Steaming enables more rapid transfer of lethal heat into the cell structure of a weed. Consequently, the weed will dehydrate and eventually die. Steam weeding is a foliar contact technique in which a temperature of approximately 100 ◦C (or 212 ◦ F) is applied for a specific duration of time, causing intracellular water to expand and rupture the cell membrane.
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The key components of this equipment include a water tank, water pump, steamer, generator and a boom section with modified nozzles for channeling the steam generated onto the weed’s stem and canopy. At the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC), researchers have developed a prototype of steam weeding equipment that could be attached on a trailer (see Figure 1). The resulting new equipment will not only reduce the chemical footprint of the farm, but also will suit the practical needs of farmers. Steaming is an example of how engineering principles can be utilized in the development of a strategy for sustainable weed management. With proper and safe equipment use, steam can also be applied within the proximity of people and animals. In other words, steam can be applied under any conditions of wind and rain without any concerns about drift, runoff or loss of efficacy. There are several advantages of applying steam for weed control, including weather-independent applications. The potential of steam as a weed management strategy on controlling various weed species has been demonstrated over the years. Steam application has been in use for soil disinfestation and sterilization in agriculture for over 40 years. Steaming falls under the “thermal weed control” category of non-chemical methods of weed management.
A potential alternative to chemical weed control could be steam weeding. Concerns related to non-judicious use of herbicides, which include ground and surface water contamination and pesticide residues in food, has sparked public awareness and restrictions on herbicide use.įor these reasons, alternative and integrated systems for weed management to reduce chemical inputs need to be considered. Weeds are a significant problem in horticultural production and must be controlled to maintain good crop yield. Steam weeding equipment pulled by a tractor By Ramdas Kanissery and Yiannis Ampatzidis Figure 1.
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