Site specific weed control in maize, sugar beet, winter wheat and winter barley

Publication Type

Journal contribution

Authors

Gerhards, R. and M. Sökefeld, C. Timmermann and W. Kühbauch and M. Williams

Year of publication

2002

Published in

Precision Agriculture

Band/Volume

3/1

Page (from - to)

25-35

A four-year study of site-specific weed control is presented in this paper. Weed seedling distribution was sampled and mapped prior to and after post-emergence herbicide application in four fields planted with maize, sugar beets, winter wheat and winter barley, rotating on one site. Herbicides and other weed control strategies were applied site-specifically according to the spatial variation of weed populations. Different decision algorithms were used for chemical weed control methods in each crop. A weed treatment map was created to direct location and dosage of herbicide application. The sprayer was coupled with a differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The solenoid valves of the sprayer were opened automatically when the tractor entered a weed patch characterized in the weed treatment map. For site specific herbicide application, a patch sprayer was developed that allowed variable rate application and the selective control of each section of the spray boom.