Precision CultivaPrecision CultivaProduProdu

Richard Smith, Farm AdvisorRichard Smith, Farm AdvisorUniversity of California CoopUniversity of California CoopMonterey CountyMonterey County

tion for Vegetable tion for Vegetable uction uction

rrperative Extension perative Extension

Coastal VegetaCoastal Vegeta

•• Spinach, baby leSpinach, baby leHi h d it 80Hi h d it 80––High density 80High density 80--

•• Lettuce, broccolLettuce, broccol,,––40 inch beds (tw40 inch beds (tw––80 inch beds (580 inch beds (5--66

ble Productionble Production

ettuceettucei h b di h b dinch bedsinch bedsii

wo seedlines)wo seedlines)6 seedlines 6 seedlines -- lettuce)lettuce)

Cultural PracticeCultural PracticeCultural PracticeCultural PracticeWeeWee

•• Fastidious weed manFastidious weed manprior rotations can, oprior rotations can, op ,p ,weed pressure to maweed pressure to ma–– Aggressively controlAggressively controlAggressively controlAggressively control

rotations and during rotations and during the winterthe winter

–– Not letting weeds go Not letting weeds go –– Carrying weeds out oCarrying weeds out o

weeding operationsweeding operations

es for Managinges for Managinges for Managing es for Managing edsedsnagement practices in nagement practices in over time, reduce over time, reduce ,,anageable levelsanageable levelsling weeds in all priorling weeds in all priorling weeds in all prior ling weeds in all prior the fallow period over the fallow period over

to seedto seedof the field during of the field during

Cultural PracticesCultural PracticesPressPress

•• Field selectionField selection•• Avoidance:Avoidance:

–– Avoiding weedy fieldsAvoiding weedy fields–– Avoiding weediest Avoiding weediest

time of the growing time of the growing season (i.e. purslane season (i.e. purslane during June to Sept.)during June to Sept.)g p )g p )

s to Reduce Weed s to Reduce Weed suresure

•• PrePre--germination of germination of weedsweeds

•• Use of “stale” Use of “stale” seedbedsseedbeds

•• Planting vigorous Planting vigorous varieties on weediest varieties on weediest areaarea

Effects of PNo PreirrigationNo Preirrigation

•• Reduces the number oReduces the number oto germinate in the topto germinate in the topg pg p

• Can reduce weed emerCan reduce weed emercrop by up to 50% crop by up to 50% (Shem(Shem

reirrigationWith Preirrigation With Preirrigation

of weed seed that are ready of weed seed that are ready layer of the soil layer of the soilyyrgence in subsequent rgence in subsequent

m Tov and Fennimore)m Tov and Fennimore)

Cultural PracticesCultural PracticesPressPress

•• Control weeds that Control weeds that aerial disperse from aerial disperse from surrounding areassurrounding areas

•• Not letting weeds go Not letting weeds go t dt dto seedto seed

•• Carrying weeds from Carrying weeds from th fi ld f di lth fi ld f di lthe field for disposal the field for disposal elsewhereelsewhere

•• Carefully planningCarefully planning•• Carefully planning Carefully planning crop rotationscrop rotations

s to Reduce Weed s to Reduce Weed suresure

•• Organic herbicidesOrganic herbicides•• Deep plowingDeep plowingp p gp p g•• CultivationCultivation•• Hand weedingHand weedinggg•• BioBio--fumigationfumigation•• Cover crops!?Cover crops!?Cover crops!?Cover crops!?

Issues SpecificIssues SpecificIssues Specific Issues Specific 8080--InchInch

to High Densityto High Densityto High Density to High Density h Bedsh Beds

Weed Control onWeed Control onWeed Control on Weed Control on Inch Inch

ChallengesChallenges•• High density (24High density (24 –– 3232High density (24 High density (24 3232

are difficult to imposare difficult to imposcultivate (on 40cultivate (on 40--inchinchcultivate (on 40cultivate (on 40 inch inch 80 to 85% of the bed)80 to 85% of the bed)

•• Difficult and expensiDifficult and expensi•• Difficult and expensiDifficult and expensi•• Key weeds that are dKey weeds that are d•• Low tolerance for weLow tolerance for we

harvested productharvested product

High Density 80High Density 80--High Density 80High Density 80BedsBeds

2 seedlines) stands2 seedlines) stands2 seedlines) stands 2 seedlines) stands ssible to effectively ssible to effectively

beds we can cultivatebeds we can cultivatebeds we can cultivate beds we can cultivate ))ive to hand weedive to hand weedive to hand weedive to hand weeddifficult to controldifficult to controleeds in mechanically eeds in mechanically

Mechanical HarvestMechanical Harvest

Only area that cOnly area that c

28 seedlines28 seedlinesdoes not ledoes not le

cultivcultiv

can be cultivatedcan be cultivated

s on this beds on this bedend itself to end itself to vationvation

Difficult, Tedious and ExDifficult, Tedious and Expensive to Hand Weedpensive to Hand Weed

CultivCultivCultivCultiv•• High density stands oHigh density stands o

difficult to impossibledifficult to impossiblecultivatecultivate

•• Some growers have Some growers have seedlines (i.e. 14) in oseedlines (i.e. 14) in o( )( )cultivatecultivate

vationvationvationvationon 80on 80--inch beds are inch beds are e to effectively e to effectively

planted fewer planted fewer order to be able to order to be able to

Brush HoBrush HoBartchiBartchi--FobFob

oe Cultivatoroe Cultivatorbro (Switzerland)bro (Switzerland)

Human vsHuman vs Machine Guidance

CuCuCuCu

Brush HoeBrush HoeCultivatorCultivatorCultivatorCultivator

ltivated Uncultivatedltivated Uncultivatedltivated Uncultivatedltivated Uncultivated

Brush Hoe Cultivation oBrush Hoe Cultivation oSpring MiSpring Mi

TreatmentTreatment Weed ConWeed ConPercenPercenPercenPercen

Brush hoeBrush hoe 47 847 8Brush hoeBrush hoe 47.847.8UncultivatedUncultivated 0 00 00.00.0

of 14 line High Density of 14 line High Density ix Lettuceix Lettuce

ntrol ntrol ntnt

Weed time Weed time hrs/Ahrs/A

YieldYieldLbs/ALbs/Antnt hrs/Ahrs/A Lbs/ALbs/A

88 11 011 0 11 73111 73188 11.011.0 11,73111,731

17 017 0 13 76513 76517.017.0 13,76513,765

SummSumm•• Weed control on highWeed control on high--dd

achieve prior to plantinachieve prior to plantinachieve prior to plantinachieve prior to plantin•• In other words the longIn other words the long

farming practices affecfarming practices affecfarming practices affecfarming practices affec•• Cultivation with 14 or feCultivation with 14 or fe

d b t th f td b t th f tused, but other factors used, but other factors may preclude its usemay preclude its use

•• Current cultivation guidCurrent cultivation guidwork to guide the cultivwork to guide the cultiv

marymarydensity beds is mostly density beds is mostly gggg

gg--term affect of prior term affect of prior t the weed populationt the weed populationt the weed populationt the weed populationewer seedlines can be ewer seedlines can be

h f d f th f d f tsuch as food safety such as food safety

dance systems will not dance systems will not vatorvator

Issues SpecificIssues SpecificIssues SpecificIssues SpecificGrown on 40 anGrown on 40 an

c to Vegetablesc to Vegetablesc to Vegetables c to Vegetables nd 80 inch Bedsnd 80 inch Beds

Issues Specific toIssues Specific toIssues Specific toIssues Specific toGrown on 40 anGrown on 40 an

•• For organic productiFor organic productipractices already mepractices already mep yp y

•• Once the crop is planOnce the crop is plancultivation can be accultivation can be accultivation can be accultivation can be ac

•• If effective cultural pIf effective cultural pcultivation are carriecultivation are carriecultivation are carriecultivation are carriecan be made more efcan be made more efeconomicaleconomicaleconomicaleconomical

o Mature Lettuceo Mature Lettuceo Mature Lettuce o Mature Lettuce nd 80 inch Bedsnd 80 inch Bedsion, the cultural ion, the cultural entioned are criticalentioned are criticalnted, effective nted, effective

ccomplishedccomplishedccomplishedccomplishedractices and ractices and

ed out hand weedinged out hand weedinged out, hand weeding ed out, hand weeding fficient and fficient and

Close cultivation is not aClose cultivation is not aidea but speed is a concidea but speed is a concidea, but speed is a concidea, but speed is a concfor bigger operationsfor bigger operations

a newa newcerncerncerncern

Typically 80+%Typically 80+%of a 40-inchwide bed can be effectivelybe effectivelycultivated. The fi ht ith dfight with weedsoccurs in the uncultivated seedlineseedline

Precision GuidanPrecision Guidan2” id b d2” id b d2” wide band vs s2” wide band vs s

EcoDan EcoDan -- fast fast

nce of Cultivatorsnce of Cultivatorst d d 4” b dt d d 4” b dstandard 4” bandstandard 4” band

Tried and trueTried and trueslow

2 i h b d2 i h b d2 inch band 2 inch band 4 i h b d4 i h b d 4 inch band 4 inch band

Percent of WeedPercent of WeedDifferent CultivatDifferent Cultivat

2005 Lettuce2005 Lettuce

Cultivation BCultivation B

ds Controlled at ds Controlled at tion Band Widthstion Band Widthse Trial No. 1e Trial No. 1

Band WidthBand Width

Hours Per AHours Per ADifferent CultivatDifferent Cultivat

2005 Lettuce2005 Lettuce

Cultivation BCultivation B

Acre to Weed Acre to Weed tion Band Widthstion Band Widthse Trial No. 1e Trial No. 1

Band WidthBand Width

Percent WePercent WeDifferent CultivatDifferent Cultivat

2005 Brocco2005 Brocco

Cultivation BCultivation B

eed Control eed Control tion Band Widthstion Band Widths

oli Trial No. 1oli Trial No. 1

Band WidthBand Width

WeedinWeedinDifferent CultivatDifferent Cultivat

2005 Brocco2005 Brocco

Cultivation BCultivation B

ng Timeng Timeggtion Band Widthstion Band Widths

oli Trial No. 1oli Trial No. 1

Band WidthBand Width

Summary of PrecSummary of PrecSummary of PrecSummary of Prec•• The EcoDan and RobThe EcoDan and RobThe EcoDan and RobThe EcoDan and Rob

systems allow close systems allow close reducing speedreducing speedreducing speedreducing speed

•• Close cultivation is aClose cultivation is agreater percentage ogreater percentage ogreater percentage ogreater percentage oweeding time accordweeding time accord

cision Cultivationcision Cultivationcision Cultivation cision Cultivation bocrop guidancebocrop guidancebocrop guidance bocrop guidance cultivation without cultivation without

able to remove a able to remove a of weeds and reduceof weeds and reduceof weeds and reduce of weeds and reduce dinglydingly

Use of TraUse of TraUse of TraUse of Tra•• Transplants lend theTransplants lend thepp

new technologies fornew technologies for•• Transplants give theTransplants give thep gp g

the weedsthe weeds•• Transplants are moreTransplants are morepp

manipulationmanipulation•• Transplants are easieTransplants are easiepp

mechanical weedersmechanical weeders(distinguish from the(distinguish from the

ansplantsansplantsansplantsansplantsemselves to old and emselves to old and r weed controlr weed control crop a head start on crop a head start on pp

e resistant to physical e resistant to physical p yp y

er for high tech er for high tech gg to recognize to recognize

e weeds)e weeds)

IntraIntra--Row CRow C

•• High Tech IdeasHigh Tech Ideas•• Lower Tech IdeasLower Tech IdeasLower Tech IdeasLower Tech Ideas

CultivationCultivation

Split Knife Split Knife D Sl ht UCDD Sl ht UCDDave Slaughter, UCDDave Slaughter, UCD

Automated Weed Control iAutomated Weed Control i

Infrared Tomato StemStem Sensor

in Transplanted Tomatoesin Transplanted Tomatoes

Weed Knives

Automatic CultAutomatic CultAutomatic CultAutomatic CultTillet and HagTillet and Hag

tivator/Thinnertivator/Thinnertivator/Thinnertivator/Thinnergue (England)gue (England)

IntraIntra--Row CRow C

•• High Tech IdeasHigh Tech Ideas•• Lower Tech IdeasLower Tech IdeasLower Tech IdeasLower Tech Ideas

CultivationCultivation

Blind CuBlind Cu

Rotary hoe – small gra

ultivationultivationSpring tined (Lely)onions, beans , others, ,

ains

Finger WeederFinger WeederKress (Germany)

TorsionTorsionFrato (NeFrato (Ne((

Weeder Weederetherlands)etherlands)))

Torsion Torsion InexpeInexpe

Can be attached to existiCan be attached to existiddand goand go

WeederWeederensiveensiveng cultivation equipmentng cultivation equipment

ff as fast as fast

Come in diffCome in diffSizes (7 & 9Sizes (7 & 9Sizes (7 & 9Sizes (7 & 9

Width can be aWidth can be a

ferentferent9 mm)9 mm)9 mm)9 mm)adjustedadjusted

CeleryCelery

Li f t lLi f t lLine of travelLine of travel

The tines undercut The tines undercut ll d b tll d b tsmall weeds, but small weeds, but

but hit the transplantbut hit the transplantt bli lt bli lat an oblique angleat an oblique angle

Celery 20Celery 20Celery 20Celery 20Percent WePercent We

aa

* Different than 7mm @ P=0.10* Different than 7mm @ P=0.10

007 Trial007 Trial007 Trial007 Trialeed Controleed Control

bbb*b*

Celery 20Celery 20Mean HeaMean Hea

lblb

007 Trial007 Trialad Weightad Weightbsbs

LeeksLeeks

Leeks PercentLeeks Percent20

Weed Control Weed Control07

Leeks HourLeeks Hour20r/A to Weedr/A to Weed07

SummSumm

•• There are some signThere are some signin the efficiency of win the efficiency of wyyachieved by employiachieved by employisystems that removesystems that removeyyof weeds from of weeds from the sethe se

•• The strategies my beThe strategies my beThe strategies my beThe strategies my be

marymary

ificant improvements ificant improvements weeding that can be weeding that can be gging cultivation ing cultivation e a greater percentage e a greater percentage g p gg p geedlineeedlinee scale specifice scale specifice scale specifice scale specific