Dimethylamine) and (Glyphosate or Paraquat) were used by respondents to control weeds. The rates of herbicide application ranged from 2.0 and 3.8 litres per hectare with a mean rate of 3.1 litres per hectare. The mean index of Safety practices was 0.68, an indication of high use of safety practices. Use of hand gloves, face masks, eye glasses and rain boots was low. Herbicide containers and left over herbicide solutions were not properly disposed by a larger proportion of respondents. Costs of herbicide usage for major crops cultivated by respondents varies from N4,859 to N7,025 per hectare. Implementation of extension programmes on safety measures in usage of herbicides and sensitization on farmers on protective tools usage were recommended.

Effect of different management techniques on bird taxonomic groups on rice fields in the Republic of Korea

Many bird species rely on the ecological functions of rice field habitats (e.g., paddy, levee, road, and ditch). However, recent intensive practices are causing rice fields to provide fewer suitable habitats. This study examined bird habitat usage and how it is affected by cultivation methods (e.g., eco-friendly vs conventional fields). Eco-friendly and conventional rice fields in the midwestern region of the Republic of Korea were surveyed from January 2014 to December 2016, and the species presence, number of birds, and locations of observed habitats were recorded. It was found that shorebirds and herons used more eco-friendly rice paddies with lower or no pesticide and/or herbicide use, while waterfowl used paddy habitats more than the other habitats, regardless of the amounts of pesticides and/or herbicides used. Land birds used ditches or roads in conventional rice fields more than those in fields that used pesticides and/or herbicides. Pesticide and/or herbicide use affected bird taxonomic groups differently. Consequently, the use of habitats by different bird taxonomic groups varied depending on the crop cultivation as well as the cultivation methods. These results provided valuable information for managing rice fields, which serve as habitats for birds.

The Effect of Weed Management on Seed Banks in Paddy Rice Fields

Weeds are one of the problems in rice plants, so the presence of weeds in rice fields must be controlled. Different ways of managing weeds on agricultural land can affect the seed bank of weeds in the soil. This study aims to determine differences in weed seed banks due to differences in weed management, especially the use of herbicides in lowland rice. The study was conducted at the Agricultural Training and Development Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University, Bandung Regency, Indonesia from May–July 2020. The study used a paddy field plot consisting of intensive, less intensive use of herbicides and non-herbicide use. This research was conducted with survey and descriptive methods to see the type and composition of weeds at a certain depth and to see differences in seed banks. Observations were made including analysis of weed vegetation, community coefficients, weed diversity, weed dominance and differences in seed bank from depth. The results showed that there were 7 weed species found, namely Rorippa palustris, Monochoria vaginalis, Leptochloa chinensis, Echinochloa crus-galli, Eclipta prostate, Lindernia procumbens, and Marchantia polymorpha. Weed management with herbicides is proven to reduce weed populations that grow.

Toxicological Effects of Roundup® on Drosophila melanogaster Reproduction

Herbicide use has increased dramatically since 2001, particularly Roundup®. Effective in agricultural practice, Roundup® adversely affects non-target organisms, including reproductive and endocrine systems. We exposed fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, to either Roundup® Ready to Use, containing pelargonic acid and glyphosate, or Roundup® Super Concentrate, that includes glyphosate and POEA, at sublethal concentrations. Both Roundup® formulations reduced ovary volume with fewer mature oocytes, most adversely at the highest concentration tested. Flies exposed within 2 h of eclosion were affected more than at 4 h, suggesting a critical period of increased ovarian sensitivity. These results support multi-species evidence that glyphosate-based herbicides interfere with normal development of the reproductive systems of non-target organisms.

Postemergence Control of Italian Ryegrass in Hazelnut Orchards

Italian ryegrass has become a problematic weed in hazelnut orchards of Oregon because of the presence of herbicide-resistant populations. Resistant and multiple-resistant Italian ryegrass populations are now the predominant biotypes in Oregon; there is no information on which herbicides effectively control Italian ryegrass in hazelnut orchards. Six field studies were conducted in commercial orchards to evaluate Italian ryegrass control with POST herbicides. Treatments included flazasulfuron, glufosinate, glyphosate, paraquat, rimsulfuron, and sethoxydim applied alone or in selected mixtures during early spring when plants were in the vegetative stage. Treatment efficacy was dependent on the experimental site. The observed range of weed control 28 d after treatment was 13 to 76 % for glyphosate, 1 to 72% for paraquat, 58 to 88% for glufosinate, 16 to 97 % for flazasulfuron, 8 to 94% for rimsulfuron, and 25 to 91% for sethoxydim. Herbicides in mixtures improved control of Italian ryegrass compared to single active ingredients based on contrast analysis. Herbicides in mixture increased control by 27% compared to glyphosate, 18% to rimsulfuron, 15% to flazasulfuron, 19% to sethoxydim, and 12% compared to glufosinate when averaged across all sites, but mixture not always improved ground coverage of biomass reduction. This complex site-specific response highlights the importance of record-keeping for efficient herbicide use. Glufosinate is an effective option to manage Italian ryegrass. However, the glufosinate-resistant biotypes documented in Oregon may jeopardize this practice. Non-chemical weed control options are needed for sustainable weed management in hazelnuts.