Desherbado láser: ¿es rentable en su explotación?

Escrito por Guillaumot Maxence

Introducción

El desherbado por láser es una tecnología innovadora que está revolucionando el mundo de la agricultura. Al utilizar láseres para eliminar las malas hierbas, este método ofrece una alternativa ecológica y eficaz a los herbicidas químicos. Pero, ¿es rentable para su explotación? Este artículo le ayudará a evaluar si la escarda láser puede ser una solución viable para usted.

What is Laser Weeding?

Laser weeding uses concentrated light beams to heat and destroy the cells of weeds. Unlike chemical herbicides, this method is precise and does not harm surrounding crops. It is also environmentally friendly, reducing the ecological impact of your farm.

Main Benefits of Laser Weeding

  1. Organic compliance / Reduced Chemical Use: Fewer herbicides mean fewer chemical residues in the soil and crops

  2. Precision and Efficiency: Lasers target only weeds, can also work on high density crops

  3. No soil disturbance : Delete the risk to damage the crops

  4. Time and Labor Savings: Reduce the time spent by your hand weeding crew in the fields

  5. Larger working windows : Can be used in both wet and dry conditions

How much does laser weeding costs ?

Laser weeding cost per hectare

Laser weeding, still emerging and almost under monopoly, requires a very high initial investment — over €1.5 million per 6m machine plus about €60,000 per year in subscription fees. This translates into a per-pass cost of €1,000/ha to more than €3,000/ha, depending on the annual treated area and the intensity of use.

The main cost drivers are the surface area covered, the work rate, the cost of labor, energy expenses, and equipment amortization. In the future, the cost of laser weeding per hectare is expected to decrease thanks to competition, technological improvements, greater reliability, and better efficiency — while the cost of alternative systems is likely to increase due to rising labor, fuel, and input prices.

Comparison with other weeding methods

When comparing laser weeding price per hectare with traditional alternatives, the gap is significant:

  • Manual weeding is by far the most expensive, reaching €2,000 to €8,000/ha (≈200–400 working hours per hectare).

  • Mechanical weeding with hoes or harrows is much cheaper, around €40 to €60/ha per pass, depending on organization and equipment.

  • Thermal weeding falls between €200 and €500/ha, strongly influenced by gas prices and the work rate.

Profitability and investment decision

Before investing in laser weed control technology, it is crucial for farmers to calculate the profitability based on their farm size, crop type, labor costs, and expected machine use. While laser weeding offers long-term potential and could become cost-competitive in the future, today it remains a premium solution compared to manual, mechanical, or thermal weeding.

Calculating Profitability

To determine if laser weeding is profitable for your farm, consider several factors:

  • Brand you chose : Wide price range, size, laser options, subscription price can change

  • Initial Cost: Investment in laser weeding equipment

  • Operational cost : Based on the number of hectares you gonna use the machine

  • Savings: Reduction in herbicide / labor costs / mechanical weeding costs …

  • Improved yields : Improved crop quality and increased yields

GET your Pay-Back-Period Calculation here for FRee!

To receive a personalized evaluation of the profitability of laser weeding on your farm, fill out the form below. I will send you the results within a week.

Expertise and Field Feedback

I have been involved with laser weeding technology for several years and have gathered valuable feedback from around a dozen users. This hands-on experience and direct input from farmers have honed my expertise in this field. The consistent feedback highlights significant reductions in weeding costs and crop yields improvements.

Laser weeding is a promising technology that can offer numerous benefits to your farm. By reducing chemical use and improving weeding efficiency, this method can be a profitable long-term solution. Fill out the form today to discover if laser weeding is suitable for your farm !

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