__ Feldklasse weeding technology for rocket, baby leaf and lamb‘s lettuce
Easily control weeds from 5 cm (2 in) row spacing without leaving any residue, all at an affordable price.
The Rukaby enables you to cultivate baby leaf at low cost and without risk of pesticide residues in the harvest. Weeds can be controlled at a row spacing of just 5 cm (2 in).
Thanks to our patented tools and a working speed of up to 4 km/h (2,5 mph), the weeding pattern remains clean and even, especially with narrow row spacing. This means that most of the weeds are removed mechanically, eliminating the need for herbicides.
3 cm (1,2 in) are not weeded.
With a row spacing of 7 cm (3 in), approximately 57% of the bed surface is weeded. However, around 70% of the weeds grow between the rows, rather than in and near them.
The correct row spacing
From a practical point of view, a row spacing of 5 cm (2 in) is sufficient for weeding. However, a spacing of 7 cm (3 in) or more is significantly more efficient. Customers who doubled their row spacing from approx. 4.5 cm to 9 cm (2 to 4 in), while maintaining the same seed density per m², achieved the same yield and a significantly higher weed control rate. Their rows were denser and their leaves were only minimally larger.
From a row spacing of 10 cm (4 in), the leaves definitely become larger. This is acceptable in Germany, but not in France or Italy. We therefore recommend a row spacing of around 7 cm (3 in) for small leaves and around 10 cm (4 in) if leaf size is not important.
Is a laser better?
| Technology | Hoeing technology | Laser |
|---|---|---|
| Acquisition costs | €60,000 | €1,600,000 |
| Annual operating costs | < €1,000 | €100,000 |
| Working speed | 3–4 km/h | 1 km/h |
| Control rate | 70% | 85% |
| Positive side effects |
better soil aeration, less evaporation, stronger plant growth |
– |