Influence of Mechanical and Intelligent Robotic Weed Control Methods on Energy Efficiency and Environment in Organic Sugar Beet Production

Rapidly warming climate, tightening environmental requirements, an aging society, rising wages, and demand for organic products are forcing farming to be more efficient sustainable. The main aim of this study was perform analytical analysis determine the energy use GHG emissions sugar beet production using different weed control methods. Seven methods non-chemical were compared. Mechanical inter-row loosening, cutting mulching with weeds, smothering catch crops, thermal steaming performed in field experiments at Experimental Station Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania, 2015–2017). other three, namely, automated mechanical loosening cameras row-tracking, a diesel-powered robot, electric robot calculated analytically. results showed that average total 27,844 MJ ha?1, which manure costs accounted 48–53% diesel fuel 29–35%. An efficiency ratio 7.18, while productivity 1.83 kg ha?1. Analysis environment from amounted 4552 CO2eq 4.47. most sustainable achieved by control.