Unattended Electric Weeder (UEW): A Novel Approach to Control Floor Weeds in Orchard Nurseries
This study developed an unattended electric weeder (UEW) to control floor weeds in an orchard greenhouse. The UEW was a motor-driven dolly equipped with a spark exposer. The spark exposer was constructed by applying an alternating voltage (10 kV) to a conductor net (expanded metal net). The charged...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/7/1954 |
| _version_ | 1827734264494424064 |
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| author | Yoshinori Matsuda Koji Kakutani Hideyoshi Toyoda |
| author_facet | Yoshinori Matsuda Koji Kakutani Hideyoshi Toyoda |
| author_sort | Yoshinori Matsuda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study developed an unattended electric weeder (UEW) to control floor weeds in an orchard greenhouse. The UEW was a motor-driven dolly equipped with a spark exposer. The spark exposer was constructed by applying an alternating voltage (10 kV) to a conductor net (expanded metal net). The charged conductor net (C-CN) discharged into the surrounding space. Wild oat and white clover were used as test weed species. Weed seedlings growing on the floor were grounded by the biological conductor and were subjected to a spark from the C-CN when they reached the discharge space. The spark-exposed seedlings were singed and shrunk instantaneously. In the present experiment, the UEW was remotely controlled to move on the soil-cover metal nets, which were laid on the floor to make a flat surface, in a stop-and-go manner, and to eject a spark to the weed seedlings that emerged from the floor. All of the mono- and dicotyledonous weed seedlings, which had been artificially sown on the floor, were completely eradicated using this method. Thus, this study provides an experimental basis for developing an unattended technique for controlling floor weeds in an orchard greenhouse. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:22:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0ac1c75c6ba4c13ad4669e8e30d284e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:22:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0ac1c75c6ba4c13ad4669e8e30d284e2023-11-18T17:58:46ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-07-01137195410.3390/agronomy13071954Unattended Electric Weeder (UEW): A Novel Approach to Control Floor Weeds in Orchard NurseriesYoshinori Matsuda0Koji Kakutani1Hideyoshi Toyoda2Laboratory of Phytoprotection Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara 631-8505, JapanResearch Association of Electric Field Screen Supporters, Nara 631-8505, JapanResearch Association of Electric Field Screen Supporters, Nara 631-8505, JapanThis study developed an unattended electric weeder (UEW) to control floor weeds in an orchard greenhouse. The UEW was a motor-driven dolly equipped with a spark exposer. The spark exposer was constructed by applying an alternating voltage (10 kV) to a conductor net (expanded metal net). The charged conductor net (C-CN) discharged into the surrounding space. Wild oat and white clover were used as test weed species. Weed seedlings growing on the floor were grounded by the biological conductor and were subjected to a spark from the C-CN when they reached the discharge space. The spark-exposed seedlings were singed and shrunk instantaneously. In the present experiment, the UEW was remotely controlled to move on the soil-cover metal nets, which were laid on the floor to make a flat surface, in a stop-and-go manner, and to eject a spark to the weed seedlings that emerged from the floor. All of the mono- and dicotyledonous weed seedlings, which had been artificially sown on the floor, were completely eradicated using this method. Thus, this study provides an experimental basis for developing an unattended technique for controlling floor weeds in an orchard greenhouse.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/7/1954alternating voltagearc discharge-mediated spark<i>Avena fatua</i> L.expanded metal netphysical weed control<i>Trifolium repens</i> L. |
| spellingShingle | Yoshinori Matsuda Koji Kakutani Hideyoshi Toyoda Unattended Electric Weeder (UEW): A Novel Approach to Control Floor Weeds in Orchard Nurseries Agronomy alternating voltage arc discharge-mediated spark <i>Avena fatua</i> L. expanded metal net physical weed control <i>Trifolium repens</i> L. |
| title | Unattended Electric Weeder (UEW): A Novel Approach to Control Floor Weeds in Orchard Nurseries |
| title_full | Unattended Electric Weeder (UEW): A Novel Approach to Control Floor Weeds in Orchard Nurseries |
| title_fullStr | Unattended Electric Weeder (UEW): A Novel Approach to Control Floor Weeds in Orchard Nurseries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unattended Electric Weeder (UEW): A Novel Approach to Control Floor Weeds in Orchard Nurseries |
| title_short | Unattended Electric Weeder (UEW): A Novel Approach to Control Floor Weeds in Orchard Nurseries |
| title_sort | unattended electric weeder uew a novel approach to control floor weeds in orchard nurseries |
| topic | alternating voltage arc discharge-mediated spark <i>Avena fatua</i> L. expanded metal net physical weed control <i>Trifolium repens</i> L. |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/7/1954 |
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