The Role of Autonomous Mechanical Weeding Robots in Climate-Smart Soil Management: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has driven advancements in digital agricultural technologies, which is also reflected in the emerging development and market release of agricultural field robots in the last decade. Climate-smart sustainable soil management plays a key role in sustaining soil functions related to productivity, water and nutrient cycling, biodiversity and long-term resilience. The integration of autonomous field robots, for which mechanical weeding is currently the dominant application, into future field mechanization offers potential solutions to enhance climate-smart, soil-focused management. Based on limited existing research, this review synthesizes experimental studies quantifying robot-induced changes in crop production, soil properties and functions. We propose a framework in which autonomous mechanical weeding robots affect soil functions via two interacting pathways: (1) altered machinery intensity and its traffic patterns, and (2) repeated shallow soil disturbance associated with mechanical weeding interventions. The empirical evidence is skewed toward productivity-related outcomes (18 of 22 studies), primarily weeding efficiency, while soil physical, hydrological, and biogeochemical functions have rarely been quantified (5 studies). Existing research largely reflects mechanism linked to pathway 1, whereas cumulative effects of repeated mechanical disturbance remain insufficiently assessed. Significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the role of weeding robots in diversified cropping systems and their effects on soil functions such as water regulation, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, soil as habitat and overall soil health. Addressing these gaps includes not only technical aspects of weeding robotics, for example implement or pathway optimization. It also requires the multiannual evaluation of soil property changes, such as compaction, carbon sequestration and aggregate composition, and continuous soil monitoring to align with EU soil health targets and global sustainability goals.