Advanced Weed Management: Mechanical and Chemical Weed Management

Weed Management for Optimal Yield

This technology helps farmers grow beans more effectively by dealing with the problem of weeds. Weeds can take away important nutrients and sunlight from the bean plants, making them weaker and giving less harvest. This technology offers two main solutions: using special chemicals or machines to get rid of the weeds. These methods are much faster and easier than doing it by hand. It's like giving the beans a better environment to grow in, so they can be healthier and give more beans for the farmers. This is especially helpful for small-scale farmers who may not have a lot of people to help with the hard work. Overall, this technology makes bean farming more efficient and helps farmers get better harvests.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 8/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive low

Under 18: Positive low

Women: Positive low

Climate adaptability: Moderately adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: No impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: Same amount of carbon released

Environmental health: Does not improve environmental health

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

Water use: Same amount of water used

Problem

Common beans are highly susceptible to weed encroachment, resulting in significant yield losses ranging from 60 to 100%. This susceptibility poses a major challenge to farmers as it directly affects their crop productivity and economic returns.
Weeds compete with common beans for essential resources such as light, nutrients, and moisture, thereby hindering the development of root and shoot systems. This competition deprives common bean plants of the necessary resources for healthy growth and development, ultimately impacting their overall yield potential.
Weed infestation may harbor pests and diseases, further exacerbating the challenges faced by common bean growers. Weeds can provide a suitable habitat for various pests and pathogens, increasing the risk of infestations and diseases that can significantly reduce crop yields and quality.
Allelopathic chemicals released by weeds can have detrimental effects on the root systems of common beans. These chemicals can inhibit the growth and development of common bean roots, compromising their ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil, and ultimately leading to stunted growth and reduced yields.
Shading caused by tall weeds can lead to lodging of bean stems, making them more vulnerable to damage from environmental factors such as wind and rain. Lodging can result in physical damage to bean plants, further reducing their productivity and overall quality.
Manual weed removal from fields is labor-intensive and costly, posing a significant challenge to farmers. The time and resources required for manual weed control can significantly impact productivity and profitability, making it necessary to explore alternative weed management strategies.

Solution

Efficient Weed Control: Mechanical and chemical techniques are available to effectively control weeds throughout the growing season, reducing competition for resources and minimizing yield losses.
Improved Productivity: By removing weeds that compete for light, nutrients, and moisture, mechanical and chemical weed management techniques facilitate the healthy development of common bean plants, leading to increased productivity and higher yields.
Reduced Labor and Costs: Unlike manual weed removal, which is labor-intensive and costly, mechanical and chemical weed management techniques offer a more efficient and cost-effective alternative, saving time and resources for farmers.
Enhanced Crop Health: By eliminating weeds that harbor pests and diseases or produce allelopathic chemicals harmful to common bean plants, mechanical and chemical weed management contribute to improved crop health and reduced risk of pest and disease outbreaks.
Adaptability: Mechanical and chemical weed management techniques can be adapted to various common bean growing areas, providing a flexible and scalable solution that resonates with small-scale farmer communities.
Increased Profitability: The greater productivity, reduced labor costs, and improved crop health resulting from mechanical and chemical weed management translate into increased profitability for common bean growers, contributing to their economic sustainability.

Key points to design your project

The technology enhances agricultural productivity, ensuring food security and reducing hunger, while also generating employment and fostering economic growth. It streamlines weed management, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and preserving land quality and biodiversity.

To integrate this technology into your project, consider the following:

Raise awareness about the benefits of chemical and mechanical weed management techniques on production.
Provide capacity development on safe practices for using herbicide spraying and motorized weeders.
Facilitate access to financial support for local suppliers, farmers, and service providers to invest in small-scale mechanical devices.

Estimate the quantity of mineral fertilizers and mechanical weeders needed for your project, considering the costs involved.

Include delivery costs to the project site and account for import clearance and duties if relevant, as the technology is available in various countries.

Training and post-training support are essential, so allocate resources accordingly. Develop communication materials such as flyers, videos, and radio broadcasts to support the technology.

For optimization, consider integrating the technology with Integrated Management of Insects, Diseases, and Weeds.

Collaborate with agricultural development institutes, fertilizer suppliers, and agricultural service companies to implement the technology effectively in your country.

250—500 USD

Mechanical weeders/unit

ROI: $$$ 35 %

Net profit from implementing the technology in Ethiopia

27 USD

Pre-emergent herbicide and labor/Ha

46 USD/ha

Equipment and labor

743 USD

Net profit per Ha from implementing the technology in Ethiopia

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Burundi	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Central African Republic	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Côte d’Ivoire	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Madagascar	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Zambia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Tropic - warm
Arid	–	–
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 5: gender equality

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 12: responsible production and consumption

Goal 13: climate action

Goal 15: life on land

This technology works by getting rid of the weeds that can harm bean plants. There are two ways it does this:

Chemical Method:
- Special chemicals are used to kill weeds without hurting bean plants.
- These chemicals are sprayed on the field to keep weeds from growing.
Mechanical Method:
- Machines are used to remove weeds from the field.
- These machines can cut or bury the weeds, making sure they don't bother the bean plants.