8JXTK58U

3380

24 mars 2021 09:11

20 avril 2021 16:22

Sugar beet is very sensitive to weed competition. Even at low weed densities, significant losses in sugar beet yield are observed. This problem is especially relevant in organic crops because weeds not only reduce the yields, but also stifle the crops and deplete the plant nutrients. In order to solve these problems in organic crops, it is necessary to use non-chemical weed control methods that are often expensive and time-consuming. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of working time utilization and to carry out an economic evaluation of non-chemical weed control methods in organic sugar beet growing. Four mechanical methods of inter-row loosening for non-chemical weed control were analyzed in this study: T1 (automated), T2 (robot-diesel powered), T3 (robot-electric powered) and T4 (conventional, control). The efficiency of working time utilization and economic performance were assessed by using the combined analysis of working time and performing the cost-benefit analysis, respectively. Comparison of non-chemical weed control systems showed that the largest share of machinery labor time costs (18.76 h ha-1) was used by an electric robot, and the lowest – by an automated method (9.07 h ha-1). The results of the economic evaluation showed that the cheapest non-chemical weed control was T2 (robot-diesel powered) and the most expensive – T3 (robot-electric powered). In addition, weed control methods using robots reduce the negative impact on the soil because of their lower mass. In addition, they eliminate tedious monotonous work of a farmer. To sum up, robotic weed control machines could be an economically viable alternative to conventional mechanical inter-row equipment of loosening

None

• AB - Spécifique
• FREDO adventice
• FREDO lutte
• GEO Lettonie
• betterave
• mechanical control

2021

1 janvier 2021