An innovative self-propelled machine for soil disinfection using steam and chemicals in an exothermic reaction

Peruzzi, Andrea; Raffaelli, Michele; Ginanni, M; Fontanelli, Marco; Frasconi, Christian

doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2011.09.008

Cited by 27 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Soil steaming treatments are usually more expensive than other physical preventive methods (e.g. the stale seed-bed technique) but cheaper than chemical geodisinfestation treatments with fumigants (Peruzzi et al, 2002a and2002b). Soil steaming is also particularly indicated for preventive weed management in scarcely competitive crops, and it has been used for "band-steaming" experimental trials in Denmark (Melander et al 2002 and2004;Melander & Jørgensen 2005) and Sweden (Hansson & Svensson, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Management Filters and Species Traits: Weed Community Assembly in Long-Term Organic and Conventional Systems

et al. 2010

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Community assembly theory provides a useful framework to assess the response of weed communities to agricultural management systems and to improve the predictive power of weed science. Under this framework, weed community assembly is constrained by abiotic and biotic “filters” that act on species traits to determine community composition. We used an assembly approach to investigate the response of weed seed banks to 25 yr of management-related filtering in three different row-crop management systems in southeastern Pennsylvania: organic manure-based, organic legume-based, and conventional. Weed seed banks were sampled in April of 2005 and 2006 and quantified by direct germination in a greenhouse. We also assessed the filtering effects of weed management practices and relationships between assembled seed bank and emergent weed communities by allowing or excluding weed control practices within each management system and measuring emergent weed community response. Germinable weed seed bank densities and species richness in the final year of the study were over 40% and 15% higher, respectively, in the organic systems relative to the conventional system. Seed bank community structure in the organic systems was different from the conventional system, and the relationships between assembled seed banks and the emergent flora varied. Primary tillage, weed control, timing of planting, and fertility management appeared to be the main filters that differentiated weed seed banks in the three systems. Weed life history, emergence periodicity, seed size, and responsiveness to soil fertility and hydrology appeared to be the most important functional traits determining how weed species responded to management-related filters. Our results suggest that management systems can exert strong filtering effects that can persist over relatively long (greater than one growing season) time scales. Legacy effects of community-level filtering might be more important than previously assumed, and should be incorporated into predictive models of weed community assembly.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This machine was first presented at the 5 th EWRS Physical and Cultural Working Group Workshop in Pisa (Peruzzi et al 2002a and2002b). In the 2000-2004 period, steam and activating compounds treatments effects on weeds were studied (Bàrberi et.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management Filters and Species Traits: Weed Community Assembly in Long-Term Organic and Conventional Systems

et al. 2010

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“…The present work is the continuation of previous studies (Bàrberi et al. , 2009) carried out with a Celli SC600 track self‐propelled soil steaming machine developed by the University of Pisa in co‐operation with the Celli company (Forlì, Italy) (Peruzzi et al. , 2002, 2008), characterised by combining steam with exothermic compounds (CaO or KOH) able to boost soil temperature (Bioflash system).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…, 2009). Soil steaming is usually more expensive than other non‐chemical preventive methods, but cheaper than chemical soil fumigation (Peruzzi et al. , 2002, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of an injection system on the effect of activated soil steaming on Brassica juncea and the natural weed seedbank

et al. 2012

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Soil steaming is a promising preventive method for weed control in high-value cash crops, such as vegetables and flowers. A 2-year experiment (2005)(2006) was carried out to test the effect of five different systems of steam injection (surface or deep steam injection bar and three mixed systems at different steam distribution ratios between the surface and the deep bar: 1:2; 1:1 and 2:1) on an artificial infestation of Brassica juncea and on the natural weed seedbank. Treatments were carried out using steam alone or in association with two different exothermic compounds (KOH and CaO), distributed at two different rates (1000 and 4000 kg ha )1 ). The effects of treatments on the seedbank were analysed by the seedling emergence technique at three different soil depths (0-7, 7-14 and 14-21 cm). Non-linear dose-response curves were used to correlate weed emergence with soil temperature sum. Surface steaming was the most effective treatment (up to 100% weed control) at 0-7 cm depth. Deep steaming depleted the weed seedbank up to 95% in the deepest soil layer. The most homogeneous weed control effect across the soil profile was obtained with mixed systems, with differences depending on their distribution ratio. The new steam injection systems increased the versatility of this innovative soil steaming machine and confirmed its efficiency in reducing the weed seedbank, making it a promising replacement of methyl bromide fumigation before growing high-value crops.

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“…For better results, chemical additives with exothermic reactions like potassium hydroxide (KOH) or calcium oxide (CaO) are sometimes used (Barberi et al, 2002;Barberi et al, 2009). For example, the patented bioflash system uses a self-propelled machine to disinfect soil in greenhouses by incorporating steam and additives with a rotary hoe into tilled soil Peruzzi et al, 2011;Peruzzi et al, 2012). Neither in Swiss nor in European organic farming is the outdoor-use of such additives allowed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimisation of hot-water application technology for the control of broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

Latsch

Sauter

2014

J Agricult Engineer

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In organic farming, the control of broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) via hot-water treatment of the upper root region (hypocotyl) is a new alternative to the current standard control method involving manual digging-out of the roots. This comparative study looks at five different hot-water application techniques. The aim is to optimise the control method in terms of water and energy requirement to obtain a mortality rate of the treated plants of at least 80%. The studied parameters were the application, the amount of water, the water temperature, the soil moisture content and the soil type. In total, 813 plants of varying size were treated (120-225 plants per treatment). The success of each treatment was rated 12 weeks after it was applied. Based on the results, the preferred treatment in terms of water and energy requirement was a commercially available rotary nozzle. With this nozzle, for example, at 40 vol.-% soil moisture, 1.6 L of water at a temperature of 90°C was necessary for successful Rumex control. The rotary nozzle could be used as a non-contact system, and was therefore the most user-friendly of the application techniques examined. IntroductionThroughout Europe, grassland areas managed according to organic-farming principles are increasing. The percentage of organically managed areas in the whole of the EU, for example, rose from 5,913,359 hectare (ha) in 2004 to 7,542,604 ha in 20087,542,604 ha in (Köpke et al., 2011. In Switzerland, the percentage of these areas has remained practically constant over the last nine years and, at 116,188 ha in 2011, accounted for 11% of the total agricultural area (Bundesamt für Statistik BfS, 2012).One of the greatest problems in organically managed grassland is posed by broad-leaved dock, Rumex obtusifolius (Zaller, 2004). Broadleaved docks contain high levels of oxalic acid and oxalates, which can cause health problems in large doses (Brune, 1955;Roth et al., 2012). Avoided by grazing animals on account of the substances it contains, the plant causes reduction in livestock performance when present in conserved feed. Oswald and Haggar (1983) reckoned that a ground cover of 20-30% broad-leaved dock would reduce the vegetation volume of valuable fodder plants up to 20%. To avoid these negative effects, the dock stocking on grassland should be minimal.Differing from other weeds, the physical control of broad-leaved dock is difficult because of the growth and the regenerative power of its taproots. The primary taproot of the dock develops in the first year after germination (Bond and Turner, 2003). In the second year, the plant produces secondary taproots (Pino et al., 1995). Thereafter, the taproot system increases and divides. The clonal growth of one plant can affect large weed-covered areas (Bond and Turner, 2003). The regenerative power of R. obtusifolius lies in the hypocotyl. It is about 0.1 m long and located in the first section of the partially very complex underground organs (Roberts and Hughes, 1939). Stored reserve materials enable the plan...

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An innovative self-propelled machine for soil disinfection using steam and chemicals in an exothermic reaction

Cited by 27 publications

References 18 publications

Management Filters and Species Traits: Weed Community Assembly in Long-Term Organic and Conventional Systems

Management Filters and Species Traits: Weed Community Assembly in Long-Term Organic and Conventional Systems

Influence of an injection system on the effect of activated soil steaming on Brassica juncea and the natural weed seedbank

Optimisation of hot-water application technology for the control of broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

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