Mechatronics System Design for Weed Management and Soil Condition Monitoring Within the Rows of Vineyards

Abstract

Weed management always has been a vigorous task for farmers. Grapevines and weeds compete for water, nutrients, sunlight and have an unfavorable impact on berry size and sugar contents, if uncontrolled. More than 95% of herbicides are reported to reach a destination other than the targeted crops, resulting in wastage and many undesirable effects on the humans, other living organisms and the environment. Mechatronic system on agriculture vehicle is proposed for weed management and soil condition monitoring within the rows of the vineyards. Heavy and dense vegetation is first removed mechanically using a rotating knife and then herbicides are sprayed on the identified weeds, which enable it to reach up to the roots of the weeds for complete removal using image processing techniques. The designed Mechatronics system correctly identifies the different weed species and sprays the right quantity of herbicides at the right place and at the right time using the principle of Precision Agriculture. The proposed system also monitors the different parameters of the soil using a variety of sensors.