Mechanical Weed Control in Vineyards and Orchards: Speed, Precision and Finger-Weeder Technology
Mechanical weed control in vineyards and orchards is increasingly taking center stage in integrated weed management programs. In this context, the Bio-Dynamic in-row tool carrier offers precision, effectiveness and operational speed that are truly First in Class.
In vineyards and orchards, chemical weed control has become progressively more complex over time due to the gradual reduction in available herbicides. In general, across all crops in Italy, only 99 active substances remain available, while 114 have been withdrawn over the past twenty years and are therefore no longer usable (-53.5%).
More specifically, in vineyards there are currently only 21 active substances available in authorized commercial formulations. Of these, however, only a minority are actually used in the field, with systemic herbicides such as glyphosate-based products dominating. As a result, the range of available modes of action is very limited. Over time, several resistance phenomena have emerged in certain weed species, such as ryegrass, as well as Conyza and mallow.
Finally, some solutions act only by contact as desiccants, through mechanisms of action that may also cause phytotoxicity to the crop. In such cases, shielded equipment must be used, following precise operational precautions to ensure maximum safety for cultivated plants. This series of limitations further penalizes the overall efficiency of chemical weed control.
Weeds: All the Advantages of Integrated Management
Over recent decades, cropping approaches have increasingly shifted toward integrated and environmentally low-impact systems, thereby enhancing mechanical interventions that achieve a dual objective: reducing herbicide use and supporting the remaining products within anti-resistance strategies.
Mechanical weeders operate through physical action and can therefore control populations that have become resistant to herbicides. Since this mode of action is independent of chemical inputs, such equipment can also be used by farms following organic farming protocols.
Bio-Dynamic: Precision Becomes Fast
Within the Rinieri range, one of the leading technical references is Bio-Dynamic, a tool carrier for finger hoes (finger-weeder / Fingerhacke rubber star systems) that performs mechanical under-row weed control at speeds of up to 15 km/h.
This speed in vineyards is significantly higher than that recommended for chemical weed control, which ranges between 3 and 6 km/h depending on the equipment and the mission profile, whether chemical suckering or total weed control.
Without hydraulic feeler sensors for in-row trunk detection and featuring a robust frame, Bio-Dynamic eliminates weeds along the rows through the action of toothed wheels followed by rubber stars available in different designs and hardness levels.
The combined action of these two components ensures that, in addition to directly removing weeds along both sides of the row, the moved soil also covers small seedlings growing near the trunk, hindering their development.
Thanks to their construction and operating characteristics, Bio-Dynamic weeders — equipped with Bio-Star finger-weeder (Fingerhacke) heads — are suitable both for vineyards and orchards in production and for new plantings, as the rubber fingers do not damage crop trunks.
Front or Rear, Single or Double
Different farms adopt different operating approaches. To meet these varying needs, Bio-Dynamic finger-weeder cultivators can be mounted either at the rear or at the front of the tractor via Cat. 1-2 three-point linkage. Single or double versions are available, the latter allowing operation on two rows in a single pass.
Maximum Adaptability to Different Row Spacings
Two size versions — narrow and wide — are available for the single model. The double Bio-Dynamic DUO models are available in three versions and, as standard, offer independent hydraulically operated side shift. The machines are also equipped with a carriage fitted with adjustable wheels that allow precise regulation of the working height of the two tool-carrying arms. Optional features include hydraulic or manual adjustment of the working head inclination, as well as the rear Bio-Roll roller, which allows grass cutting in the inter-row area. In addition to controlling spontaneous vegetation growth, this practice creates light surface mulching that helps reduce soil water evaporation.
Two-Stage Action, Perfect Cleaning
There are two working units in the base Bio-Dynamic model:
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BIO-DISC - The galvanized Rollhacke toothed discs, made of wear-resistant materials, open the working process. They are available in configurations with 2, 3 or 4 discs and benefit from dedicated bearing supports. The discs operate by inertia and without hydraulic components, allowing high rotational and forward speeds with minimal maintenance. Their action breaks the surface crust, decompacts the top few centimeters of soil and simultaneously performs effective ridging along the row, which can be adjusted by changing the inclination of the discs themselves. In addition to removing weeds, the superficial action of the discs improves rainwater penetration while respecting soil profile and soil organisms.
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BIO-STAR - The Bio-Star finger hoe heads (finger-weeder / Fingerhacke rubber stars) complete and extend the action of the toothed discs. They are available in different diameters and hardness levels. The passive rotation system of the finger-weeder stars allows them to constantly adapt to the tractor’s forward speed. Thanks to the greater or lesser flexibility of the materials used, the rubber fingers are ideal for working around the trunk. This aspect is extremely important especially in recently planted vineyards or in cases of irregular and twisted trunks that make the use of sensor-equipped tools difficult and risky.
Operating costs of Bio-Dynamic units are kept low, since the Bio-Disc and Bio-Star finger-weeder working units are easy to mount, remove and adjust to optimize work quality.
Hard, Medium or Soft
Bio-Star finger-weeder (Fingerhacke) heads are available with star diameters of 540, 700 or 950 millimeters. There are also three hardness levels, each identified by a specific color:
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Red stars are hard. While suitable for all soil types, they are ideal for tougher, more compact soils.
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Yellow stars are medium hardness and suited for soils ranging from loose to difficult.
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Orange stars are soft and should be preferred when working on loose soils.
Every Vineyard Under a Good Star
To meet every possible field requirement, Bio-Star finger-weeder stars are offered in different combinations of diameter and color.
For example, 540-mm diameter stars are available in red and yellow. The red version is particularly suitable for vineyards with narrower row spacing of 2 meters, while the yellow version is ideal for small berry crops.
The 700-mm stars are available in all three colors, each with a specific application: the red star is recommended for vineyards with row spacing greater than 2 meters; the yellow version is suited for blueberry production, as well as vineyards and young orchards; the orange star is proposed for raspberry or aronia plantations.
Finally, the 950-mm star is available in yellow and orange. The yellow version is recommended for apple, apricot and cherry orchards, while the orange version is suggested for olive groves, peach orchards and pear orchards.
Versatility of Use, Also Against Suckers
Easy to handle and versatile, Bio-Dynamic in-row tool carriers can also be used in combination with other mechanical weed control heads, such as SRL long-wire weeders or the RSI mowing disc. When sucker removal is the objective, Bio-Dynamic units can be combined with SRV and SRC sucker removers, the latter being compact and therefore capable of operating even under overhead irrigation systems.
A Future-Oriented Mechanical Solution
As regulatory pressure on herbicides increases and resistance issues expand, mechanical weed control is no longer an alternative — it is a strategic necessity.
With its advanced finger-weeder (Fingerhacke) rubber star technology, high working speeds, adaptability and low operating costs, Bio-Dynamic represents a modern, efficient and sustainable solution for vineyards and orchards committed to integrated and environmentally responsible management.
