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BASF and ADAS have developed a new and fully comprehensive Weed Identification App for iPhone users to allow accurate identification of arable weed problems and to gauge how widespread these weeds have become on the farm. Correctly identifying weeds is the first step to effective control. The App has been designed to be an easy to use practical aid, in the field or office, by crop advisors, growers, trainee agronomists and agricultural students.

Scope of the Weed ID App

1.    Weed ID

Based on the acclaimed Encyclopaedia of Arable Weeds and developed in association with ADAS, the new BASF Weed ID App aims to provide an easy to use reference guide to the major broad-leaved weeds and grass-weeds in the UK. It can be used to identify over 140 different weed species, using reference photographs, diagrams and descriptions. Users can search the weed library in a number of interactive ways - through a weed ID filter, by text, by common name search or by scientific name search – to make sure that the weed is accurately identified.

The App offers a full description of each individual weed species at cotyledon, young plant and mature plant growth stages, as well as photographs of them and close ups of any distinguishing features, such as the auricle, ligule and flower. There are over 1000 photographs and line drawings for reference. The user has the option to take a photo of the weed, which can be stored together with the date and size of the weed. These weed photos can also be compared to the Weed ID App database, using a split screen. Below the split screen are weed species possibilities, which can help in easier identification.

2.    Mapmyweed

It is feasible to map the field location of weeds using the GPS and Google maps built into the APP. This allows the extent and spread of the weed to be monitored on each farm in each field and this information saved over time. The radius of each weed patch can be captured. This will help gauge how successful weed control has been and also if the particular weed is spreading or is being contained. The weed image and its location can be saved and also exported via email. 

Sarah Mountford-Smith of BASF says that this new Weed ID App is a highly sophisticated and comprehensive tool. “Gone are the days of lugging around a number of heavy weed books in the back of the car. Now all you have to do is to get your iPhone out and use this unique App to help you accurately and simply identify or verify any particular weed that you come across on the farm.”

Sarah Cook of ADAS believes that the App is “just like having a computer in your hand – it’s handy and easy to use and carries a wealth of weed information on the go – which means you can ID the weeds as you are in the field. The Mapmyweed facility means that a weed history of specific areas of weeds can be easily recorded meaning that targeted weed control is more effective in the long run.”

Summary – Key features of the BASF Weed ID APP

• Quick and easy access to over 140 species of UK weeds at various growth stages – supported by pictures
• Detailed grass weed line drawings highlighting distinguishing characteristics
• Interactive search of all weeds by common name, scientific name, Weed ID filter or free text search
• Option to photograph weed in field and compare to library images
• Opportunity to export weed photos via email when required

The BASF Weed ID App is available to download from iTunes for the price of £2.99.

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