The cultivation of potatoes and sugar beets faces increasing challenges. As a result, many agricultural machinery manufacturers have developed solutions for more precise cultivation and care. For many farmers, the cultivation of potatoes and sugar beets is a crucial aspect of their work. However, in recent years, problems have been on the rise: disappearing active ingredients, restrictions on fertilization, increasing extreme weather events, and rising prices for inputs such as fertilizers or planting material. Careful cultivation and the gentle and effective care of crops are becoming increasingly important. Therefore, the Chamber of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia, together with the Rhenish Sugar Beet Growers' Association, Pfeiffer & Langen, and the Agricultural Information Service Sugar Beet (LIZ), organized a field day on innovations in potato and sugar beet technology. Sugar Beets: Reducing Herbicide Use Due to disappearing active ingredients and reduction targets in plant protection by the authorities, several manufacturers presented their solutions for this problem at the event. Essentially, manufacturers achieve reduction either through spot spraying or through the combination of chemical and mechanical measures in the form of a hoe with band spraying. Amazone presented a combination of hoe and band sprayer at the event. This combination is expected to allow savings of 40 to 60% on inputs. The Ara sprayer from Ecorobotix combats weeds through spot spraying. Depending on weed pressure, you can save up to 90% of herbicides. Mechanical weed control is fully automatic with the AgBot from AgXeed. The hoe from Lemken is additionally equipped with a shifting frame for more precise control. The Farming GT can also automatically hoe sugar beets. With a camera system, it detects each beet and hoes very close to the beets within the row and can distribute herbicide around the beet. Weed Control in Potatoes In potatoes, most of the weed control work must be done before the seedling emerges from the ridge. After planting, blind harrowing is an option. However, care must be taken not to disturb the seedling too close to the soil surface. A harrowing pass before emergence can help control weeds and grasses in the seedling stage of potatoes. With band spraying, plant protection products can be applied only on top of the ridge, requiring the space in between to be hoed. This is only successful if all equipment is coordinated and precise work is done during planting. Planting Sets the Foundation for Success in Potato Cultivation The correct planting with a ridge structure adapted to the soil is becoming increasingly important. Manufacturers' response to these challenges are complex machines that can handle them. The machines differ mainly in the ridge structure. A proper ridge structure tailored to the specific location ensures that the water and air balance in the ridge works correctly and reduces susceptibility to wind and water erosion. At the same time, there must be enough loose soil for ridge construction, meaning that soil bed preparation must be done intensively with actively driven equipment, especially on heavy soils.
