SOME POSSIBILITIES OF POST-DRILLING MECHANICAL WEED CONTROL

ISHS Acta Horticulturae 372: Symposium on Engineering as a Tool to reduce Pesticide Consumption and Operator Hazards in Horticulture

SOME POSSIBILITIES OF POST-DRILLING MECHANICAL WEED CONTROL

Author:

J.K. Kouwenhoven

Abstract:
Up until half a century ago, inter-row weed control was carried out by hand and animal drawn implements. In motorized agriculture mechanical inter-row weed control was largely replaced by chemical weed control.

Herbicides contribute 20% to the total use of active matter in biocides, and 40% of the total costs of biocides in The Netherlands. Nowadays there is a widespread consensus, that the use of herbicides should be reduced to a minimum, as stated in the "Long-range Plan on Crop Protection".

Reduction of the structural dependence on chemicals;
Systematic reduction of the use of chemicals to 50% (in the year 2000) and a reduction of nematicides to 10–20% of the amount used in 1988.

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