Non-chemical crop protection plays an increasing role in many application areas. The Institute for Application Techniques in Plant Protection deals with these challenges in different ways.

Testing the effectiveness of thermal devices

The institute operates a test stand which can be used to test thermal devices for weed control. On this test stand various parameters can be investigated under reproducible conditions. The effectiveness as a function of operating speed can be measured as well as the energy consumption. The performance and homogeneity of the device for heat generation and distribution can be characterised.

In principle, all types of thermal equipment can be tested on the test stand, such as hot water, hot foam or scarfing equipment.

Linking seeding and mechanical weeding with geodata

Optimizing mechanical weed control begins while seeding. Mechanical weed control is easier in a crop with evenly distributed plants. In ideal circumstances, all plants grow in a uniform geometric association. In this case, weed control would be possible across and diagonally to the direction of seeding. The proportion of unworked soil surface can be minimized.

The Institute for Application Techniques in Plant Protection is conducting research on the establishment of uniform seeding patterns during sowing in various crops (e.g. sugar beets, cereals, and rapeseed).

A special research focus lies on georeferenced seed placement. The GPS position of the individual crop is already registered at the time of sowing. This information can be used in subsequent operations (e.g. mechanical weeding, fertilizing, chemical plant protection) to minimize the technical effort for plant identification and to work as precisely as possible. The Institute studies robotic solutions under practical conditions. Georeferenced subplot management can help to save operating resources and thus makes a valuable contribution to environmental protection and resource conservation.