The Potential of a Precision Agriculture (PA) Practice for In Situ Evaluation of Herbicide Efficacy and Selectivity in Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

Precision agriculture (PA) practices based on the use of sensors and vegetation indices have great potential for optimizing herbicide improving weed management in field crops. The objective this research was to evaluate efficacy commercial products their selectivity durum wheat by measuring Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Field trials were conducted Velestino Kozani, Greece (2020–2021 2021–2022) four site-years with following treatment list: untreated control (T1), 2,4-D at 300 600 g a.e. ha−1 (T2 T3, respectively), pyroxsulam + florasulam 18.82 3.71 a.i. cloquintocet-mexyl (T4), mesosulfuron-methyl iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium 15 3 mefenpyr-diethyl 45 (T5). Site-years treatments affected NDVI, biomass, crop grain yield (p ≤ 0.05). At NDVI lowest T4 plots 2020–2021 (0.31) 2021–2022 (0.33). Treatments T5 resulted biomass 2020-2021 (14–16 m−2) (19–22 m−2). Velestino, T3 reduced 92 87% when compared 2021–2022, respectively. Approximately, 67% 73% variability respectively, Kozani could be explained NDVI. These parameters strongly correlated (R2 ≥ 90%). Low indicated injury plots, confirmed losses. During 2020-2021, 30, 38, 40% higher than T2, T1, T1 25, 27, 29% lower T4, T5, 2020–2021. Similar results obtained 2021–2022. current study indicates that can used as a reliable, non-subjective indicator winter cereals. methodology work should also evaluated other crops under different soil climatic conditions.