Potenzial der mechanischen Unkrautkontrolle in Zuckerrüben zur Herbizideinsparung

Abstract

Weed control in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) is usually performed with herbicides applied across the whole field at several timings in the early growth stage of sugar beet. It was tested if herbicide input could be reduced with a combination of preventive, mechanical and chemical weed control strategies. In field experiments conducted at 6 locations mechanical weeding in the inter-row area was combined with band application of herbicides in the intra-row area. At one location, precision farming technologies including camera steering and GNSS-RTK steering were used. Weed densities of up to 91 plants m-2 were detected in the untreated control plots. Band spraying in combination with inter-row hoeing reduced herbicide input by 50 to 75% compared to uniform herbicide applications. Weed control efficacy was 72% in the conventional herbicide treatments, 87% for the combination of weed hoeing and band spraying, 78% for precision hoeing with camera steering and 84% for precision hoeing with GNSS-RTK steering system. Weed control treatments increased white sugar yield (WSY) by 30% compared to the untreated control. The combination of mechanical weed control, band application of herbicides and precision hoeing have shown promising concepts for integrated weed management resulting in significantly reduced herbicide input and high weed control efficacy.