Row-level weeds are challenging to reach, and late weed infestations can substantially impair crop growth and need costly manual effort. In general, using duck foot time between rows to manage weeds within seed rows is inefficient.
Weeds around soy plants need to be controlled in order to reduce weed competition in soy farming. The weeds can be controlled all over the surface by using a hoeing tool with duck-foot tines and ridging discs with a finger weeder.
Due to its slanted position and adjustable finger plate overlap, the finger weeder is the only mechanical hoe that also effectively manages weeds within a row while significantly reducing manual labor. It performs well for the majority of row crops.
- Two to three days after sowing the soy, when many weed seeds have already sprouted, do one pass with the harrow (blind harrowing). Currently, the harrow can cover or expose weeds with up to 90% efficiency while avoiding harming soy seedlings.
- When the soy plants have grown their first pair of leaves, a second harrowing pass may be made with light tine pressure (a precision tined-weeder is advised).
If the crop is well-rooted and the weeds are, if feasible, still in the sprouting stage, the finger weeder can be used from the soy's two-internode stage (plant height of around 15 cm) onward.
- Depending on the severity of the weed infestation, you can wait up to 2 weeks between hoeing rounds.
- The finger weeder is best used in conjunction with a hoeing equipment with duck-foot tines. One to three days following a hoeing round with the harrow, weeds that are sprouting can be suppressed. Usually, 2 to 4 hoeing passes across each crop are sufficient.
The automatic standing weeder above is recommended for easy weeding without having to bend over. And it's easy to push the grass back.