Developing Automated and Autonomous Weed Control Methods on Vegetable Crops in New Zealand

Abstract

Controlling weeds in NZ vegetable crops faces serious problems in the near future: the loss of low-wage staff availability to conduct the labour intensive efforts in spraying, mowing or mulching; the loss of certain herbicides as low cost tools for vegetable crop growers; the resistance built-up in the weed species population against often used herbicides such as glyphosates; the banning of certain ‘problem-herbicides’ as requirements from registration authorities or from the value chain. In addition, strategic decisions of the NZ industry about the way vegetable crops are grown and produced will reduce options for herbicide based weed control. To address these growing concerns, dedicated mechanisms to control weeds in NZ vegetable crops will be studied in this project utilizing the new options provided by automated actions or robotic platforms. The efficacy and the value proposition of such weed management will be determined. The research will cover at least: (i) sensor controlled, targeted herbicide application, (ii) mechanical removal (cutting, plucking, shot blasting...), (iii) electric weeding, and (iv) guided tines, autonomously carried through the crop field and their integration into the standard management of the inter-row/row spaces.