A soil beating apparatus comprising: (i) a frame configured to he detachably mounted to a support structure of a moveable gantry., (ii) an exhaust hood disposed in combination with the frame and having a shield directing heat downwardly toward a soil material to be heat treated, (iii) a plurality of plates each an end portion projecting downwardly from the exhaust hood toward the soil material and configured to be lowered into the soil material by the frame at a predefined depth relative to the ground plane of the soil material, and (iv) a burner disposed in combination with the exhaust hood and in fluid communication with a first supply of fuel and oxidizer, the burner configured to combust the first supply of fuel and oxidizer to beat each of the plates. The plurality of plates are oriented along a direction of motion of the moveable gantry to transfer heat into the soil material at the predefined depth to thermally heat-treat the soil material.

A soil beating apparatus comprising: (i) a frame configured to he detachably mounted to a support structure of a moveable gantry., (ii) an exhaust hood disposed in combination with the frame and having a shield directing heat downwardly toward a soil material to be heat treated, (iii) a plurality of plates each an end portion projecting downwardly from the exhaust hood toward the soil material and configured to be lowered into the soil material by the frame at a predefined depth relative to the ground plane of the soil material, and (iv) a burner disposed in combination with the exhaust hood and in fluid communication with a first supply of fuel and oxidizer, the burner configured to combust the first supply of fuel and oxidizer to beat each of the plates. The plurality of plates are oriented along a direction of motion of the moveable gantry to transfer heat into the soil material at the predefined depth to thermally heat-treat the soil material.

An agricultural harvesting machine includes crop processing functionality configured to engage crop in a field, perform a crop processing operation on the crop, and move the processed crop to a harvested crop repository, and a control system configured to identify a weed seed area indicating presence of weed seeds, and generate a control signal associated with a pre-emergence weed seed treatment operation based on the identified weed seed area.

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 includes at least one applicator arm, a first nozzle disposed to apply fluid to a rhizosphere of the plants, and a second nozzle disposed to apply fluid between the row of plants.

A mobile sensory platform includes a propulsion system configured to move the platform within a growing area, a vertically-extending support, and sensors in or on the support. Different sensors are positioned at different heights along the support. The sensors are configured to capture data associated with plants in the growing area. The platform also includes a communication interface configured to support two-way wireless communication, a power supply, and a control system configured to control movement of the platform and operation of the sensors. The sensors include microclimate sensors configured to sense microclimates around individual ones of the plants and stereo imaging sensors configured to capture images of the plants. The sensors are configured to non-invasively capture multi-dimensional data points for the individual ones of the plants. At least some of the multi-dimensional data points are associated with a 3D structure of a canopy of the individual ones of the plants.

Implementations are described herein for analyzing vision data depicting undesirable plants such as weeds to detect various attribute(s). The detected attribute(s) of a particular undesirable plant may then be used to select, from a plurality of available candidate remediation techniques, the most suitable remediation technique to eradicate or otherwise eliminate the undesirable plants.

Methods and systems for controlling robotic actions for agricultural tasks are disclosed which use a spacing-aware plant detection model. A disclosed method, in which all steps are computer-implemented, includes receiving, using an imager moving along a crop row, at least one image of at least a portion of the crop row. The method also includes using the at least one image, a plant detection model, and an average inter-crop spacing for the crop row to generate an output from the plant detection model. The plant detection model is spacing aware in that the output of the plant detection model is altered or overridden based on the average inter-crop spacing. The method also includes outputting a control signal for the robotic action based on the output from the biased plant detection model. The method also includes conducting the robotic action for the agricultural task in response to the control signal.

The present invention relates to the control of harmful organisms which may appear during the cultivation of crop plants. The control is effected on the basis of the prediction of subarea-specific infestation risks.

A weed enclosure device has a main body with a first enclosure half hingedly connected to a second enclosure half. Each of the first enclosure half and the second enclosure half may be movable about a hinge between a closed position and an opened position. The main body may have a top end and a bottom end. A first aperture may be formed in the top end of the main body. A second aperture may be formed in the bottom end of the main body. At least one divider may be disposed in the main body. The divider may have a plurality of flexible holders.

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.