Development of an automatic weed control system for sunflower

Abstract

By using an optical sensor, a n electronic weed control system was developed for selective spraying of weeds in sunflower fields. The prototype control system was mounted on a sprayer. The system becomes active when weeds interrupt a signal passing between the sensor and the reflector. When the new system was compared with a conventional system in laboratory tests, it was found that the amount of liquid sprayed decreased 28% when spraying for grass weeds and 23.7% when spraying for cocklebur (platycarpos). The field test indicated that the new system consumed a minimum of 0.9 L and a maximum of 1.3 L of spray liquid as compared with 11 to 13 L for conventional spraying. © 2008 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.