PEI farm tests using electricity instead of herbicides to kill weeds

By Yutaro Sasaki, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Guardian

HARRINGTON, P.E.I. – A researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is experimenting with a different way for P.E.I. farmers to control the weeds in their fields.

Nicolle MacDonald, a biologist researcher with the AAFC, is working with a machine called the Weed Zapper, which uses electricity to kill weeds rather than traditional herbicides.

In an interview with The Guardian on Oct. 21, MacDonald says the machine can also produce its own power to carry out its weeding.

How the Weed Zapper works

MacDonald said a power takeoff-driven generator, capable of producing 195,000 watts or more, is attached to the back of a tractor.

Next, the zapping apparatus is mounted on a boom on the front of the tractor, where it performs the weed control.

The height of the boom is important so the zapper doesn’t come in contact with the plants the farmer is trying to grow.

“Ideally, we’re setting the boom at 15 centimetres above the crop for this model so we don’t accidentally electrocute the crop,” said MacDonald.

MacDonald says it’s really cool to watch the Weed Zapper at work as she moves through the fields on the tractor.

“Especially seeing the sparks and the arcs and even just how fast the weeds start dying. They start wilting within an hour,” she said.

Late-summer crops

The electric weeding machine MacDonald uses is manufactured by Old School Manufacturing.

While other companies produce similar machinery, the Weed Zapper model is designed to go over the top of the crops, which is suitable for her research, she said.

She is studying the impact of weed growth in beets, carrots, potatoes and rutabagas.

“And we’re trying to control the weeds in those crops because late in the summer, those crops are all low-growing crops, there are limited control options to control weeds,” she said.

Helpful technology

By using methods of electric weed control, MacDonald is hopeful of determining whether the zapping machine can support environmental and economic priorities for P.E.I. farmers.

This year was the first time MacDonald had the opportunity to test how electric weed control can be of practical use for various vegetables grown on P.E.I., she added.

The early signs are good.

“This type of technology is beneficial when we think of how we control weeds in a system,” she said. “And especially with weeds, there are issues with herbicide resistance.”

editor