Precision Weed Management in Cotton PreWeM

In the PreWeM project, fingerweeders are being investigated for their effectiveness in cotton farming. Weed management in cotton typically involves pre-emergence herbicides (usually glyphosate), complemented sometimes by two or three post-emergence applications. Currently, mechanical weed control between rows and manual weeding within rows are the only alternatives to chemical herbicides. It is planned to test and adapt fingerweeders for cotton for intra-row weed control. Fingerweeders have been proven in maize, sugar beet, and soybean crops. With PreWeM, we will identify specific challenges associated with cotton cultivation in Greece based on the knowledge and expertise we have gained from these crops. One of Greece’s most herbicide-dependent crops will be weeded mechanically using precision agriculture techniques to reduce herbicide use.