Herbicide – UF Innovate

UF/IFAS Scientist Uses AI To Target Weeds — Not Nearby Tomatoes – Saving 70% of Herbicide

sooyoungryu — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Targeted weed-spraying can save tomato farmers 71% of the herbicide they use, University of Florida research shows. It also cuts input costs related to weed management for growers by 75%.

The results mean that targeted spray technology lowers the amount of herbicides in the environment, said Nathan Boyd, lead scientist on the study.

These findings are crucial to the Florida tomato industry, which is valued at almost $500 million annually, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service. Most Florida tomatoes are grown in open fields, using plasticulture, a system in which the crop is planted in raised beds of soil that are covered with plastic mulch.

AI Technology Uses Less Herbicide To Kill Weeds

sooyoungryu — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Vegetable growers use herbicides to kill weeds to prevent crop loss. Meanwhile, a University of Florida researcher is using artificial intelligence to reduce herbicide sprayed on crops.

“We are building multiple AI-powered herbicide application units, each of which works in different ways,” said Nathan Boyd a UF/IFAS weed scientist and horticultural sciences professor at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC).

Targeted herbicide applications typically kill weeds by applying the chemicals only where the weeds grow.

Read more about AI Technology Uses Less Herbicide To Kill Weeds.

Herbicide Threatens Manatee Immune Systems, UF Study Finds

sooyoungryu — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A University of Florida study focusing on manatees’ immune systems reveals how glyphosate, the world’s most commonly used herbicide, may threaten manatee health in an environment increasingly impacted by human activities.

“Our research raises important questions about how chemical exposure might influence immune function,” said lead author Maite De Maria, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher who supports the U.S. Geological Survey in collaboration with the Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine.

Nancy Denslow, Ph.D., a professor of environmental toxicology at UF and a study co-author, noted the significance of basic research in understanding wildlife health.

Herbicide Plus Fertilizer Equals Fewer Weeds and, Thus More Tomatoes

sooyoungryu — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A combination of herbicide and fertilizer can prevent the nasty nutsedge weed from harming tomatoes, University of Florida research shows. That, in turn, should mean more of the fruit going to the grocery store and your kitchen.

An increase or decrease in tomato production is critical because it’s a $400 million-a-year industry in Florida.

Growers want to control nutsedge, which can severely damage their crop.

“Nutsedge is a notorious weed that poses significant challenges for vegetable production in Florida,” said Ramdas Kanissery, a UF/IFAS weed scientist and associate professor of horticultural sciences. “Managing nutsedge effectively is crucial for tomato growers aiming to ensure a successful crop.”