Spectral reflectance data originating from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery is a valuable tool to monitor plant nutrition, reduce nitrogen (N) application real needs, thus producing both economic and environmental benefits. The objectives of the trial were i) compare spectral 3 turfgrasses acquired via UAV by ground-based instrument; ii) test sensitivity 2 acquisition sources in detecting induced variation N levels. gradients 0 250 kg ha-1 created on different turfgrass species: Cynodon...

The advancement of computer vision technology has allowed for the easy detection weeds and other stressors in turfgrasses agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate feasibility single shot object detectors weed lawns, which represents a difficult task. In this study, four different YOLO (You Only Look Once) version, along with all their various scales, were trained on public ‘Weeds’ dataset 4203 digital images growing lawns total 11,385 annotations tested turfgrasses. Different species...

Mechanical shaking enables efficient harvesting of olives, especially in hilly regions where automated farming is not feasible. This study delves into branch and olive detachment modeling to enhance the efficiency a hand-held shaker. Shaking time, forces, accelerations, forces were experimentally measured. The fruit maturity index affected force needed detach olive, with highest value for olives at C0 stage (5.93 N). No difference emerged among tested times (6 s 12 s), neither terms harvest...

Sustainable turfgrass management is essential for maintaining healthy and visually appealing green spaces. Autonomous mowers have emerged as an innovative solution, but the efficiency quality of mowing operations depend on several factors. This study investigates impact patterns cutting heights performance autonomous mower through updated custom-built software. Three different (vertical, diagonal, horizontal) two (3 cm 6 cm) were analyzed to analyze efficiency, coverage, uniformity. The...

Conservation Agriculture practices in Organic Farming can enhance the sustainability of these farming systems. However, have economic and environmental implications for farmers, which must be considered. In present study, eight technical itineraries were compared tomato cultivation. These differed how reduced no-tillage used to manage four soil cover types control weeds. The itinerary’s gross salable production (GSP), income (GI), CO2 emissions evaluated. second growing season, itinerary...

The management of Dollar spot, the fungal disease turfgrasses, is complicated and, today, tends to include new eco-friendly approaches. aim this study evaluate effect UV-B and UV-C lamps against infection Clarireedia species in warm- cool-season turfgrasses. In vitro tests were performed growth C. jacksonii mycelium on Potato Dextrose Agar, irradiated with at heights 5 15 cm, s per day for three consecutive days. same treatments, prolonged seven days, applied naturally infected potted...

Autonomous mowers are battery-powered machines designed for lawn mowing that require very low human labour. can increase turf quality and reduce local noise pollution compared with gasoline-powered rotary mowers. However, little is known about the effects of autonomous on encroaching weeds. The aim this research was to compare an mower ordinary weed development in artificially infested tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) different nitrogen (N) rates. A three-way factor experimental...

Battery-powered autonomous mowers are designed to reduce the need of labor for lawn mowing compared with traditional endothermic engine and at same time abate local emissions noise. The aim this research was compare mower rotary on a tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ) under different nitrogen (N) rates. A two-way factor experimental design three replications adopted. In study, four N rates (0, 50, 100, 150 kg·ha −1 two systems (autonomous vs. gasoline-powered walk-behind equipped mulching)...

The termination of cover crops in conventional no-till systems is mostly conducted mechanically combination with herbicides. Combining flaming and roller crimpers could be a viable solution to avoid using herbicides for crop farming where are banned, or at least reduce their use an integrated management approach. This research tested the effects used three different types terminate fall-sown mixture winter pea barley. rate was visually assessed terms percentage green provided by plants...

Organic vegetable production is particularly affected by weed pressure and mechanical weeding the major tactic implemented growers to keep weeds under economic thresholds. Living mulch (LM) has been shown provide several environmental services; however, LM management required avoid competition between service crops cash crops. The aim of this trial was evaluate two innovative LM-based systems: a system that provided growth regulation means flaming (LM-FL) where regularly mowed an autonomous...

Summary The aim of this study was to determine the weed suppression potential soil steaming plus activating compounds (KOH or CaO) boost temperature. Different combinations between and rates were tested in experiments carried out field a controlled environment. Treatment effects assessed on vegetation seedbank seedling emergence three winter ( Alopecurus myosuroides , Matricaria chamomilla Raphanus raphanistrum ) four spring annuals Amaranthus retroflexus Echinochloa crus‐galli Fallopia...

P eruzzi A, R affaelli M, F rasconi C, ontanelli M & B àrberi (2012) Influence of an injection system on the effect activated soil steaming Brassica juncea and natural weed seedbank. Weed Research 52 , 140–152. Summary Soil is a promising preventive method for control in high‐value cash crops, such as vegetables flowers. A 2‐year experiment (2005–2006) was carried out to test five different systems steam (surface or deep bar three mixed at distribution ratios between surface bar: 1:2;...

Organic farming systems are considered not compatible with conservation tillage mainly because of the reliance conservative on herbicides. In this three-year field experiment, we tested performances an innovative vegetable organic and system (ORG+) combining use cover crops (exploited as either living or dead mulch) no-till techniques. This was compared to “business-as-usual” (ORG) integrated (INT) based same crop sequence: savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. sabauda L. cv. Famosa), spring...

Vegetable transplanting is an important and advantageous practice in vegetables production systems. In recent years, the development of vegetable tools has increased, as well interest for automatic robotic transplanters. However, at present, feeding machines often still performed by hand. This paper presents design, testing a needle gripper two-finger transplanting. Both grippers were self-designed tested picking, lifting plug seedlings. Tests have been conducted on fennel (Foeniculum...

In the Mediterranean area, vineyard soils are often characterized by a high stone content. these contexts, where tools commonly adopted for under-row weed control frequently damaged, utilization of chain mower could be preferable alternative. This research aims to compare modified with chains other employed that weeds through tillage, such as motorized discs, blade weeder, and rotary star hoe. Weed effectiveness, effects on flora composition, soil compaction, operative efficiencies were...

Gaining information on the impact of lawn management with autonomous mowers floristic composition is crucial to improve their plant biodiversity. In this study, an mower a reduced mowing frequency and more sporadic system ride-on rotary were compared in terms effect three dicotyledonous species (Phyla nodiflora, Lotus corniculatus Sulla coronaria) transplanted onto stands Bermuda Manila grass. Regardless system, P. nodiflora achieved best results survival for both lawns (74.92 58.57% grass,...

<abstract> <bold><sc>Abstract. </sc></bold>Weed control is a major issue not only in agriculture but also on hard surfaces urban and suburban contexts. Weeds can cause serious damage to structures are often considered as sign of neglect. Moreover, citizens becoming increasingly aware environmental pollution its potential risks for their health. Flaming represents concrete alternative herbicide applications surfaces. be good mechanical means (e.g., string trimmers) which seriously because...

<abstract> <b><sc>Abstract. </sc></b>Flame weeding is the most common thermal intra-row weed control method used in agriculture as an alternative to herbicides heat-tolerant crops. Within seventh framework program project “Robot fleets for Highly Effective Agriculture and Forestry Management” (RHEA), University of Pisa was responsible development automatic machine cross-flaming maize ( L.). This study focused on selection a range liquid petroleum gas (LPG) doses able weeds without...

Synthetic herbicides are commonly used in weed management, however, 70 years of use has led to resistance and environmental concerns. These problems have scientists consider alternative methods management order reduce the inputs impacts synthetic herbicides. The aim this experiment was test level control using four weeding methods: glyphosate applied at an ultra-low volume, organic herbicide nonanoic acid, flaming, hot foam. results showed that effective only when flaming foam were (99% 100%...

ABSTRACT The effect of finger-harrowing (FH) on weed control and yield durum wheat (Triticum Desf) grown under conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT) was studied in 1995–96. Mechanical weeding—eight combinations between four tine adjustments two treatment intensities (one passes)—was compared with post-emergence herbicide spraying an unweeded control. Tine working depth higher CT than NT due to lower soil dry bulk density, increased the theoretical aggressiveness adjustments, but its...