AI and Smart Technologies in Weed Control and Crop Protection

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 142

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL 33598, USA
Interests: remote sensing; hyperspectral; multispectral; UAV; site specific management; artificial intelligence

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL 33598, USA
Interests: weed control; site specific management; horticulture; mode of action; herbicides

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart technologies is transforming weed control and crop protection, offering sustainable and efficient alternatives to conventional practices. This Special Issue focuses on cutting-edge research and innovations that integrate AI, machine learning, robotics, sensors, and decision-support systems for precision agriculture. Topics include intelligent weed detection and classification, site-specific herbicide application, autonomous field robots, UAV and satellite-based monitoring, smart sprayers, and data-driven crop protection strategies. Emphasis is placed on reducing chemical inputs, minimizing environmental impact, improving crop productivity, and enhancing resilience to biotic stresses. Contributions addressing real-world applications, field validation, system integration, and challenges related to scalability, cost, and adoption are particularly welcome. By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives, this Special Issue aims to highlight the role of AI-driven solutions in advancing sustainable weed management and modern crop protection systems.

Dr. Renato Herrig Furlanetto
Guest Editor

Dr. Ana Claudia Buzanini
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • precision agriculture
  • weed detection
  • smart crop protection
  • machine learning
  • agricultural robotics
  • site-specific weed management
  • remote sensing
  • sustainable agriculture

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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