Complete Guide to Weed Control and Laser Weed Control
Agriculture technology has seen significant advances over the recent years. With the advent of precision farming, laser weeding has become an important turn in modern agriculture. Automated laser weed killer machines in particular are a technology that is bound to bring about the transformation of weed control as we know it.
Definition of Weed Control and Laser Weed Control
Weed control, (also called weeding or weed management) is a type of pest control, aiming to halt or lower the growth of weeds, in particular non-native weeds' species, in order to reduce their competition with cultivated plants and animals, especially in a farm setting for cultivated crops. In crops farming, effective weed control promotes healthy crop growth, increases agricultural throughput, and protects biodiversity. Weed management is crucial as weeds compete with crops for essential resources such as water, nutrients and light. Unchecked growth of weeds most often leads to significantly lower crops yield, but can also cause reduced crop quality, reduced nutrient density or increased production costs. The overarching goal of weed control aims to create a shielded ecosystem where cultivated crops can thrive with minimal competition, and be as profitable as possible.
Interestingly so, recent advances in technology and innovation, particularly so the birth of blue laser weeders, offer to take the profitability of farming to levels unseen before. Blue laser weeding is a type of laser weed control, in which lasers are used to obliterate populations of weeds, at rates as high as 100,000 weeds per hour.
Laser Weed control, is a subtype of weed control, that uses automated recognition of weeds, gathering data which is then used to target the recognized weeds with pinpoint accuracy, and shoot a laser beam at them, eliminating them at the root level in the process. The weed recognition can be performed by scanning active chlorophyll levels (specific for different species), scanning invisible infrared flurescence (also different for different weed species), or AI-assisted vision-image recognition (with different confidence levels). Laser weed control is a general parent category for topics such as laser weeding and laser weeders.
More importantly, blue laser weed control is a precision farming technology that facilitates weed removal without harming the surrounding crops or the environment, and is in line with the Farm To Fork strategy. This technology doesn't only provide the highest yield and proves to be the most sustainable weeding method, but is also highly energy-efficient. As a matter of fact, blue laser weeders consume 4-5 times less electrical power than CO2 laser weeders, to produce a laser beam of a given laser power. As a result, weed control performed with blue lasers is a great fit for IWM (Integrated Weed Management) frameworks, being a sustainable non-chemical option that not only delivers exceptional results, but does it in an environmentally friendly manner.
Integrated Weed Management (IWM) is a holistic weeding approach which incorporates multiple weed control methods in order to achieve sustainable and long-term weed management. The methods IWM utilizes vary from farm to farm, but it typically integrates various physical, chemical, mechanical, cultural and biological methods. IWM doesn't rely on any single method exclusively, for the reason of minimizing the risk of weeds' developing resistance to such single method, as well as to promote ecological balance. Studies have indicated that IWM improves crop yields by 15% while reducing input costs by as much as 20%.
In weed control, the weed index is a measure by which the efficiency of a particular weeding method is evaluated, as compared to no-weeds scenario. More specifically, the weed index is the difference between no-weeds scenario yield and particular weed control method yield, divided by the no-weeds scenario yield. It is also typically expressed as a percentage rather than as a fraction. Effectively, when particular weed control method (like blue laser weeding) is highly effective, then the weed index has a low value. And vice versa - a high weed index means a particular weed control method is ineffective. For instance, lack of any weed control method may result in a weed index of 46.8%, as reported by scientific literature. Weed index allows farming companies to prioritize their weed control efforts, based on the economic threshold - the level at which a particular weeding method justifies the technology adoption cost.
Nonetheless, the weed index doesn't account how nutritionally dense the yield is, or how sustainably (and organically) the crops were grown, which were the main factors driving the Farm To Fork approach. Blue laser weeding eliminates the need for chemical herbicides, minimizing environmental contamination and protecting beneficial soil organisms as well as the ecosystem. Furthermore it reduces soil disturbance, preserving soil health and structure. As the research and development in this field continuously advances, laser weed control is certain to play a major role in the future of sustainable agriculture.
How Opt Lasers Can Collaborate with Other Companies
Opt Lasers specializes in producing high-quality blue laser sources and scanning systems, designed to meet a variety of optical parameters. Our expertise and innovative solutions make us a reliable partner for agricultural machinery manufacturers, research institutes, and other entities involved in precision farming technologies.
Tailored Laser Solutions
We offer blue lasers ranging from 30W to 300W, capable of meeting diverse application requirements. Our products include nearly ready-to-use laser modules such as the S-60-B and S-120-B, ideal for prototyping in laser weeding systems. For custom needs, we can design lasers from scratch, ensuring they fit specific operational demands.
Technical Consulting and Support
Beyond manufacturing, we provide extensive technical consultancy. Our team of experts advises on laser beam parameters, safety standards, and potential solutions. This guidance simplifies the product development process for companies integrating laser technology into their weed control systems, ensuring a streamlined and efficient design phase.
Mechanical Expertise and Environmental Resistance
Our significant mechanical expertise allows us to advise on laser mounting solutions, ensuring durability against moisture and dust. This advice is crucial for developing robust agricultural machinery that can operate in harsh field conditions.
Advanced Laboratory and Production Facilities
With a well-equipped laboratory and production facilities, including necessary testing equipment and a machine shop for mechanical parts, we can rapidly develop and produce custom laser solutions. This capability accelerates the innovation cycle for companies adopting laser technology, enabling quicker market entry.
Secure Collaboration
We prioritize confidentiality and security. All collaborative projects are conducted under strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), ensuring that innovative ideas and technologies remain protected.
Pioneering Laser Weed Control
Opt Lasers is the first company in the world, since 2020, to offer various laser source solutions for weed control using available technology. We independently develop products in this direction to provide increasingly better solutions. Opt Lasers does not engage in AI algorithms or visual recognition, making us an ideal partner to deliver reliable laser sources without competing with our partners' roles in designing scanning processes, visual recognition systems, cameras, and robotics.
Comprehensive Range of Services
From offering off-the-shelf solutions to custom-designed lasers and full technical support, Opt Lasers is committed to fostering innovation in agricultural technologies. Our comprehensive services support companies in achieving high-efficiency weed control solutions, contributing to sustainable farming practices and enhanced agricultural productivity.
By partnering with Opt Lasers, companies gain access to cutting-edge laser technology and expert support, facilitating the development of advanced, efficient, and environmentally friendly weed control systems.
Influence of Farm to Fork Strategy on the Farming Industry
EU's Farm to Fork (FTF) initiative is one of core EU's strategies to transform European Union's economies into modern, resource-efficient and highly-competitive economies. The Farm to Fork aims to reduce nutrient losses by at least 50%, ensure food security, enhance general public health, decrease pesticide use, reverse loss biodiversity as well as reduce the effects of climate change or increase human adaptability to it. Laid out as part of the European Green Deal, which was presented on 11 Dec 2019, Farm to Fork in principle intends to create sustainable food systems with positive or neutral environmental impact. The FTF initiative addresses challenges across various stages of the food industry, from food production to distribution and consumption. It also bids to maximize efficiency of crop management, weeds/pests control and resource utilization.
On Path to Pesticide Freedom
One of key targets of the Farm to Fork strategy is to increase the amount of farms that can be labelled as organic by 25% by 2030 across the EU, by promoting precision farming technologies that enhance soil and plant health. An example of such precision farming technology are blue laser weeders, which depending on the integration system can either minimize or nullify harm to non-target plants and soil. An electric vehicle (EV) or a drone doesn't emit exhaust gases and laser weeding with blue lasers integrated in such systems are effectively an organic solution to weed control. Unlike a CO2 laser weeder, a blue laser weeder doesn't require much electricity to run and it can be easily powered with an electric vehicle's battery instead.
In contrast, conventional chemical herbicides like glyphosate (C3H8NO5P) and atrazine (C8H14ClN5) have been causing soil and water contamination, and linked to affecting non-target species as well as human health.
Glyphosate has a high water solubility of 12 g/L at 25°C (ensuring its high mobility) and it can also adsorb to soil particles. Glyphosate's impact on non-target species is quite substantial. First of all, it inhibits the Shikimate Pathway, which, in simple words, is a vital biosynthesis pathway of aromatic amino acids in plants and beneficial soil microorganisms. The disruption of this pathway can stunt nutrient cycling as well as cause a 50% decline in beneficial soil microorganisms' populations. Secondly, in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a "probable human carcinogen" (of class 2A). This classification was based on research studies which linked occupational glyphosate exposure to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and sufficient evidence of glyphosate-caused carcinogenity in animals.
Despite having a half-life between 2 and 197 days, glyphosate studies have shown it is now present in surface waters in concentrations as high as 0.7 μg/L, well above the European Union's allowable concentration (for individual pesticides) of 0.1 μg/L in the drinking water. Meanwhile, chronic exposure to glyphosate has also been associated with kidney and liver toxicity, as well as developmental and reproductive issues in lab animals that were chosen for their genetic, biological and behavioural similarities to humans. The observed effects on these animals allow researchers to deduct potential risks to human beings.
On the other hand, atrazine is known for its persistence in the environment and ability to contaminate direct drinking water supplies. It has been reported to be present in surface and groundwater at concentrations up to 40 μg/L, which is notably higher than as per regulatory limits. For instance, it exceeds the US Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 3 μg/L. Atrazine exposure has been associated with heightened risk of prostate and ovarian cancers. Epidemiological studies have also linked atrazine to birth defects, low birth weight and preterm baby delivery because of its endocrine-disrupting properties. Furthermore, concentrations of atrazine as low as 0.1 μg/L have also been found to induce aromatase activity, leading to increased estrogen production and feminization of male frogs. Additional side effects included altered sex ratios and reproductive failures.
These discoveries highlight the broader environmental and health hazards posed by chemical weed control methods. It's therefore important to move to less invasive weed control methods like blue laser weeding.
Benefits of Organic Farming with Blue Laser Weeders
As mentioned before, the blue laser method of weed control offers several advantages. Blue laser weeders do the weeding work in-situ, targeting the weeds with precision, without damaging the crops, disrupting the soil or the environment, providing an efficiency boost. Because of having high wall-plug efficiency, they can also be powered with electric vehicle's (or drone's) batteries, effectively turning a non-organic farm into a farm that can be labelled as organic. In more concrete terms, blue laser weeding can make a farm significantly more profitable.
In the US, median revenue from crop sales for a non-organic crop-growing farm varies greatly depending on factors such as the type of grown crops, farm size or even geographic location. Nevertheless, based on a recent USDA report, the median income from crop sales for non-organic crop farms is approx. $200,000 annually. In the EU, based on the European Commission data, the median revenue from crop sales for non-organic farms is approx. €70,000 ($82,000) per year, but varies significantly across different EU national states.
Market Price Multiplier for Organically Weeded Crops
Price Premium for Organic Crops: Organic crops sell at a premium rate compared to non-organic crops. This price premium will vary greatly depending on crops grown, their quality and market conditions, but it generally ranges from extra 20% to 100%. It also assumes that all farm processes near the crops are done in organic manner, for instance by using electric vehicles (EVs) and blue laser weeders. For this estimation, we will use an average price premium of 50%.
Efficiency Gain with Blue Laser Weeders: Using blue laser weeders reduces weed control costs and improves crop yields by minimizing crop damage and soil disturbance. This efficiency gain, of around 10-20%, comes from weed control costs reduction and yield improvement. For the estimation, we will use the average efficiency gain of 15%.
Calculation of New Crop Value
Current Median Revenue for Non-Organic Farms in the USA: $200,000
Current Median Revenue for Non-Organic Farms in the EU: €70,000 (~$82,000)
Revenue Increase Calculation:
USA:
- Price Premium: $200,000 * 1.50 (50% premium) = $300,000
- Efficiency Gain: $300,000 * 1.15 (15% efficiency gain) = $345,000
- Blue Laser Weeding Multiplier: $345,000 / $200,000 = 1.725
EU:
- Price Premium: €70,000 * 1.50 (50% premium) = €105,000
- Efficiency Gain: €105,000 * 1.15 (15% efficiency gain) = €120,750
- Blue Laser Weeding Multiplier: €120,750 / €70,000 ≈ 1.725
Room for Weeding Company Growth
Besides the obvious upsides to farm companies, the herbicide weed control market itself is quite valuable. In the USA, Europe and Canada alone, it is valued at $7.2 billion, €4.8 billion ($5.5 bn) and CAD 1.1 billion ($870 mil) yearly respectively. If you count in fungicides and insecticides, then these values rise correspondingly to $12.4 bil, $12.7 bil and $1.9 bil. And blue lasers can be used instead of fungicides and insectocides as well.
The pesticide market is steadily being taken over by blue laser weeding technologies, which make it ripe for picking by either established weeding companies or new blue laser weeding startups. The blue laser weed control is a great pathway for established weeding companies who want to develop blue laser weeding branch to significantly outgrow lacking-behind competitors who may not even stay in the market because of it.
Opt Lasers designs and manufactures high-quality blue laser sources, tailored to meet the specific needs of weeding companies. We also lead in the development and testing of laser technologies that set benchmarks in the industry. Since you are interested in blue laser weeding, why don't you contact us today?
Growth of Robotics Use in Farming
Precision farming, made available through integration of robotics, is dramatically transforming the agricultural landscape. Automated farming technologies address some of most pressing issues in agriculture such as labor shortages, the need for sustainable farming practices and increasing food demand. Robotic farming is capable automating labor intensive tasks, allowing farmers to focus on strategic aspects of farming and driving efficiency to higher levels.
More importantly, robotic farming can perform its given duties with precision and consistency, which is why it is often referred to as precision farming. Precision farming robots can autonomously traverse through farm fields while performing complex tasks. For instance, weeding robots equipped with blue lasers use precise targeting to eliminate weeds without collateral damage to surrounding crops. Such precision eliminates the need for chemical herbicides, lowers operational costs, and promotes a healthier environment. Automated blue laser weeders are more efficient because they are able to perform the weed control at scale and operate continuously without fatigue.
Automated Precision Farming Processes
In general, precision farming covers different types of machines which can plant seeds, perform precision weed control, apply organic or non-organic fertilisers, or harvest grown crops. For instance, precision planting machines use GPS and sensors to ensure the seeds are planted at the best spacing and depth, while precision fertilizer machines apply nutrients based on soil conditions. On the other hand, precision harvesting machine, equipped with machine vision system, is able to pick ripe fruit and vegetable, minimizing waste. Weed control is however the area of particular improvement thanks to precision farming tech. In precision weed control, blue lasers automate the weeding activities with unmatched efficiency. These automated systems contribute to increased productivity, better resource management, and reduced labor costs.
Farming AI
Farming AI technology can elevate the capabilities of precision farming even further. AI-driven systems can analyze data from sensors and cameras to provide additional insights into weed recognition. AI can also monitor individual plants' health in real-time, detecting any developing issues early-on. In this particular area of interest, AI systems use multispectral and hyperspectral imaging to detect early signs of diseases, nutrient deficiencies or water stress. Such AI systems can also analyse plant reflectance data to identify any anomalies.
AI can also manage crop planting, and optimize irrigation, fertilization, and pest control. In weed management, advanced machine learning algorithms are trained on large datasets of weeds' species, and then able to differentiate between crops and weeds with 95+% accuracy. This precision allows AI to apply weed control only when it is benefitial, and conserve resources by doing so.
Crop management optimization is yet another area where AI can be applied. With integration of weather stations data, soil sensors and crop models, AI platforms can provide recommendations on weeding and irrigation scheduling, fertilizer application rates and pest management strategies. This data driven approach ensures that crops will receive the right amount of nutrients, water and protection at all times.
Types of Weed Control by Habitat
Terrestrial
Terrestrial Weed Control (TWC) focuses on managing weeds which grow on land, and encompasses strategies designed to address the unique challenges of land environments. terrestrial weed control is the first type of weed control that human civilization developed. As a result, there are numerous physical, mechanical, chemical, biological and cultural terrestrial weed control methods.
One of primary considerations in TWC is the impact of weed control on the structure and health of soil. Effective terrestrial weed control methods need to ensure (or maximize) the integrity of soil in order to ensure long-term agricultural productivity. Excessive soil disturbance leads to soil erosion, organic matter losses, and depletion of soil fertility. Another unique aspect of terrestrial weed control is the influence of environmental conditions on the growth of weeds. Moisture levels and temperature change much more rapidly and randomly than in, for instance, marine habitats. There is also a greater variation of soil types in terrestrial farming than in marine farming. Understanding the factors driving the weed growth in a specific area of land is vital for the development of effective weed control strategy.
Marine/Aquatic
Marine Weed Control (MWC) (also known as Aquatic Weed Control) relates to weed management in water habitats such as coastal marine farms, tank farms, lakes, ponds and rivers. Marine weed control is different from terrestrial weed control, because water is less susceptible to temperature variations. Nevertheless, aquatic environments are less abundant in oxygen, which makes this habitat highly competitive and susceptible to aggressive marine weed species. One example of marine weed control is the control of invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), which disrupt and overrun aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic weed control of these species is necessary to maintain open waterways and support commercial and recreational activities.
In coastal marine farms, seaweed such as kelp and a variety of algae species are highly profitable plants that are cultivated for food, biofuel and cosmetic products. Controlling invasive species is extremely important to make sure these valuable crops can thrive. The seaweed farming is a particularly exciting sector. The global commercial seaweed market, currently worth $18.39 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to $34.56 billion by 2032. In the EU itself, the market for seaweed is projected to be worth €9 billion ($10.3 bil) in 2030, with forecasted EU demand to rise from 270,000 tonnes in 2019 to 8,000,000 tonnes in 2030.
Countries with significant seaweed farming include USA, European Union member states as well as Canada. In the EU, seaweed is primarily farmed in Ireland, Norway and France. In the US, seaweed is farmed in the states of Maine and Alaska, while in Canada the seaweed farming is based in the province of British Columbia.
In terms of weed control, there are 4 main species of weeds that compete with kelp seaweed in coastal marine farms. These include ulva (sea lettuce), Gracilaria and Polysiphonia species of red algae, and Ectocarpus species of brown algae. Curiously, algae species show peak absorption around blue laser's wavelength, while the absorption spectrum for ulva is higher for blue laser beams than for longer laser wavelength. This means that blue lasers will be the most effective method of weed management for these species. It is however worth noting that ulva (sea lettuce) is also a farmed species of seaweed, however coastal and tank farms need to produce a particular seaweed species with consistency. Marine weed control ensures that the product is consistent, and that the other species do not take nutrients or space from the area designated for particular seaweed species.
Interestingly, water is also transparent to blue laser beams, which can pass right through it and perform in-situ aquatic laser weeding. Due to their small power consumption, they can also be fitted on boats and submarine drones. Alas, as of July 2024, there is no weeding company which offers blue laser weeding solutions for aquatic weed control.
Currently, commercially applied aquatic weed control methods include mechanical removal and chemical treatments, both of which are very problematic. Mechanical removal is good-enough for immediate weed relief, but it needs to be performed frequently. Chemical treatments , on the other hand, are performed with herbicides approved for aquatic use, but degrade water quality and pose risks to non-target species. Biological control (introduction of fish or insects) is a natural solution, but it can cause ecosystem disruptions.
Aerial
Aerial Weed Control (AWC) is a type of weed control that is performed from machines operating in the air. Most typically, aerial weed control pertains to controlling populations of parasitic or hemiparasitic weeds that grow on farmed trees and shrubs. Aerial weed control is unique, as parasitic or hemiparasitic plants are far less affected by soil fertility and moisture availability. In addition, commonly problematic weeds species like mistletoe have developed partenrships with birds to spread their seeds far and wide.
Aerial Weed control can precisely target problematic weeds such as European Mistletoe, Japanese Dodder and Field Dodder. European Mistletoe, is commonly found in Europe, and attacks farmed apple trees, lime trees and poplar trees. Japanese Dodder, present in the USA, attacks citrus and pomegranate trees. Field dodder, present throughout USA, Canada and Europe, attacks various farmed plant species from tomatoes to alfalfa.
Typically used weed control methods for these parasitic plants involve using helicopters or specialized aerial equipment, aerially and terrestrially applied herbicides, or manual hand pruning. None of these methods are particularly good, cheap, effective or resource-efficient.
Fo instance, the currently best-selling Single Squirell AS350 weeding helicopter is a cost of ~€3.6 million (~$3.9 million). It has a charge capacity of 600 kg, and a 10 m spray rod. It operates at the height of 30 metres and speed of 40 m/s, with the spray amplitude of 50 metres. Its working efficiency is covering 197 acres per mission, while each sortie takes 25 minutes. This aircraft needs to be flown by two pilots and it also requires at least four ground crew members for maintenance. Overall, while these values (except for the price) are impressive, this task can be performed more efficiently with a fleet of UAVs.
While there is currently no company offering blue laser weeding drones, it is an interesting idea. Blue laser sources due to their low weight, compact size and low energy consumption can be installed on drones to perform laser weeding. While vehicle-based laser weeders can be used for smaller parasitic weeds like field dodder, these vehicles typically move along a straight line and cannot optimize the hitting angle as well as a blue laser drone could. A blue laser drone weeder could in theory optimize the hitting angle and not only kill the parasitic plant, but hit it a few times from various angles to cut the parasitic weed into pieces to ensure that the remains drop on the ground rather than remain on the tree or plant. Aerial weeding also has the capacity to cover large areas much quicker than ground vehicles.
Aerial drones are however commercially used for precision spraying, where they apply herbicides or biological agents directly to the affected areas, proving more effective coverage. Aerial drones fitted with blue lasers can also work well for marine environments, and perform marine laser weeding as a blue laser beam can pass through both air and water to eliminate aquatic weeds. This type of drone weeding technology would also benefit from lower resistance to move through air than the resistance a submarine drone would experience while moving through water.
In addition, a special case of aerial weed control is the method of drone assisted weeding. In this method drones do not perform the weeding themselves, but serve as moving surveilance platform instead. Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and multispectral sensors can perform aerial surveying, identifying weed infestations with precision. This gathered data is then sent to a precision spraying ground machine that traverses through the field applying the pesticided locally, with up to 95% lower pesticide consumption.
Automated Weed Control by Principal Method
Automated Physical
Precision Blue Laser Weeding
Blue laser weeding is the best and most precise method of weed control. Blue laser weeders utilize a blue laser beam, which is a laser beam with 440-450 nm wavelength, appearing blue to the human eye. The efficiency of blue laser weeders stems from the high absorption of this particular laser wavelength on the plant's cellulose, chlorophyll type A and chlorophyll type B. In fact, chlorophyll type A has a wide absorption peak around 435 nm, with very high absorption at blue laser's typical wavelength of 445 nm. Chlorophyll type B, on the other hand, also has a wide absorption peak, but at 465 nm, with very high absorption at 445 nm. If you superimpose these two absorption data graphs on top of each other, then the overall absorption peak for plants' chlorophyll is localized between 435 nm and 450 nm. Since the strongest blue laser diodes have a wavelength of 445 nm and 450 nm, this makes them a prime choice for laser weeding. The graph below shows the absorption curves for chlorophyll type A and B:
The absorption of laser beams on cellulose is also better for shorter wavelengths than for longer wavelengths especially infrared wavelengths. This absorption curve is practically the same for pure cellulose as for regenerated cellulose. We have chosen to show the laser absorption graph of regenerated cellulose, because it looks better and because it also shows higher (near-infrared) laser wavelengths. The regenerated cellulose graph below shows better absorption of shorter wavelength lasers and that absorption drops as the wavelength decreases, with absorption being significantly lower for near-infrared lasers.
Besides the laser wavelength absorption advantages, blue laser sources are also relatively lightweight and compact. They also don't require frequent calibration like CO2 lasers do. Besides that, blue lasers are also very energy efficient, with 5 times better electrical-power to optical-power conversion than CO2 lasers. Because of all these advantages blue laser weeders are the best weed control method. They also work differently than CO2 laser weeders, as instead of dehydrating/boiling the plant, blue laser weeders actually get transmitted through plant's water content and cut through organic matter where it matters.
As for the blue laser weeder operation, the vehicle (or drone) is fitted with weeds identification system. This system can regnize weeds' species by either scanning their active chlorophyll levels, their (invisible) infrared fluorescence, or AI-assisted vision-image recognition.
Besides farm field weeding, blue laser weeders can also be used for removal of smaller weeds and moss on pavements. The two images below depict laser weeding performed on pavement moss and a small pavement weed.
CO2 Laser Weeding
CO2 laser weeders employ far-infrared laser beams with 10.6 µm (10,600 nm) wavelength. For CO2 laser weed control, the weeding process is driven by the absorption by plant fluids (especially water content) and cellulose. The effect is very similar to electric and thermal weeders, with the plant being dehydrated or boiled alive. This is because CO2 lasers are very highly absorption on water and cannot practically pass through without evaporating it first.
CO2 lasers unfortunately waste 95% of supplied electricity in the form of heat, and require this heat to be handled by robust chiller systems. In addition, the combination of CO2 laser sources and accompanying chillers make this systems very heavy and large in size. This is why the commercial CO2 laser weeders that you can see are ginormous vehicle machines. The higher mass also means it is less efficient to move them through the field, effectively costing more fuel than for blue laser sources. Because of their mass, it would be very hard to mount them on drones, because drone usage permits are based on the total drone mass.
Besides that, unlike blue lasers, CO2 lasers require frequent and burdensome calibration of their mirrors and optics in order to be able to target weeds with precision and avoid damaging crops.
Electric Weed Zapping
Although less efficient than blue laser weeding, Electric weed zapping is a modern weed control method that uses high voltage electricity to cause weed plant tissue death. The working principle of this method is that a portion of the electricity is converted to heat which heats and rapidly expands plant's cell sap (internal plant fluids). This dramatically increases internal pressure inside the weed's cells, and the pressure gradient causes the fluids to explode the weed's cells and burst through the cell walls. With the cells effectively killed, the weed is subject to widespread tissue death.
Electric weed zappers are also an environmentally friendly option that doesn't use pesticides. However, they require very careful operation in order not to harm the nearby crops in the process, and are less efficient than blue laser weeders.
Thermal (Flame or Steam) Weeding Robot
Thermal Weeding Robots use direct external intense heat, from either flame or steam, to kill weeds. Flame weeding use one or several propane burners to generate the flame and direct it at the weeds, which is also why it is also called gas weeding. Precision flame weeders are typically tractor-mounted. Steam weeding on the other hand uses superheated steam to generate the same effect.
Both of these methods apply the heat externally - on the surface of the weed plant. This heat is then transferred through the weed causing plant dehydration and cell wall rupture. The weed plants then wither and die, which may take from few hours to days. While it is possible to use flame weeders to burn a weed to a crips it is not recommended by flame weeder making companies, as simple high heat application will work just as well, and conserve resources. Thermal weeding is also more efficient on smaller surface-level weeds and moss.
While both of these weed control methods are effective at killing the weeds without applying chemicals, they are much less effective or precise than blue laser weeders. However, their manufacturing process and technology is relatively simple, which means they can be produced very cheaply. Flame and steam weeders can also require multiple subsequent applications on weeds as the weed roots can sometimes regrow a bran new plant stem.
Automated Chemical
Drone Spraying and Precision Drone Spraying
Drone spraying is an innovative approach to spraying herbicides with the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) also called drones. Drones can cover extensive fields swiftly and cost-efficiently, which makes a fleet of UAVs highly suitable for large-scale farms. These regular drones can uniformly spray pesticides over a designated area in a quick manner. Nevertheless, these drones operate relatively high above the ground, which may lead to potential overapplication or pesticide drift which can affect non-target plants. Despite these challenges, drone spraying can perform aerial weed control over difficult or uneven terrain that may be challengining for traditonal vehicles. Drones are also a bit less susceptible to weather, since a muddy terrain is not a problem for them, unlike for ground vehicles.
Precision drone spraying is a special case of drone spraying. These types of drones are fitted with AI system(s) and advanced sensors to detect and target weed plants individually. Precision drone spraying focuses on minimizing the use of pesticides by applying them exactly where they are needed. In practice, precision spraying drones can reduce the volume of used pesticides by 95%, while getting the same or better results.
Automated Mechanical
Weed Pulling Robot
Weed pulling robot essentially mimics the activity of manual weed picking, but automates this weed control process with robotics, driving down costs, and increasing the throughput of weeds that can be eliminated. These robots are equipped with sensors to identify,and mechanical arms to uproot, individual weed plants. By removing the roots of the weeds, these robots are effective at largely preventing weed regrowth. Although, there is always a chance that a small portion of the roots, which is able to regrow the weed, may remain in the soil. Weed pulling EV machines can also be used in organic farming. These robots are also effective for very dense weed infestations. Nevertheless, using this method may lead to reduces soil fertility due to soil erosion.
Autonomous Tillage Robot
Autonomous tillage robots automate the process of tilling soil, which is a common method of traditonal weed control. By flipping a layer of weed-infested soil, these machines uproot existing weeds and bury them together with their seeds - at depths that incapacitates the weed seeds from sprouting into a plant. Autonomous tilage machines use GPS and advanced algorithms to navigate field with precision and in a timely manner. They are also able to optimize the taken path to finish their assigned weed control mission in a record time. This method improves soil aeration, and nutrient mixing, however the very top layer of flipped soil is very prone to erosion by sunlight and wind.
Automated Cultural
AI Crop Management Optimization
AI crop management can be used to enhance and optimize various aspects of crop production, including weed control. AI systems can analyze vast amounts of data from on-field sensors, weather stations and historical farm records to make quick and informed decisions regarding planting, weeding, fertilization, and irrigation. In weed control, AI can be used to predict weed emergence pattern, optimize the timing and choice of weed control methods, and suggest better crop rotations that can naturally suppress the growth of weeds.
Plant Health Monitoring
AI-driven plant health monitoring systems can use AI and sensor technologies to assess the health of crops in real time, and provide warnings about potential issues such as nutrient deficiencies, diseases or weed/pest infestations. Such AI systems can detect subtle changes in plant colour, growth pattern or moisture levels that can indicate presence of weeds, pests pr other stress factors.By identifying these issues early, farming companies can take proactive steps to eliminate weeds or diseased plants early on, before these issues become more severe cause damage to a larger collection of crops.
Conventional Weeding by Principal Method
Chemical Weed Control
Pre-emergent Herbicides
Pre-emergent herbicides work by targeting the weed seeds and seedlings and need to be applied before the weeds germinate. These herbicides disrupt the seedlings' growth processes and are most effective against annual weeds. Applying these herbicides before the weeds germinate requires careful monitoring of moisture and temperature of soil. Pre-emergent herbicides don't affect weeds that have already emerged from the soil.
Post-emergent Herbicides
Post-emergent herbicides target weeds that already emerged from the ground. These herbicides can be either selective (targeting specific weed species) or non-selective (killing any plants they come in contact with). Post-emergent herbicides are applied on the weeds' foliage, which absorbs the herbicide and moves it throughout the plant, resulting in weed death. These herbicides' effectiveness varies depending on factors such as environmental conditions, as well as weeds' growth stage and species, which makes proper timing essential.
Selective Herbicides
Selective herbicides are designed to target specific weed species by exploiting their biological differences from crops. These biological differences include metabollic pathways or growth habits. The usefulness of selective herbicides lies in their ability for targeted control of weed populations, while lessening the impact on crops. It is worth mentioning that overuse of selective herbicides tends to cause the development of herbicide-resistant weed species, which are biologically different from their ancestor weed plants.
Non-selective Herbicides
Non-selective herbicides target any plant species they come into contact with. This makes them effective at clearing areas of all vegetation, leaving behind chemically radiant soil that it problematic for any plants that want to growth there. They are often applied along fence lines, driveways or clearing a field before planting a new crop. However, when these are used to clear fields for new farms, they must be very carefully managed to minimize later damage to crops or desirable plants. Glyphosate is the most commonly used non-selective herbicide.
Physical Weed Control
Solarization
Solarization is a method of weed control that uses transparent plastic sheets to trap heat from sunlight and raise temperature to levels that are lethal to weeds, weed seeds and soil-borne pathogens. In the hottest summer months, the temperature directly underneath such plastic sheet can reach up to 140°F (60°C). This process doesn't only kill weeds but also reduces populations of harmful nematoeds and fungi. Nevertheless, it can take up to several weeks of continuous usage for this weeding method to bear fruit.
Mulching and Smothering
Mulching and smothering refers to the method of covering the soil with organic or inorganic materials in order to block sunlight. This prevents weed seeds from germinating. Materials used for mulching materials are smaller in size, and are applied en-masse creating a relatively thick layer. These materials include pebbles, straw, wood chips and small pieces of compost. Interestingly, laying a circle of white-coloured pebbles around a cultivated plant is very good for growth, as besides blocking the weeds, it also prevents overheating of plant roots, and reflects extra sunlight to its leaves, increasing its rate of growth.
Smothering, on the other hand, utilizes a thin layer of continuous solid material. Materials used for smothering include opaque plastic sheets, landscape fabric, cardboard and large pieces of compost. Organic mulches are particularly effective, since they eventually break down into nutrients for plants, improving soil structure and fertility.
Handheld Flame and Steam Weeding
Handheld flame and steam weeding work the same as their automated conterparts, however, they are designed as handheld devices, which can be used by small scale farmers to perform the weeding manually. Handheld flame weeders typically only have a single propane burner.
Stale Seedbed Method
The stale seedbed technique is a pre-planting weed control method that reduces weed pressure during crop growth season, by encouraging weeds seeds to grow prematurely, and deplete the specific nutrients that these weed species physically need to grow. This also obviously removes the weed seeds that have been present in the soil. Once the premature weeds emerge, they are removed via shallow tillage, flame weeders or herbicides. This leaves a clean seedbed for crop planting. This weed control method is particularly useful for organic farming since it significantly reduces the need for post-emergent weed control.
Mechanical Weed Control
Tillage and Hoeing
Tillage and hoeing are mechanical methods that involve using tractot machines that turn over the soil. Tillage is commonly used by large scale farming companies. It includes using machiines such as moldboard plows, heavy harrows, strip-till bars, vertical tillage machines, rippers, field cultivators, discs as well as chisel plows and mulch tillers. Besides weed control, these machines are also used for preparing seedbeds.
Hoeing, on the other hand, refers to the process of using simple manual tools and hands to perform the same actions. As such it is only suitable for small-scale or organic farming.
It is worth bearing in mind that excessive tillage causes soil erosion and degradation, leading to lower fertility and crop yields.
Weed Pulling
Weed pulling is a manual method of weed control that involves using hands to physically remove weeds from the soil by pulling their stem in careful manner that also removes their roots. Since it is very labor intensive, manual weed pulling is only suitable for small scale gardens, removing singular particularly large weeds that cannot be removed by other method or areas where chemical use is not desirable. Weed pulling is often used together with cover cropping or mulching.
Mowing
Mowing is yet another method of weed control which targets weeds before they can produce seeds. This weed control method is typically used for pastures, along roadsides and in areas where maintaing low height vegetation is commendable. By preventing weed seed production, mowing significantly reduces the spread of weed populations into other areas. Regular mowing is also used for aesthetic purposes.
Biological Weed Control
Use of Grazing Animals
Using grazing animals is an effective biological weed control method. Animals used for grazing include cattle, bisons, sheep and goats, and can consume a variety of weeds, especially in areas where mechanical or chemical weed control is not practical. For instance, goats can consume invasive weed species such as poison ivy and kudzu. Grazing weed control method is essentially a biological equivalent of mowing - in the sense that grazing animals also reduce the amount of weeds reaching maturity and producing seeds. Nevertheless the efficiency of the grazing weed control method depends on the grazing patterns of species of grazing animals as well as the animals' individual preferences. Bear in mind that overgrazing can also lead to soil erosion and degradation.
Introduction of Insects or Pathogens
The introduction of insects or pathogens, also known as biocontrol relies on the introduction of herbivore insects or pathogens that selectively target particular species of weeds. As an example, the Galerucella beetle can be released to reduce the population of the invasive purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) weeds that invade wetlands. Another good example is that of the rust fungus Puccinia chondrillina which, in a farm setting, can significantly scale down the populations of skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea). Biocontrol weed control method is essentially a biological equivalent of selective herbicides. The success of biocontrol weed control depends on the specific relationship between the bioagent, infesting weeds and cultivated crops. Special care should be taken to ensure that the selected bioagent does have a negative impact on the cultivated crops or non-target animal and plant species that are useful for the crops. However, once introduced, biocontrol is an effective long-term solution that provides sustainable weed management with little to none intervention required.
Allelopathic Crops
Allelopathic crops weed control method is a natural equivalent of pre-emergent herbicides. Allelopathic crops, once grown, release natural chemicals called allelochemicals into the soil, which stops the germination and growth of weeds. Good examples of allelopathic crops are rye (Secale cereale) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), which release allelochemicals that can reduce weed populations in subsequently planted crops. The effectiveness of allelopathic crops varies with soil type, environmental conditions and the presence of plants that compete with allelopathic crops. For maximum weed control benefits, it is advised to carefully choose the allelopathic crop species and introduce suitable managemnt practices.
Cultural Weed Control
Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is a weed control method of disrupting life cycles of weeds by performing shifts in the types of crops grown at a particular field, while using several fields with various farmed crops simultaneously. Different crops have different nutrient requirements, planting times and growth habits, and the cultivation swap between several fields prevents the buildup of weeds that are particularly likely to thrive among particular farmed crop. The added benefits of crop rotation weed control method are improvement of soil fertility, reduced pest and disease pressures, and enriched biodiversity.
Cover Cropping
Cover cropping weed control method relies on the introduction of specific cover crops such as vetch, clover or buckweed during fallow periods. These plants can cover entire fields and outcompete harmful weeds. Additional side effects of this weeding method include reduced erosion, nitrogen fixation and bettered soil health by addition of organic matter. When the termination of cover crops occurs, they can also serve as an effective mulch layer.
Planting Density
Planting density, also called the shading weed control method, refers to a method where a farm deliberately forms dense clusters of cultivated crops by planting them lose together. Increased planting density creates shading at the surface level which is unfavourable to weeds. In addition, collectively, cultivated crops can then outcompete emerging weeds for water and nutrients. Notwithstanding, it is imperative to not cause an overcrowding scenarios, where too high plant densities increase the competition between crop plants, leading to lower yields and making crops more prone to diseases.
Timing of Planting
The timing of planting can also serve as an effective weeding method, as it can influence the dynamics between crops and plants. Adjustment of planting times helps young crops avoid periods of peak weed germination, giving crops a competitive advantage. The crops can be planted before the peak weed germination (as older crop plants have better chances against weeds) or after the peak weed germination (once the initial flush of weeds has been controlled). This method however requires a goodunderstanding of the farm's ecosystem and groth patterns of crops and weed species alike.
FAQ
Question 1: What is the best form of weed control?
Answer: Using blue laser weeding robot together with heat is the best form of weed control, however blue laser weeder on its own is already exceptionally effective.
Question 2: Can you kill weed with a laser?
Answer: Focused blue laser can kill weeds with superior efficiency. This is most often done in an automated process where a vehicle, fitted with AI software detects which plants (on a given field) are weeds and shoots the blue laser at them, without hurting other plants. In short, blue laser can kill weeds with high effectiveness by targeting them at their meristem.
Question 3: Is there a laser machine for killing weeds?
Answer: Yes, there are commercial weed killer laser machines, for instance Weedbot or LaserWeeder, which use focused laser beams to eliminate weeds.
Question 4: Is there a laser that burns weeds?
Answer: Yes, blue laser weeding is a process where blue laser burns and destroys weeds at their root level, effectively preventing regrowth.
Question 5: Is there anything that kills weeds permanently?
Answer: Blue laser, combined with heat, kills weeds permanently, preventing weed regrowth and killing weed seeds. Blue lasers on their own also offer long-term weed control.
Question 6: How does a laser weeding robot kill up to 100,000 weeds per hour?
Answer: Laser weeding robots use advanced AI and high-speed lasers to identify and target weeds rapidly, allowing them to eliminate up to 100,000 weeds per hour with precision.
Question 7: Can UV light kill weeds?
Answer: UV light can damage the DNA of plant cells, but it is not as effective or targeted as blue laser technology for killing weeds.
Question 8: Can lasers damage plants?
Answer: Yes, lasers can damage plants if they are not designed to target the weed species with plant recognition software. And vice versa - blue laser weeder robots and drones with plant recognition software target only the weeds they are supposed to eliminate, while protecting desirable crops.
Question 9: What laser is used for weed control?
Answer: Blue laser is used for weed control due to its exceptional efficiency at laser weed control. This efficiency stems from high blue laser wavelength absorption on cellulose, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b alike, as well as high wall-plug efficiency, and higher precision than CO2 lasers. Nevertheless, there are also CO2 laser-based commercial laser weeders, despite lower CO2 laser absorption and the fact that CO2 lasers waste 94-95% of supplied electricity in the form of heat.
Question 10: What is the effect of laser treatment as a weed control method?
Answer: Laser treatment for weed control destroys the undesirable weed plants at their root level and significantly reduces likelihood of weed regrowth, while protecting desirable plants. Laser weed control treatment with blue lasers has no adverse effect on the ecosystem, being a sustainable green solution, unlike pesticide spraying (which demolishes the ecosystem) or CO2 laser treatment (which wastes 95% of supplied electricity in the form of heat, as well as increases mortality of soil worm species).
Question 11: How does a laser weeder work?
Answer: A laser weeder works by using sensors and AI plant recognition to identify weeds among crops while trversing through the field. The laser weeder then directs precise laser beams to destroy the weeds without harming the surrounding desirable plants.
Question 12: What is the farm to fork approach?
Answer: The Farm to Fork approach aims to create a sustainable food system with positive or neutral environmental impact and to ensure food security, while enhancing nutrition and general public health. In addition, it aims to reverse loss of biodiversity, and reduce the effects of climate change or increase human adaptability to it.
Question 13: What is laser weeding?
Answer: Laser weeding is a modern agricultural technique, and a method of weed control, that uses focused laser beams to selectively target and eliminate weeds without harming useful crops.
Question 14: How much does the laser weeder cost?
Answer: The cost of a laser weeder ranges from $90,000 to $300,000, depending on the model, laser type used, and the specific laser weeder's features.
Question 15: What are the disadvantages of laser weeding?
Answer: Disadvantages of laser weeding include high initial costs, and the potential for limited effectiveness in very dense weed populations (which can however be troubleshooted by using an automatic weed puller first). For laser weeding with CO2 lasers, the additional disadvantages are the need of precise (and regular) CO2 laser calibration to avoid crop damage as well as increased mortality of useful soil worm species.
Question 16: How much does a Laserweeder cost?
Answer: The cost of a Laserweeder can vary, but it typically ranges from $100,000 to $300,000 depending on the model, capabilities and the type of laser used.
Question 17: What are 4 methods of weed control?
Answer: The four methods of weed control are laser weed control (removal with blue or infrared lasers), spraying pesticides, mechanical removal (weed pulling robot or hand pulling) and cultural practices (crop rotation and mulching).
Question 18: How effective is weed control?
Answer: Weed control is exceptionally effective (short- and long-term) and sustainable when done with blue laser weeding. Using pesticides is highly effective, but is not sustainable. Cultural and biological methods provide sustainable, long-term management.
Question 19: What is the best natural weed killer?
Answer: Focused light beam of blue laser is the best natural weed killer, and ensures weeds are killed pesticide-free (naturally) and without harming the environment. For smaller or irregular weeding tasks, you can also use a mixture of vinegar, salt, and dish soap in a ratio of 1 gallon of vinegar, 1 cup of salt, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap, which dehydrates and kills weeds.
Question 20: Is vinegar a good weed killer?
Answer: While unsustainable unlike blue laser weeders, vinegar (ie. acetic acid solved in water) is a good weed killer for small-scale weeding. 5% vinegar (such as household vinegar) and 10% vinegar concentration can kill young weeds within two weeks of their life, although they still drain crops off their nutrients during that time. Older weed plants require higher vinegar concentrations to be eliminated. At higher concentrations, acetic acid can dehydrate and kill weeds at various growth stages with an 85-100% success rate.
Question 21: How to get rid of weeds fast?
Answer: To get rid of weeds fast, use a blue laser weeder as it can eliminate up to 100,000 weeds per hour with precision, without damaging desirable crops or harming the environment. For very small-scale weeding, although at the cost to your soil quality and envirnment, you can use a non-selective herbicide (for instance vinegar or bleach).
Question 22: What is the chemical method of controlling weeds?
Answer: Being much worse than blue laser weeding, the chemical method of controlling weeds involves using herbicides, which can be selective (targeting specific weeds) or non-selective (killing all plants), which harm the soil quality and pollute the environment. The most direct effects of herbicide pollution are decreased condition, growth, reproduction, and increased mortality of plants.
Question 23: What are the two most common types of weed control?
Answer: The two most common types of weed control are mechanical control (including weed pulling robot, hoeing or mowing) and chemical control (using herbicides cause soil pollutiom).
Question 24: Is bleach or vinegar better for weeds?
Answer: While much less effective and sustainable than blue laser weeding, bleach is highly effective in killing mature weeds and prevents new weeds from coming back because it remains in the soil and pollutes it much more than vinegar.
Question 25: What is the best thing for killing weeds?
Answer: Laser weeding with blue lasers is in fact the best thing for killing weeds, by provision of precise, efficient, and environmentally friendly weed control.
Question 26: How much does a weed laser cost?
Answer: A weed laser can cost for instance between $30,000 and $200,000, depending on the model and its capabilities.
Question 27: Can infrared light kill weeds?
Answer: Although worse than blue light, infrared light can still kill weeds on its own, which is why some companies developed laser weeders based on CO2 lasers, which (unlike blue lasers) however harm useful soil worms. Nevertheless, if you combine blue laser with a heating mid-range infrared (IR) wavelength light, you can not only kill weeds but also weed seeds, as reported by recent scientific literature. While the heating temperature varies from one weed species to another, for instance increasing point-temperature to 300 F (149 C) decreases new Palmer Amaranth germination rate by 83%.
Question 28: Is it possible to automate farming?
Answer: Blue laser weeder machines are the best example of the possibility to automate farming, as weeding is a burdensome, annoying and labor-intensive farm activity.
Question 29: What is the best equipment for farming?
Answer: Blue laser weeders are veritably the best equipment for farming, as they automate the frequent, burdernsome and annoying task of weed removal with superior efficiency, allowing farmers to focus on other farming activities. Other farming equipment is used for more pre-planned farming activities. In contrast, undesirable weed plants grow randomly and at random rates, while they need to be removed swiftly, effectively being an annoyance to farmers.
Question 30: Are autonomous tractors the future?
Answer: Autonomous tractors are part of the future of farming, along with autonomous blue laser weeders, sprayers, and milkers, which help reduce labor costs and increase efficiency in agricultural operations.
Question 31: Can AI be used for farming?
Answer: AI can be used for farming to automate weeding with blue lasers (by recognizing weed plants and targeting them while protecting crops), as well as for optimization of crop management and monitoring plant health.
Question 32: What is the most profitable item to farm?
Answer: In the USA, the most profitable items to farm include high-value crops like saffron ($500-$5,000 per pound, grown most notably in Pennsylvania), microgreens ($20-$40 per pound), and ginseng ($500-$600 per pound). In Canada, lavender ($30-$40 per pound), goji berries ($15-$20 per pound) as well as blue huckleberries ($10-$15 per pound) are highly profitable. In Europe, most profitable crops are lavender ($30-$40 per pound), rosemary ($25-$30 per pound) and chamomile ($20-$30 per pound). In general, the most high-return crops vary per region and market demand, but overall herbs, specialty vegetables and organically-grown crops are in high demand.
Question 33: Do infrared weed killers work?
Answer: Infrared weed killers work worse than blue laser weed killers. Still, infrared lasers can be effective even on their own, although they reach their peak efficiency if they only work as a heat source, while blue laser weeders do the weed killing work themselves. Combination of heating mid-range infrared (IR) wavelength light with blue laser weeder not only kills weeds, but also their seeds.
Question 34: Is there a weed killer that actually works?
Answer: Blue laser weeder is a weed killer that actually works with unmatched efficiency, and targets weeds with precision without harming the environment or crops.
Question 35: What is the most useful farm machine?
Answer: Blue laser weeding machines are literally the most useful farm machines, since they automate the frequent and burdensome task of weed removal with unmatched efficiency. As weed plants grow randomly and at random time intervals, but need to be eliminated swiftly, laser weeding allows farmers to increase their output as well as focus on other farming activities.
Question 36: Do thermal weed killers work?
Answer: Thermal weed killers do actually work - by using heat to destroy weeds - although they aren't nearly as effective or precise as blue laser weeders, which can kill even 100,000 weeds per hour with precision and without harming the ecosystem.
Question 37: What weed killer kills forever?
Answer: Blue laser weed killer kills the weeds forever by targeting them at the root level, however there is always a small chance for a percentage of killed weeds, that lefover roots may regrow after a prolonged period. Nevertheless, combining blue lasers with heating from mid-IR wavelength light source can permanently kill both weeds and their seeds.
Question 38: Can AI be used in drones?
Answer: AI can be indeed used in drones, a prime example of which is using drones for plant detection and weed recognition, which allows to perform precision weeding with blue lasers.
Question 39: What is the use of drones in weed management?
Answer: Drones in weed management are used for aerial surveying to detect and distinguish desirable crops from weed infestations. This then allows a connected machine to perform precision weed removal with either precision laser weeding or herbicide spraying. What's more, drones allow you to monitor the effectiveness of your weed control measures.
Question 40: Is drone spraying effective?
Answer: Drone spraying is less effective and sustainable than laser weeding with blue lasers, but it still works well. While it doesn't totally remove the use of pesticides like blue laser weeders do, it can reduce the pesticide usage by up to 95%, reducing crop damage. In contrast, blue laser weeders are a fully sustainable solution that doesn't use any pesticides, and is 100% safe to soil and environment. Drone-assisted laser weeding, drone-performed blue laser weeding and drone spraying are all very effective at swiftly covering large areas.
Question 41: What is the AI model for weed detection?
Answer: The AI model for weed detection is an AI model that uses advanced image recognition to assess its image feed against verified images of weeds. It takes it only seconds to identify weeds pending removal with blue laser weeders (or drone spraying), and typically with an accompanying degree of confidence.
Question 42: What is the technology for weed sensing?
Answer: The typical technology for weed sensing uses active chlorophyll detection using fluorescence, but it can also additionally use image recongnition AI model to identify weeds for even higher confidence. Another alternative is using sensors for measuring infrared and invisible light reflectance off the ground, which can accurately detect weeds.
Question 43: What is the weed seeker technology?
Answer: The Weedseeker® technology uses sensors measing different wavelengths across the infra-red (invisible) light spectrum, and compares them to known values for common species of weeds. This captured data is then analyzed by an electronic circuit inside the sensor.
Question 44: What are the technologies for weed control?
Answer: The technologies for weed control include blue laser weeding (most efficient and sustainable), pesticide weeders (effective but unsustaible), mechanical weeders, thermal weeders, flame weeders, and electrical weeders.
Question 45: Which weed control methods are best?
Answer: The best weed control methods are blue laser weeding (for targeted, swift, effective and sustainable weed control), heat weeding (for effective and somewhat sustainable weed control), and drone spraying (for targeted and efficient weed control). Out of these weed control methods laser weeding with blue lasers is the best technology.
Question 46: How do electric weed killers work?
Answer: While less efficient than blue laser weeders, electric weed killers work by delivering an electrical charge to the plant, a portion of which is converted to heat which vaporizes weed's cellular fluids, increasing their volume - and effectively pressure. The surplus pressure bursts the weed's cell walls causing a widespread tissue death that kills the weed plant.
Question 47: What is the robot that removes weeds?
Answer: Blue laser weeder (also called blue laser weed killer) is the robot that removes weeds with unrivaled efficiency. There are also other less effective weed removing robots, with common types such as weed zapper, automatic weed puller, and robotic sprayer. Overall, all these types of robots are called weeder machines or weeding robots.
Question 48: What are 2 methods automated robots use to remove weeds?
Answer: Automated robots remove weeds using 2 methods. The first method is automated weed detection with smart plant recognition, to identify what is a weed and what is a crop. The second method is automated weed removal, which uses either blue laser weeders, selective chemical sprayers, CO2 laser weeders, electric weed killers, or automatic weed pullers on the plants previously identified as weeds.
Question 49: What is the farm to fork strategy in Germany?
Answer: The Farm to Fork Strategy in Germany is a part of the EU's initiative, aiming to create sustainable food systems with positive or neutral environmental impact. Its goals include reducing nutrient losses in foods by at least 50%, ensuring food security, enhancing general public health, decreasing pesticide usage, reversing loss of biodiversity as well as reducing the effects of climate change or increasing human adaptibility to it.