Weed Pressure Mapping for Targeted Secondary Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Current weed management methods in plantation fields face challenges due to the development of herbicide-resistant weeds, which can lead to reduced effectiveness and increased costs of chemical control.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves collecting image data of a plantation field after applying a primary weed control technique, recognizing weed occurrences, generating a weed pressure map, determining target areas for secondary weed control, and activating treatment devices to apply a secondary weed control technique, which can be different from the primary method.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical control using selective or non-selective herbicides is applied, then weed management is achieved, but herbicide resistance may develop in weeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control effectivenessVSAvoidweed adaptability to herbicide

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The field is divided into multiple zones based on weed pressure and resistance patterns. Primary herbicide control is applied to areas with low resistance pressure, while secondary control methods (manual weeding, mechanical removal) are applied to areas with high resistance pressure. This segmentation allows the system to maintain effectiveness by treating different areas differently according to their specific weed resistance characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different control strategies are applied to different local areas within the field based on their specific weed pressure and resistance characteristics. High-resistance areas receive alternative control methods while low-resistance areas receive standard herbicide treatment, optimizing overall effectiveness and preventing widespread resistance development.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If repeated herbicide treatment is applied, then weed control is maintained, but resistant weeds may multiply and dominate the population

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control persistenceVSAvoidweed population control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control strategy dynamically adjusts based on monitoring results. After each treatment cycle, weed pressure and resistance levels are assessed, and the control approach is modified accordingly. This dynamic adjustment prevents the over-reliance on single herbicide modes of action, thereby reducing selective pressure that drives resistance development and maintains long-term control effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous repeated herbicide application, the system implements periodic monitoring and assessment cycles followed by targeted interventions. This periodic approach allows for evaluation of control effectiveness and adjustment of strategies to prevent resistance buildup while maintaining weed pressure control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If field-scale herbicide application is used, then majority of weed types can be eradicated, but herbicide-resistant weeds in specific areas survive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed eradication efficiencyVSAvoidweed control completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The field is divided into multiple zones based on weed pressure and resistance patterns. Primary herbicide control is applied to areas with low resistance pressure, while secondary control methods (manual weeding, mechanical removal) are applied to areas with high resistance pressure. This segmentation allows the system to maintain effectiveness by treating different areas differently according to their specific weed resistance characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different control strategies are applied to different local areas within the field based on their specific weed pressure and resistance characteristics. High-resistance areas receive alternative control methods while low-resistance areas receive standard herbicide treatment, optimizing overall effectiveness and preventing widespread resistance development.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3945809B1Targeted weed control with chemical and mechanical means

Publication Date: 2025.05.07 BASF DIGITAL FARMING GMBH

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AI summary

In order to improve weed management in a plantation field, a method for weed management is provided. The method may comprise collecting image data of the plantation field after being applied with a primary weed control technique, recognizing items indicative an occurrence of a weed in the collected image data, generating a weed pressure map indicative of a weed pressure in the plantation field based on the recognized items, determining one or a plurality of target areas for weed management in the generated weed pressure map, if the weed pressure of the one or the plurality of target areas extends a predetermined threshold and outputting a treatment control signal indicative of the one or the plurality of determined target areas, which when transmitted causes an activation of at least one weed treatment device to apply at least one secondary weed control technique to the one or the plurality of determined target areas, wherein the at least one secondary weed control technique is different from the primary weed control technique.