In modern agriculture, sustainable desiccation is increasingly being used to kill potato weeds in an environmentally friendly way. Instead of chemicals, alternative techniques such as electric desiccation are being used, which leave no harmful residues and protect soil fertility.

Sustainable desiccation has the potential to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture while increasing productivity. It helps to minimise environmental impact while maximising tuber quality. For farmers committed to sustainability, investing in environmentally friendly technology is an important step towards future-proofing agriculture.

Potato harvest is a critical moment in the agricultural cycle. A successful harvest depends heavily on the preparation of the crop, particularly with regard to desiccation. Killing the haulm makes harvesting easier and reduces the risk of tuber damage. Modern harvesters allow efficient and gentle harvesting that preserves tuber quality. Sustainable harvesting methods, such as electric desiccation, not only improve yields but also help protect the environment.

The right combination of technology and timing is the key to a successful potato harvest that maximises both quality and yield.

A successful harvest starts with careful crop preparation. This includes desiccation, which helps to kill the haulm and prepare the tubers for harvest. Choosing the right method, whether chemical or electric, can have a significant impact on the yield and quality of the potatoes.

Proper siccation ensures that the tubers reach full maturity and are easier to harvest. It also helps to reduce crop losses and improves the storage life of the potatoes. Good preparation is essential to maximise the potential of the crop while protecting the soil for future plantings.

Siccation agents play a central role in preparing potatoes for harvest. They are used to remove the haulm from the plants and thus promote tuber ripening. Chemical siccation agents such as diquat or glyphosate have traditionally been used in agriculture to speed up this process. However, with growing awareness of environmental protection and sustainability, many farmers are looking for alternatives. Electric siccation offers a promising solution.

By using electricity instead of chemicals, the weed is specifically killed without leaving any harmful residues. This method not only protects the environment, but also the health of the workers and improves soil fertility. The shift towards chemical-free solutions is a pioneering step towards more sustainable agriculture.

Sustainable weed control is an essential component of modern farming, particularly as environmental concerns and regulations surrounding chemical herbicides continue to grow. As farmers seek alternatives to glyphosate and other traditional herbicides, electric weed control has emerged as a promising solution.

Electric weed control uses high-voltage currents to kill weeds by disrupting their cellular structures. This non-chemical method is highly effective and eliminates the risk of chemical residues in the soil and water. It also supports organic farming practices and reduces the reliance on chemical inputs, contributing to a more sustainable farming system.

In addition to electric weed control, mechanical and organic methods are also gaining traction as part of integrated weed management strategies. These approaches allow farmers to manage weeds without harming the environment, ensuring that farming can be productive while remaining sustainable.

Green manure, also known as cover cropping, is a key practice in sustainable and arable farming that significantly enhances soil health. This technique involves planting crops, such as legumes or grasses, that are later ploughed back into the soil to improve organic matter content, nitrogen levels, and overall soil structure. In arable farming, where soil health is essential for high yields, green manure provides both short-term and long-term benefits, ensuring the sustainability of farming systems.

Green manure crops are planted during fallow periods when the soil would otherwise remain bare. The primary benefits of green manure in arable farming are its ability to prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and improve soil fertility. The root systems of green manure crops hold the soil together, preventing wind and water erosion. Additionally, as the crops decompose, they release nutrients back into the soil, particularly nitrogen, which is essential for healthy plant growth.

When integrated with sustainable weed control solutions like those offered by crop.zone, green manure becomes an even more effective strategy. crop.zone’s electric weed control technology helps manage the weeds that may emerge during green manure cropping without the need for chemicals. Traditional herbicides, while effective, can reduce the beneficial effects of green manure by disrupting soil health and killing beneficial organisms. Electric weed control avoids these pitfalls by targeting only unwanted weeds while preserving the green manure crops and soil quality.

Sustainable weed management is essential when using green manure, as weeds can compete with cover crops for nutrients and space. By using electric weed control, farmers can ensure that green manure crops thrive without the need for herbicides that could interfere with the natural nutrient cycling provided by green manure plants.

crop.zone’s electric solutions are also effective in reducing the environmental impact of weed management in green manure systems. By eliminating the need for chemicals, farmers can promote healthier ecosystems around their farms. This technology also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of farming practices, as electric weed control systems typically use less energy than traditional mechanical weeding methods.

Green manure is a time-tested practice in arable farming, but it reaches its full potential when combined with modern technologies like crop.zone’s electric weed control. Together, these practices enhance soil health, improve crop yields, and support long-term sustainability in arable farming.

Sustainable agriculture and organic farming are increasingly intertwined as the global food system evolves. Organic farming is driven by the principles of avoiding synthetic chemicals, enhancing soil fertility, and promoting biodiversity. As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, consumers and regulators are pushing for farming systems that are both eco-friendly and economically viable. Sustainable agriculture plays a critical role in making organic farming scalable, ensuring that both environmental sustainability and food production goals can be achieved simultaneously.

crop.zone’s electric weed control technology is designed to meet the needs of organic farmers by offering a completely chemical-free solution for weed management. One of the primary challenges in organic farming is weed control, which traditionally requires labour-intensive mechanical weeding or the use of organic herbicides that may not be as effective as synthetic ones. crop.zone’s innovative technology uses electric currents to destroy weeds at the cellular level, reducing the need for chemical herbicides while maintaining soil health.

Organic farmers benefit from using crop.zone’s solutions in several ways. Firstly, it ensures compliance with organic certification standards, which often prohibit the use of synthetic chemicals. Secondly, electric weed control promotes soil health by not disrupting the soil structure, unlike traditional mechanical weeding methods, which can lead to soil erosion and degradation. Thirdly, by eliminating the need for chemical inputs, the technology contributes to the long-term sustainability of farming operations, reducing dependency on synthetic products that can harm ecosystems.

Sustainability in organic farming also requires an understanding of crop rotation, nutrient management, and water conservation. crop.zone’s technology complements these practices by integrating seamlessly into broader sustainable agriculture strategies. Electric weed control helps farmers manage their crops more efficiently, allowing them to focus on other crucial areas such as improving soil fertility through green manuring and composting. 

As organic farming continues to grow globally, technologies that support sustainability will be increasingly critical. By providing electric weed control solutions, crop.zone is at the forefront of helping farmers transition to more sustainable, organic systems. This alignment between technology and organic farming principles ensures that farmers can maintain high productivity without sacrificing environmental responsibility.

Potato scarification is a critical step in agricultural practice to help potatoes ripen and facilitate harvesting. By specifically killing the potato haulm, tuber development can be completed, resulting in improved tuber quality. This is particularly important to protect potatoes from damage during harvest and to ensure longer storage life.

Traditionally, chemical agents have been used for this process, but electrical desiccation is becoming increasingly important as a sustainable alternative. This method reduces the use of chemicals and helps protect the environment.

Agriculture is facing a growing challenge: herbicide-resistant weeds and grasses are increasingly threatening crop yields. Herbicide resistance refers to the ability of plants to withstand the herbicides used against them.

Resistance in weeds and grasses occurs when herbicides with the same mode of action are repeatedly applied to an area. Plants that are naturally less sensitive to the herbicide survive and produce seeds. This gradually increases the proportion of resistant plants in the population, leading to control problems.

Several factors contribute to the increase in resistance, such as narrow crop rotations dominated by cereals, early sowing of winter crops and long-term, one-sided tillage. In addition, the lack of new herbicide modes of action over the past 30 years has exacerbated the problem. In Germany, common weed species such as blackgrass, wild brome, ryegrass species and barnyard grass are particularly affected by resistance. A notable example of herbicide resistance is glyphosate, one of the most widely used broad-spectrum herbicides in the world. Since the 1990s, the number of weed species resistant to glyphosate has increased significantly. Currently, more than 500 cases of herbicide resistance have been documented worldwide, threatening both agricultural profitability and food security.

The concept of Integrated Weed Management (IWM) has been developed to address this problem. This system aims to slow the development of resistance by combining different control methods. Mechanical weed control, crop rotation and the targeted use of herbicides with different modes of action play a central role.

Alternating herbicides with different modes of action can reduce the likelihood of resistance. In the long term, the development of new active ingredients and research into alternative weed control methods will be crucial. The use of digital technologies such as drones and robotics to accurately monitor and control weeds is also becoming increasingly important.

One alternative solution could be the Volt.apply system. This technology is based on pre-treating plants with a conductive liquid, followed by an electrical application that destroys plant cells and water-conducting tissues, causing the plants to die completely. Only through sustainable and innovative approaches can agriculture successfully combat resistant weeds.

Oats (Avena sativa) are a widely grown cereal crop for both human and animal consumption. According to the FAO, 256 million tons of oats were produced worldwide in 2020. The leading producers are Russia, Canada, and Poland. Oats hold an important place in the agricultural landscape and serve as a staple food in many regions of the world.

Oats are becoming increasingly attractive as the demand for these crops in the food processing chain rises due to their wide range of uses for human consumption. In recent years, oats have become the new superfood. Oat porridge, oat milk, and oatmeal are very popular, especially among younger people. Among other things, the high fiber and vitamin content make hearty and tender oat flakes a healthy food. Due to the high demand for these products, they are regularly subjected to product testing. These tests have shown that some oat products contain mineral oils, mold toxins, and glyphosate residues (Öko-Test).

Oat desiccation refers to the drying out of oat plants before harvest. This is mainly done in higher latitudes where the warm season, and therefore the growing season, is shorter. This process usually facilitates harvesting or combining and synchronizes maturity, as oats tend to ripen unevenly.

The most common herbicide used for oat desiccation is glyphosate. Desiccation is typically applied at yellow ripeness (BBCH 87), about 7 to 10 days before harvest. In German cereal production, desiccation is only allowed to a very limited extent, namely to restore the harvestability of lodged crops with a high amount of secondary growth or significant late weed infestation. However, desiccation with glyphosate is a common practice, particularly in North America, where large quantities of oats are produced.

There is growing public concern about the use of glyphosate close to harvest, leading the food processing industry to increasingly look for alternatives to desiccation.