Publication Date
12-8-2024
Document Type
Report
DPIRD Collections
Biosecurity, pests, weeds and diseases, Grains and field crops, Horticulture, Viticulture
Publisher
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
City
Northam
Abstract
Electric weed control is a non-chemical weed management alternative that will apply to a range of agricultural systems. The current project assessed electric weed control via the continuous electrode-plant contact method (using a Zasso™ XPower).
A wide range of field trials in 2022 and 2023 investigated weed control efficiency, suitability of electric weed control for fence line control of glyphosate-resistant annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.), use for crop topping, fire risk, damage to the soil biota, or use for inter-row weed control in vineyards or lupin crops. Broadleaf weeds were controlled more effectively than grass weeds with electric weed control, although control of mature grasses like kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus Hochst. ex Chiov.) was still comparable to that achieved using herbicide. Likewise, electric weed control of glyphosate-resistant annual ryegrass was comparable to control by non selective herbicide (paraquat+diquat). There was a fire risk from electric weed control on completely dry plant residue, but there were zero fires when using the unit for field trials over winter and spring. There was no evidence of damage to the soil biota after using electric weed control (bacterial, archaea and fungal soil microbiome communities or free-living nematodes). Inter-row weed management with electric weed control caused no damage to neighboring plants. This technology has immediate applicability for controlling herbicide resistant weeds on fence lines or weed control in viticulture and horticulture crops, and future potential for inter-row weed control in broad scale grain cropping enterprises.
Number of Pages
102
Keywords
Electric weed control, electro-weeding, integrated weed management, continuous electrode-plant contact
Disciplines
Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Horticulture | Weed Science
Recommended Citation
Slaven M, Borger C (2024) What is the best fit for electric weed control in Australia? 2024 final project report. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Western Australia; Northam WA.
This file is 7.0 MB. Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Horticulture Commons, Weed Science Commons
Comments
The project was a collaboration between Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and CNH.
The project was also supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Wine Australia, AHA Viticulture and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), with in kind support from Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA).