Early weed monitoring can help control weeds before they become a problem. In its simplest form, it involves regular field inspections—documenting with photos can help keep track of the population development of new weeds. Recently, drones and artificial intelligence have been used to assist with this task. These technologies enable more precise and efficient weed control, benefiting both the environment and the economy.

By identifying problematic weeds early, targeted actions can be taken before they spread significantly and threaten crop yields. This is especially important for new weed species, as they may not be easily controlled with traditional methods, requiring adjustments in management.

Studies like that of Mahajan et al. (2020) show that using drone technology in combination with AI significantly improves the efficiency of weed monitoring.

– Mahajan, G., Singh, S., & Chauhan, B. S. (2020). Drone-integrated smart farming solutions for sustainable agriculture in post-COVID-19 era: global overview and research opportunities. Remote Sensing, 12(24), 4085. Article available here: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/24/4085