Agriculture

Keeping on top of weed growth can be an onerous task for farmers raising large-scale crops for harvest. A new robot could help them keep on top of things, however, by hunting down and killing unwanted plants with zaps of electricity.

In a move that could help feed the world's ever-growing population, researchers at MIT have developed a silk covering that is treated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to allow seeds to grow in high-salinity soils not currently suitable for crops.

Greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide can be worse than carbon dioxide. Now, a new study has found that we’re releasing more N2O into the atmosphere than we thought, which may weaken our already-strained efforts to combat climate change.

Having introduced a massive heavy-lift drone at the end of October, Volocopter is now looking to show what the aircraft can do through a new partnership with John Deere, with the two developing a version customized for spraying crops.

The burning of agricultural waste and the methane that's burped up by cows are two major sources of greenhouse gases. An experimental new type of animal feed, however, is aimed at reducing both the burning and the burps.

If your roses are getting a bit untidy, fear not, because an international team of researchers has developed a prototype robot gardener to do the job. Called Trimbot, it can not only do a spot of mowing but also prune roses and trim bushes.

A new study indicates that ants can be very effective at protecting crops from diseases. It's even being suggested that ant-derived antibiotics could be applied on a commercial scale.

A new laser "scarecrow" is helping farmers to protect their sweetcorn crops from marauding birds.

Much of the world's soil is too salty for crops. There's hope, though, as scientists have developed a method of growing plants in "unusable" soil.

Herbicides hurt the environment, and they're costly. A new device could drastically reduce the need for them, while also providing crops with mulch.

Spraying crops with weed-killer is not only harmful to the environment, but it's also costly for farmers. With those problems in mind, scientists have conducted a study which suggests that less herbicide could be used for the same results, if applied at the right time of day.

A new artificial intelligence (AI) app developed by researchers from Bioversity International allows banana​ farmers to identify and combat outbreaks of pests and diseases. Designed to be used with a smartphone, both on and offline, it's claimed to operate with an average success rate of 90 percent.