Integrated Crop Production: Smart Technologies at Agritechnica 2025

25 March 2025, New Delhi: Integrated crop production—an environmentally conscious approach to farming—has proven its value in practice, though it has received less attention in recent years. However, innovative solutions are now bringing it back to the forefront. Modern sensor-supported technologies and digital tools enable the continued use of crop protection measures within integrated crop production, even as some active ingredients are phased out. At Agritechnica 2025, the world’s largest trade fair for agricultural machinery, visitors will have the opportunity to explore these advancements firsthand. The event, scheduled from November 9 to 15 in Hanover, Germany, will showcase advanced, interconnected agricultural systems under the theme “Touch Smart Efficiency.” Organized by the DLG (German Agricultural Society), this international trade fair will provide farming professionals with direct access to technologies that drive efficiency, sustainability, and productivity in modern agriculture.

For nearly 40 years, integrated crop production has represented a holistic and sustainable approach to arable farming. This method employs a variety of cultivation practices to promote crop health and achieve strong, efficient yields. A key component is integrated crop protection, where chemical measures are considered only as a last resort when preventive measures fail to deliver the desired results.

Managing Weeds and Pests Effectively

Weeds and pests should be managed based on the damage threshold principle, prioritizing non-chemical methods whenever possible. In the past, integrated crop production and its crop protection strategies did not always meet today’s required standards. This was due to the reliance on modern crop protection products, advanced fertilizer technology, and progress in plant breeding, which often masked the issues resulting from tighter crop rotations, early sowing dates, or higher nitrogen fertilization.

Recently, the decline in available active ingredients and the increasing emergence of resistance—particularly in weed and grass control—have exacerbated these challenges. Additionally, extreme weather conditions caused by climate change and the appearance of new pests further complicate crop management. Consequently, there is a renewed focus on integrated crop production in many regions.

Harnessing the Potential of Breeding and Crop Rotation

Plant breeding is essential in helping crops adapt to emerging resistances and climate-related stress factors. Crop rotation also plays a crucial role; wider rotations reduce the pressure from pests and help manage resistance issues. However, the elimination of crop protection products with varied mechanisms of action has removed effective tools from practitioners’ hands.

Weed Control in the Sowing Phase

Effective weed control starts before sowing, with careful timing to avoid early germination. Agronomic strategies like mock sowing can eliminate early-germinating weeds, while post-harvest harrowing encourages weed seeds to sprout, making them easier to control. Immediate intercropping after threshing is another effective tactic.

Selecting highly competitive crops—those with dense foliage and good leaf retention—can limit the light reaching the soil, reducing weed germination. Optimized row spacing, higher seed rates, and undersowing can further suppress weed growth. Conversely, wider row spacing can facilitate mechanical weed control between rows.

Mechanical Weed Control

Mechanical weed control is gaining popularity in conventional agriculture as many active chemical ingredients are no longer permitted due to legal regulations. This poses significant challenges for arable farming.

Modern sensor and control technologies enable a combination of mechanical and chemical crop protection, while purely mechanical methods use camera-guided hoeing tools for precise weed control between and within rows. These technologies support high working speeds and substantial savings in crop protection inputs. Additionally, AI-based solutions for optimizing hoeing units are showing promising results.

Despite its potential, mechanical weed control also faces challenges, including adverse weather conditions, the risk of soil compaction and erosion, and limited expertise. Moreover, mechanical methods may not be as effective against certain problematic weeds.

Chemical Crop Protection and Precision Fertilization

Despite the reduction in active substances and increasing resistance, chemical crop protection will continue to play a role in integrated crop production. Innovative, highly precise techniques help minimize pesticide usage, ensuring effective yet environmentally conscious crop protection.

Precision in mineral fertilization is also advancing. Key objectives include reducing nutrient runoff into water bodies—particularly nitrogen—and saving on mineral fertilizers through greater accuracy. Sensor-supported rate control, advanced border spreading equipment, automatic part-width section control, variable rate adjustment, and cornering spread pattern adjustments are among the solutions offered by agricultural machinery manufacturers. Pneumatic fertilizer spreaders further ensure precise fertilizer application along field boundaries.

Outlook

Conventional agriculture is increasingly adopting integrated crop production and protection strategies. Visitors to Agritechnica 2025 in Hanover this November will have the opportunity to explore the latest technical innovations and learn how to apply them effectively through exhibitor displays and expert forums.

Also Read: Haryana Government Introduces Strict Penalties for Sale of Substandard Seeds

📢 Reach Farmers, Share Your Story, and Grow Your Brand!
Got news to share? A company story to highlight? Looking to launch an impactful advertising campaign?  Connect with us at info@krishakjagat.org or nimishgangrade@krishakjagat.org and make your mark!

📢 Connect with 100+ Million Farmers! India’s leading farmers rely on Krishak Jagat’s Hindi website for trusted agriculture news, advisory and insights. Click here to explore!