Evaluating Methods for Research in Physical Weed Control and Farm Asset Tracking

Effective weed control has long been recognized as critical for agricultural production, yet weeds remain a major constraint to production and economic return in many agroecosystems. Moreover, improvements in physical weed control are necessary to address increasing problems of herbicide resistance in weeds of grain and fiber crops and the high cost of hand weeding in vegetables. From tractor-mounted cultivation tools to autonomous weeders, weeding implements are affected by weeds, crops, soil conditions, and actuator effectiveness. In order to address these complex and often interacting factors concerning weed control, new and innovative tools must be designed and evaluated. Chapter one addresses a series of experiments designed to determine the functionality and efficacy of Franklin Robotics’ TertillTM and to explore its place in the growing field of robotic weeding. The TertillTM demonstrated high weed control efficacy, supporting its utility as a tool for home gardeners. However, in its current form, the TertillTM would require modification to be viable for farmscale use. Yet, its simple and effective design may offer insights to inform future development of farmscale weeding robots. Chapter two addresses an analysis of the early growth characteristics of wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) and four related Brassica species commonly used as surrogate weeds in physical weed control research. Plants of each species were grown in a greenhouse, destructively harvested at three distinct growth stages, and analyzed for anchorage force and root architecture. Wild radish and the selected Brassica surrogate weeds were comparable in biomass and root architecture. However, differences in anchorage force necessitates caution and field validation. Chapter three builds upon the previous chapter by making the explicit comparisons between surrogate weeds and their weedy counterparts that have hitherto been absent from the literature. Additionally, the viability of golf tees as artificial weeds was assessed. Field experiments were conducted in 2019 and 2020 using six flex-tine harrows to compare the reactions to cultivation of wild radish, two Brassica surrogate weeds, and golf tee artificial weeds. Rates of efficacy for both surrogate weed species were comparable to those of wild radish, indicating that these species are useful surrogates for this weed species. However, golf tees failed to accurately simulate weed seedling response to cultivation, and their response was highly variable. Chapter four addresses the challenges and inefficiencies apparent in diversified organic farming by evaluating the potential of inexpensive, wearable GPS watches to monitor farm labor. Labor data acquired with GPS watches was correlated with a reference system. However, elevated rates of error associated with commercially available GPS devices potentially limits their viability in tracking labor on small farms where error may result in significant inaccuracies

Actuators and sensors for application in agricultural robots: A review

In recent years, with the rapid development of science and technology, agricultural robots have gradually begun to replace humans, to complete various agricultural operations, changing traditional agricultural production methods. Not only is the labor input reduced, but also the production efficiency can be improved, which invariably contributes to the development of smart agriculture. This paper reviews the core technologies used for agricultural robots in non-structural environments. In addition, we review the technological progress of drive systems, control strategies, end-effectors, robotic arms, environmental perception, and other related systems. This research shows that in a non-structured agricultural environment, using cameras and light detection and ranging (LiDAR), as well as ultrasonic and satellite navigation equipment, and by integrating sensing, transmission, control, and operation, different types of actuators can be innovatively designed and developed to drive the advance of agricultural robots, to meet the delicate and complex requirements of agricultural products as operational objects, such that better productivity and standardization of agriculture can be achieved. In summary, agricultural production is developing toward a data-driven, standardized, and unmanned approach, with smart agriculture supported by actuator-driven-based agricultural robots. This paper concludes with a summary of the main existing technologies and challenges in the development of actuators for applications in agricultural robots, and the outlook regarding the primary development directions of agricultural robots in the near future

Agricultural Structures and Mechanization

In our globalized world, the need to produce quality and safe food has increased exponentially in recent decades to meet the growing demands of the world population. This expectation is being met by acting at multiple levels, but mainly through the introduction of new technologies in the agricultural and agri-food sectors. In this context, agricultural, livestock, agro-industrial buildings, and agrarian infrastructure are being built on the basis of a sophisticated design that integrates environmental, landscape, and occupational safety, new construction materials, new facilities, and mechanization with state-of-the-art automatic systems, using calculation models and computer programs. It is necessary to promote research and dissemination of results in the field of mechanization and agricultural structures, specifically with regard to farm building and rural landscape, land and water use and environment, power and machinery, information systems and precision farming, processing and post-harvest technology and logistics, energy and non-food production technology, systems engineering and management, and fruit and vegetable cultivation systems. This Special Issue focuses on the role that mechanization and agricultural structures play in the production of high-quality food and continuously over time. For this reason, it publishes highly interdisciplinary quality studies from disparate research fields including agriculture, engineering design, calculation and modeling, landscaping, environmentalism, and even ergonomics and occupational risk prevention

Evaluating Physical and Cultural Methods to Improve Weed Management in Organic Vegetables

Effectively managing weeds in organic vegetable production continues to be challenging and costly. Cultivation, often referred to as physical weed control (PWC), is foundational for organic farmers; however, efficacy tends to be low and highly variable. Additionally, some crops are slow to germinate, and thus have poor competitive ability against weeds and high mortality from cultivation. This can result in high costs for hand-weeding labor, abundant seed rain into the soil, and a recurring, often increasing, weed problem. These challenges may be addressed by “stacking” tools to increase weed control efficacy, integrating targeted seedbank management strategies to reduce the germinable weed seedbank, and characterizing crop cultivar early growth traits to better understand crop tolerance to different tool mechanisms. ii Chapter one reviews weed management from the perspective of small-scale organic vegetable farms and the unique challenges they face. Weed control objectives, such as minimizing weed seed rain and reducing labor costs, seed- and seedling-focused management like tarping and hand-tool options, and future research needs for small-scale farms are discussed. Chapter two assesses a weed management systems experiment combining tool stacking with seedbank management and how these practices can affect weed control efficacy and the germinable weed seedbank, respectively. Tool stacking helped increase efficacy and lower weed seedling densities during the growing season, while seedbank management reduced the germinable weed seedbank and contributed to higher crop yields in bush bean and table beet. Chapter three builds upon the previous chapter by examining how tool stacking can be used with the Terrateck Double Wheel Hoe, a unique hand tool. The effects of single tools and tool stacking on crop mortality and weed control efficacy were examined in bush bean and table beet. Tool stacking increased weed control efficacy in both crops, and although stacking did not result in higher crop mortality in bush bean, table beet mortality was high. Chapter four assesses the concept of “cultivation tolerance” with nine carrot cultivars, selected to represent large, average, and relatively small plants. Root and shoot characteristics were measured in greenhouse experiments, and carrot mortality and yield from cultivation were measured in field experiments. Few differences in early growth characteristics were found at two-true leaves, and unexpectedly, no differences in cultivar mortality were detected in the field

Herbicides

Weeds severely affect crop quality and yield. Therefore, successful farming relies on their control by coordinated management approaches. Among these, chemical herbicides are of key importance. Their development and commercialization began in the 1940's and they allowed for a qualitative increase in crop yield and quality when it was most needed. This book blends review chapters with scientific studies, creating an overview of some the current trends in the field of herbicides. Included are environmental studies on their toxicity and impact on natural populations, methods to reduce herbicide inputs and therefore overall non-target toxicity, and the use of bioherbicides as natural alternatives

Artificial Neural Networks in Agriculture

Modern agriculture needs to have high production efficiency combined with a high quality of obtained products. This applies to both crop and livestock production. To meet these requirements, advanced methods of data analysis are more and more frequently used, including those derived from artificial intelligence methods. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are one of the most popular tools of this kind. They are widely used in solving various classification and prediction tasks, for some time also in the broadly defined field of agriculture. They can form part of precision farming and decision support systems. Artificial neural networks can replace the classical methods of modelling many issues, and are one of the main alternatives to classical mathematical models. The spectrum of applications of artificial neural networks is very wide. For a long time now, researchers from all over the world have been using these tools to support agricultural production, making it more efficient and providing the highest-quality products possible

An autonomous robot for weed control : design, navigation and control

In de biologische landbouw worden geen chemische middelen toegepast voor onkruidbestrijding. Een van de grootste knelpunten in de biologische open teelt (bv suikerbieten, uien) is het onkruidprobleem. Voor de onkruidbestrijding tussen de rijen zijn mechanische methodes voor onkruidbestrijding ontwikkeld (zoals bijvoorbeeld een schoffelmachine achter een trekker), maar het verwijderen van onkruid in de rij komt voor een groot deel neer op handmatig wieden omdat er geen goed alternatief is. Handmatig wieden brengt hoge kosten met zich mee en het is vaak moeilijk om voldoende mensen voor dit werk te krijgen. Als het wieden in de rij zou kunnen worden uitgevoerd door een intelligente autonome wieder kan dit een enorme stimulans zijn voor duurzame landbouw. Het doel van dit onderzoek is het realiseren van een intelligente autonome wieder die handmatig wieden kan vervangen. Deze robot moet autonoom een heel perceel kunnen wieden. De eerste stap van het onderzoek was de ontwikkeling van een 'rijdend platform' (foto is beschikbaar). Het voertuig is uitgerust met een dieselmotor en hydraulische transmissie, en heeft onafhankelijke vierwielbesturing en vier onafhankelijk aangedreven wielen. Het onderzoek concentreerde zich verder op autonome navigatie door plantenrijen te volgen met behulp van een camera en op autonome navigatie gebaseerd op RTK-DGPS, waarmee tot op 2 cm nauwkeurig de positie kan worden gemeten. Het onderzoek heeft verder geresulteerd in een praktisch toepasbare generieke besturing voor vierwielbestuurbare voertuigen, waarmee zo’n voertuig nauwkeurig langs een gedefinieerd pad kan worden gestuurd, gebruik maakt van alle vrijheidsgraden. Deze besturing is ook geschikt voor vierwielbestuurbare voertuigen voor andere toepassingen. De robot is autonoom op perceelsniveau, dat wil zeggen dat de robot in staat is met de ontwikkelde navigatie en besturing autonoom over een perceel te navigeren

Precision Agriculture Technology for Crop Farming

This book provides a review of precision agriculture technology development, followed by a presentation of the state-of-the-art and future requirements of precision agriculture technology. It presents different styles of precision agriculture technologies suitable for large scale mechanized farming; highly automated community-based mechanized production; and fully mechanized farming practices commonly seen in emerging economic regions. The book emphasizes the introduction of core technical features of sensing, data processing and interpretation technologies, crop modeling and production control theory, intelligent machinery and field robots for precision agriculture production

Sensors Application in Agriculture

Novel technologies are playing an important role in the development of crop and livestock farming and have the potential to be the key drivers of sustainable intensification of agricultural systems. In particular, new sensors are now available with reduced dimensions, reduced costs, and increased performances, which can be implemented and integrated in production systems, providing more data and eventually an increase in information. It is of great importance to support the digital transformation, precision agriculture, and smart farming, and to eventually allow a revolution in the way food is produced. In order to exploit these results, authoritative studies from the research world are still needed to support the development and implementation of new solutions and best practices. This Special Issue is aimed at bringing together recent developments related to novel sensors and their proved or potential applications in agriculture

Precision Agriculture Technology for Crop Farming

This book provides a review of precision agriculture technology development, followed by a presentation of the state-of-the-art and future requirements of precision agriculture technology. It presents different styles of precision agriculture technologies suitable for large scale mechanized farming; highly automated community-based mechanized production; and fully mechanized farming practices commonly seen in emerging economic regions. The book emphasizes the introduction of core technical features of sensing, data processing and interpretation technologies, crop modeling and production control theory, intelligent machinery and field robots for precision agriculture production