Tackling sugarcane crop weeds with UAVs
Sugarcane crops are threatened by weeds, which can reduce yield by as much as 83.0%, hurt crop quality - and harbour pests and diseases. Researchers in India have analysed the performance of a herbicide spraying system based on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and how it compares to manual knapsack sprayers as a means of controlling weeds in this vital industrial crop.
Applied chemistry highlights: Super-absorbent hydrogel, zero-emission chlorine and more
Nigel P. Freestone from the University of Northampton discusses selected research papers from recent journal issues for Issue 3 2026 of C&I magazine.
Organic chemistry: Research from recent scientific journals
Expert scientists summarise some of their selected research papers from recent journal issues. Read the organic chemistry highlights from G. Richard Stephenson, University of East Anglia, UK in Issue 3 2026 of C&I magazine.
Researchers work on lithium recovery from brine
Demand for lithium for everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and grid energy storage continues to grow, with the metal a key ingredient in battery technologies.
Vertical farming: Boosting microgreens with precision lighting
Microgreens are young, edible seedlings harvested during early developmental stages, typically between 6 and 21 days after germination. These crops can offer nutrient concentrations up to 40 times higher than those of their mature counterparts.