Study Examines Economics Of Machine-Guided Cultivation
February 24, 2010 A new study in Weed Technology examines the economic effectiveness of machine-vision guidance systems that help cultivators accurately till the soil between rows of vegetable crops. The study, “Evaluation and Economics of a Machine-Vision Guided Cultivation Program in Broccoli and Lettuce,” appears in the January-March 2010 issue.
As growers know, hand-harvested crops such as broccoli and lettuce are easily threatened by weeds. Uncontrolled weeds can result in lower yields, reduced quality, and decreased harvest efficiency.
The job of cultivating between delicate rows of vegetable plants can be done more precisely and faster with machine guidance. A computer processes 25 digital photos of a crop row to determine the centerline. Previous studies have shown higher rates of error in human-guided cultivation.
The current study timed how long it takes a laborer to hand-pick weeds versus machine cultivation. It also tested whether smaller amounts of herbicide or none at all could be applied to the crop with the use of machine cultivation.
The many variables at play produced mixed results. Herbicides proved the most effective method against weeds. But with the heaviest use of herbicide tested, the lettuce yield was not improved — the herbicide also affected the crop’s growth. In rainy weather, when both hand weeding and machine weeding are difficult, herbicides again provided the best weed deterrent. In dryer seasons, machine cultivation was more effective than hand weeding.
In California and Arizona, lettuce and broccoli are grown year-round, and cultivation is an important part of the process. More accurate and timely cultivation may be the greatest benefit that machine-guided cultivation has to offer.
The full text of this article is available at www2.allenpress.com/pdf/wete-24-01-33-38.pdf. Weed Technology is a publication of the Weed Science Society of America.
For more information, go to www.wssa.net/.