Database-based precision weed management

Precision weed management is strongly dependent on post-emergence herbicide applications. This method involves the identification of weed species (morphological groups of weeds, such as monocots and dicots) by image analysis and providing input for online weed control decisions (herbicide active ingredients and dose of applications). Recently, pre-emergence weed control technologies became widespread again in Hungary because of the extremely high weediness of the arable land, especially in row crops, such as maize and sunflower. In the present study we examined the methods of data collection and management, as well as the process of decision-making and developed a method of designing pre-emergence weed control that is based on a field database containing information on the weed populations (species, plant density, location identified by GPS) in the field from previous years. At a later stage we plan to expand the method to include the post-emergence treatment of perennial weed species.