Harrington Seed Destructor: A New Nonchemical Weed Control Tool for Global Grain Crops

Abstract

Global grain production is under threat from the escalating evolution of herbicide‐resistant weed populations. Worldwide, herbicide‐reliant grain crop production systems have driven the proliferation of herbicide resistant populations of major weed species. Alternatives or adjuncts to herbicides are needed for sustainable control of crop weeds in grain crops worldwide. Here we introduce and prove the ability of a new weed control tool, the Harrington Seed Destructor (HSD), to intercept and destroy weed seeds during grain crop harvest. The interception and destruction of weed seeds exiting the grain harvester in the chaff fraction during grain crop harvest is a hitherto unrealized opportunity. We have developed a cage mill‐based chaff processing unit that consistently destroys weed seed infesting grain crop chaff fractions. The subsequent construction of the HSD incorporating this unit had >95% weed seed destruction efficacy when used during commercial harvest of three major grain crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). The HSD system has the potential for a dramatic impact on global grain production by providing the unique combination of effective weed control with complete retention of grain crop harvest residues. Only herbicides offer this same combination of highly effective weed control and complete residue retention in large scale grain crop production systems.

Occasional mouldboard ploughing slows evolution of resistance and reduces long-term weed populations in no-till systems

“…Levels of weed seed predation have been found to be variable (Spafford et al, 2006); nonetheless, Davis (2006) thought that cropping system design for increasing weed seed predation and microbial attack may offer a cost-competitive alternative to herbicides. Weed seed management at harvest, such as burning narrow windrows (Walsh and Newman, 2007), chaff carts or using a seed destructor (Walsh et al, 2012), has similarly been shown to be very effective in reducing populations of herbicide resistant weeds in no-tillage systems. The latter approach, perhaps, provides a more reliable solution.…”

Impacts of Organic Zero Tillage Systems on Crops, Weeds, and Soil Quality

“…Collection and/or physical destruction of weed seeds at harvest is an approach that could be incorporated into such systems [104]. Walsh et al [105] developed a mechanical system that destroys weed seeds which are collected during harvesting. Instead of releasing raw chaff, which contains numerous weed seeds, this system diverts the chaff into a ball mill which destroys more than 95% of weed seeds.…”

Nonconventional Weed Management Strategies for Modern Agriculture

“…Cage mills are normally used to crush stone materials. Further research enabled scientists to destroy up to 90% of seeds of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) contained by wheat chaff during harvesting (Walsh et al 2012). HSD is a modified cage mill having a chaff-and-straw transfer system along with power source.…”

“…HSD is a modified cage mill having a chaff-and-straw transfer system along with power source. According to Walsh et al (2012), field studies showed that HSD offers an impressive destruction rate of above 95% for annual ryegrass, ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus Roth), wild radish (Raphanus raphsnistrum L.), and wild oat seeds (Table 2). With such impressive results, HSD is a pragmatic option for the destruction of weed seeds.…”