An apparatus and method for control of undesired vegetation. A renewable power source, tractor, and high intensity light source are provided and moved over an area of land. Exposure of unwanted vegetation to the high intensity light kills the unwanted vegetation.

A ground utility robot and implement attachment apparatus having a ground utility robot, at least one implement, at least one solar panel, at least one battery that is chargeable by the at least one solar panel, a power take-off system that is connected to the ground utility robot and to the at least one implement; where the battery powers said ground utility robot and the implement; a safety system that has a computer, a safety program that utilizes a processing logic on the computer, where the safety program initiates precautionary measures that are carried out by the ground utility robot and the power take-off system if an object comes within a predefined distance from the ground utility robot and implement attachment apparatus.

The present invention is aimed at providing a weed control method and a mixed agrochemical composition for soil treatment, which, in a soil treatment of farmland with pyroxasulfone, not only can inhibit or reduce crop injury caused by absorption into cultivated crops, without being influenced by heavy rainfall, soil type, seeding depth and the like, but also are effective against a wide range of weed species. The weed control method includes a soil treatment step of performing a soil treatment on farmland with an agrochemical composition for soil treatment, which contains pyroxasulfone, and with a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor, simultaneously or sequentially, the method being characterized in that the agrochemical composition for soil treatment further contains a masking substance that masks the pyroxasulfone, and the pyroxasulfone is microencapsulated in or coated with the masking substance. The mixed agrochemical composition for soil treatment is characterized by containing the agrochemical composition for soil treatment and a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor.

An apparatus and method deliver fluid treatments to a targeted plant. The apparatus comprises a two-piece protective shell joined on one side by a spring-hinge. When the two piece outer protective shell is open, a fluid treatment is applied to a liquid retaining material within the protective shell. A portion of a targeted plant is placed within the open outer protective shell. The two piece outer protective shell is then closed, creating a sealed containment environment that is immediately protected from environmental disturbance, prevents distribution of fluid treatment to non-treated plant materials, and will retain, store, and prevent leakage of the fluid treatment. The closed outer protective shell also clasps the plant portion, forcing contact of the target plant portion with fluid treatment residing on and within the liquid retaining material. The apparatus remains attached to the targeted plant while the fluid treatment is absorbed through systemic plant processes.

Implementations set forth herein relate to using fiducial markings on one or more localized portions of an agricultural apparatus in order to generate local and regional data that can be correlated for planning and executing agricultural maintenance. An array of fiducial markings can be disposed onto plastic mulch that surrounds individual crops, in order that each fiducial marking of the array can operate as a signature for each individual crop. Crop data, such as health and yield, corresponding to a particular crop can then be stored in association with a corresponding fiducial marking, thereby allowing the certain data for the particular crop to be tracked and analyzed. Furthermore, autonomous agricultural devices can rely on the crop data, over other sources of data, such as GPS satellites, thereby allowing the autonomous agricultural devices to be more reliable.

A device for minimizing the risk of fire in weed control applications, provides that arcs are detected by analyzing characteristic partial discharge or current and voltage values, which are prevented by round, channel-less geometries, the use of a depth electrode or the use of high ground contact pressures, which are extinguished by extinguishing mats or liquid spraying on the treated and/or surrounding surface before, during or after the high voltage treatment.

The present invention is aimed at providing: an agrochemical composition for soil treatment which, in a soil treatment of farmland with pyroxasulfone, not only can inhibit or reduce crop injury caused by absorption into cultivated crops, without being influenced by heavy rainfall, soil type, seeding depth and the like, but also is highly safe and has a broad herbicidal spectrum; and a pest control method using the agrochemical composition. The agrochemical composition for soil treatment contains pyroxasulfone and a masking substance that masks the pyroxasulfone, in which the pyroxasulfone is microencapsulated in or coated with the masking substance.

Described herein are implements and applicators for placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, a fluid applicator for applying fluid to plants in rows in a field includes a frame, at least one applicator arm disposed in a rhizosphere of plants during fluid flow through the applicator, and a fluid conduit connected to the frame and disposed in the row between plants to deliver fluid to the row between plants.

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a portable organic entity termination applicator unit. The applicator unit can include an organic herbicide reservoir or can otherwise be an herbicideless applicator unit. The applicator unit can include an outer housing, a cold water supply line, an organic herbicide reservoir to hold organic herbicide, an herbicide adjustment valve for controlling a liquid mixture, a heater core to pre-heat the herbicide water liquid mixture, and a delivery pipe to expel the heated liquid. The applicator unit can include a fuel canister receptacle to receive a fuel canister. The heater core may heat the liquid using fuel stored in the fuel canister.

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a portable organic entity termination applicator unit. The applicator unit can include an organic herbicide reservoir or can otherwise be an herbicideless applicator unit. The applicator unit can include an outer housing, a cold water supply line, an organic herbicide reservoir to hold organic herbicide, an herbicide adjustment valve for controlling a liquid mixture, a heater core to pre-heat the herbicide water liquid mixture, and a delivery pipe to expel the heated liquid. The applicator unit can include a fuel canister receptacle to receive a fuel canister. The heater core may heat the liquid using fuel stored in the fuel canister.