Sensor-Based Intrarow Mechanical Weed Control in Sugar Beets with Motorized Finger Weeders

The need for herbicide usage reduction and the increased interest in mechanical weed control has prompted greater attention to the development of agricultural robots for autonomous weeding in the past years. This also requires the development of suitable mechanical weeding tools. Therefore, we devised a new weeding tool for agricultural robots to perform intrarow mechanical weed control in sugar beets. A conventional finger weeder was modified and equipped with an electric motor. This allowed the rotational movement of the finger weeders independent of the forward travel speed of the tool carrier. The new tool was tested in combination with a bi-spectral camera in a two-year field trial. The camera was used to identify crop plants in the intrarow area. A controller regulated the speed of the motorized finger weeders, realizing two different setups. At the location of a sugar beet plant, the rotational speed was equal to the driving speed of the tractor. Between two sugar beet plants, the rotational speed was either increased by 40% or decreased by 40%. The intrarow weed control efficacy of this new system ranged from 87% to 91% in 2017 and from 91% to 94% in 2018. The sugar beet yields were not adversely affected by the mechanical treatments compared to the conventional herbicide application. The motorized finger weeders present an effective system for selective intrarow mechanical weeding. Certainly, mechanical weeding involves the risk of high weed infestations if the treatments are not applied properly and in a timely manner regardless of whether sensor technology is used or not. However, due to the increasing herbicide resistances and the continuing bans on herbicides, mechanical weeding strategies must be investigated further. The mechanical weeding system of the present study can contribute to the reduction of herbicide use in sugar beets and other wide row crops.

Farklı Dozlarda Fosfor Uygulamasının Şeker pancarı (Beta Vulgaris L.) Bitkisinin Verimine ve Besin Elementleri Alımına Etkisi

In this study, the effect of different phosphorus doses application on the yield and nutrient uptake of sugar beet plant was investigated under field condition. The study was carried out in Sivas province in 3 replications according to the randomized plot design and Valentina was used as the sugar beet variety. Phosphorus doses were; 0 kg P da-1, 15 kg P da-1, 30 kg P da-1 and applied as triple super phosphate (TSP). Leaf samples were taken approximately 80 days after the planting of sugar beet plant, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) concentrations and yield were determined at harvest. Research results indicated that the yield increased depending on the increasing phosphorus doses and the highest yield was obtained at 30 kg P da-1 dose with 8151.0 kg da-1. In addition, the highest nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations were found at 30 kg P da-1 dose (4.77% N, 0.74% P and 2.39% K, respectively). However, the research found that calcium and magnesium concentrations decreased with increasing phosphorus doses. While only iron concentration among microelements increased with phosphorus applications, zinc, manganese and copper concentrations decreased due to increasing phosphorus doses.

Saflufenacil Carryover Injury Varies among Rotational Crops

Trials were established in 2007, 2008, and 2009 in Ontario, Canada, to determine the effect of soil residues of saflufenacil on growth, yield, and quality of eight rotational crops planted 1 yr after application. In the year of establishment, saflufenacil was applied PRE to field corn at rates of 75, 100, and 200 g ai ha−1. Cabbage, carrot, cucumber, onion, pea, pepper, potato, and sugar beet were planted 1 yr later, maintained weed-free, and plant dry weight, yield, and quality measures of interest to processors for each crop were determined. Reductions in dry weight and yield of all grades of cucumber were determined at both the 100 and 200 g ha−1rates of saflufenacil. Plant dry weight, bulb number, and size and yield of onion were also reduced by saflufenacil at 100 and 200 g ha−1. Sugar beet plant dry weight and yield, but not sucrose content, were decreased by saflufenacil at 100 and 200 g ha−1. Cabbage plant dry weight, head size, and yield; carrot root weight and yield; and pepper dry weight, fruit number and size, and yield were only reduced in those treatments in which twice the field corn rate had been applied to simulate the effect of spray overlap in the previous year. Pea and potato were not negatively impacted by applications of saflufenacil in the year prior to planting. It is recommended that cabbage, carrot, cucumber, onion, pepper, and sugar beet not be planted the year after saflufenacil application at rates up to 200 g ha−1. Pea and potato can be safely planted the year following application of saflufenacil up to rates of 200 g ha−1.