1,721,127 research outputs found
Design and full realization of physical weed control (PWC) automated machine within the RHEA project
Full text linkCurrently precision agriculture can rely on modern technologies that allow to design and realize
operative machines provided with perception systems, in order to perform precise and
targeted treatments. The ultimate objective of this synergy consists in reducing the use of
agrochemicals and energy, enhancing the sustainability of agricultural practices. In this regard,
the RHEA project funded by EU, aims to develop a fleet of etherogenous autonomous
robot units in order to perform precise treatments related to crop protection in different scenarios.
In this paper is reported the design and the development of an automatic machines able to
perform, at the same time, mechanical and thermal weed control on maize is described and
discussed. The equipment will be coupled to an autonomous ground mobile unit equipped
with a row and a weed detection systems. The operative machines was designed to remove
weeds mechanically from the inter-row spaces of the crop and perform selective and targeted
cross flaming, in the rows of the crop. The precision of the treatment is ensured by specific
vision based perception system for weed detection and crop row detection. Mechanical
treatment (inter-row cultivation) will be performed in a continuous way, even without weed
presence. The machine is provided with a guidance system managed by a crop row detection
system in order to avoid damaging the maize plants with the rigid tools used for mechanical
weed removal. On the contrary cross flaming on the rows of the crop is actuated only if
weed patches are detected. The thermal weed control is applied by mean of couples of rod
burners LPG fed, able to treat a 25 cm wide strips with the crop row in the middle. The biological
selectivity is ensured by maize high tolerance and weeds sensitivity to flame exposure
for few tenths of seconds. Moreover, the LPG working pressure can be adjusted according to
the level of weed cover detected by the weed detection system:
- no treatment, if weed cover is near to 0 %;
- low LPG working pressure, if weed cover is lower than 25%;
- high LPG working pressure, if weed cover is higher than 25%.
Each unit for thermal weed control is provided with an ignition system able to properly swich
on the burners at the selected LPG working pressure. This ignition system enables to avoid
the use of pilot light, often adopted in the conventional “low-tech” flaming machines. This fact
is very important for the overall safety of the system, since the implement is coupled with an
unmanned ground mobile unit
Sensor based LPG management system for application of precision flaming.
No full textModern technologies allow to design and
implementing autonomous robotic weed control system, suitable
to perform treatments according to a precision farming
management. The RHEA European project fits in this branch of
research with the aim of project and provide a fleet of different
autonomous robot units in order to perform precise and targeted
treatments related to crops protection, allowing to lower
agrochemical, energy and hand labour input. In this work is
described the LPG feeding system of an autonomous robotic
ground mobile unit designed to perform thermal and mechanical
weed-control treatment on maize
Indagine sui rischi di inquinamento dovuti all’impiego ed alla distribuzione di agrofarmaci nel comune di San Giuliano Terme (PI)
No full textL’inquinamento da agrofarmaci rappresenta attualmente un pericolo reale per
l’ambiente e per la salute degli operatori agricoli, dei cittadini e dei consumatori. I
rischi di contaminazione aumentano se i prodotti fitosanitari non sono distribuiti con
irroratrici efficienti, che permettano di minimizzare le perdite operative e la
distribuzione di prodotto “fuori bersaglio”. Inoltre, la non corretta modalità di
manipolazione degli agrofarmaci può comportare rischi di inquinamento ambientale e
rappresentare un grave pericolo per gli operatori. Per avere un quadro completo su
tale tematica, è stata effettuata un’indagine su un campione rappresentativo di aziende
agricole nel Comune di San Giuliano Terme (PI) che ha permesso di ottenere
informazioni riguardanti le specie coltivate, i prodotti fitosanitari utilizzati, le dosi
impiegate, le modalità di distribuzione e di manipolazione dei prodotti fitosanitari
adottate. I risultati di questa indagine hanno permesso di evidenziare numerosi punti
critici: le piccole aziende (SAU minore di 15 ha) generalmente non dispongono di
macchine molto efficienti (ad esempio in nessun caso sono equipaggiate con manichetta
d’aria o ugelli antideriva), mentre nelle grandi aziende (SAU maggiore di 45 ha);
l’impiego di tecnologie avanzate non è associato a riduzioni apprezzabili delle dosi
distribuite per unità di superficie; nessuna delle piccole aziende è dotata di irroratrici
equipaggiate con premiscelatore e gli operatori mostrano generalmente comportamenti
non corretti durante le fasi di preparazione delle miscele e di lavaggio dei contenitori;
non vengono adottati gli appropriati dispositivi di protezione individuale (DPI); i
contenitori vuoti sono lavati in azienda e smaltiti come RSU, pratica non solo
fortemente inquinante, ma anche illegale (perchè a norma dell’articolo 184 del D.lgs.
n. 152/2006 i rifiuti derivanti da attività agricole sono classificati come “rifiuti
speciali”); Infine nessun agricoltore operante nel Comune smaltisce le miscele residue
in maniera appropriata.
Sarebbe pertanto necessario che gli operatori acquisissero conoscenze sufficienti
nelle materie riguardanti i rischi associati all’uso dei prodotti fitosanitari e che fossero
introdotte, anche in previsione del piano nazionale di attuazione della direttiva
2009/128/CE, pratiche di gestione fisica delle infestanti
Effect of thermal and mechanical weed control on garlic.
No full textVessalico is a small village close to Imperia (Liguria, Italy), where garlic is a
typical crop. The garlic of Vessalico is one of the most traditional and top quality
foods in Italy. A study was carried out on the possibility of introducing a
mechanization chain to solve the main agronomic problems of garlic cultivation in
this area, such as planting, weed control and harvesting, which would thus improve
garlic yield and quality. Ordinary organic garlic crop management was compared
with an innovative system in which physical weed control was carried out using a
rolling harrow, two flame weeding machines and a precision hoe. The innovative
treatments increased the whole plant and bulb dry weight by approximately 38%
and 78% respectively, and reduced weed biomass at harvest by up to 77%
Physical weed control in protected leaf-beet in Central Italy
No full textLeaf-beet is a typical and very important protected cultivation crop in central Italy. In leaf-beet protected cultivation, weed control is one of the most important problems because of its fairly long crop cycle (approximately 4-5 months). The aim of this research was to set up an efficient non chemical weed control strategy performed with innovative machines built and set up by the University of Pisa. A two-year (2006-2007) on-farm experimental trial was carried out in Crespina (PI). A conventional weed management technique (consisting of one pre-transplanting chemical treatment) was compared with an innovative physical weed control strategy in an organic production system (consisting of using a stale seedbed technique, in several post-emergence precision hoeing and in-row hand-weeding treatments). In the conventional technique, leaf-beet was manually transplanted, while it was sown with a precision pneumatic planter in the organic system. All innovative machines for physical weed control were adjusted and set up for the protected cultivation. Similar yields were recorded for the two systems in this two-year trial. Total labor time (for weed management and crop planting) was appreciably lower in the conventional system in the first year of the experiment (67%), while in the second year, some improvement in the physical weed control techniques decreased labor needs with respect to the conventional technique (40%). Weed dry biomass at harvest was significantly lower in the organic cropping system (on average 50%)
Development of machines for flaming weed control on hard surfaces
Full text linkWeed control is a major issue not only in agriculture but also on hard surfaces in urban and suburban
contexts. Weeds can cause serious damage to urban structures and are often considered as a sign of neglect. Moreover,
citizens are becoming increasingly aware of environmental pollution and its potential risks for their health.
Flaming represents a concrete alternative to herbicide applications on hard urban surfaces. Flaming can also be a
good alternative to mechanical means (e.g., string trimmers) which can seriously damage surfaces because they are too
intense and in any case are often not effective. The aim of this work is to describe LPG fed flaming machines designed and
built at the University of Pisa, Italy. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases–
propane and butane. Four different machines were developed and tested in four different urban and sub-urban contexts. A
small backpack flamer equipped with a manual lance was tested on a stonewall, a trolley machine with a manual lance
was used to clean the base of ornamental trees, a self-propelled machine was tested in a railway station, and a mounted
machine was used in a suburban cycle way. Flaming was compared to the ordinary weed control systems such as using
herbicides or mowing.
The results showed that flaming can be both less expensive and more effective (on average less that 1 € m-2 year-1
maintaining weed cover below 5% to 6%) than the ordinary treatments in urban areas. Flaming was more effective than
mowing in the suburban area but much more expensive, thus an integrated approach would be advisable in this context.
Future research should be devoted to improving the efficiency of the treatment, using for example, new burners with
secondary air and precision agriculture technologies
Innovative strategy and machines for non chemical management of weed seed-bank and actual spontaneous flora in turf grass.
No full textWeed management is a major issue not only in agriculture but also in cities and in public and
sport turfs. As a matter of fact, in the latter case an effective control of weed flora is needed in
order to maintain a high quality and functionality of the turf. Actually, weed control in turfs is
performed by means of very high amount of herbicides. This kind of management is very
dangerous as it is connected with very high risks of environment pollution and consequently for
operators and citizens safety and health. In this context, public concern about agrochemical use
in turf is more and more increasing and there is a clear need to define and use alternative and
non chemical methods of weed control in turfs. This paper aims to summarize the main results
achieved by the University of Pisa in about three years of research carried out on the possible
application of thermal weed control in turfs
LPG burners for weed control
Full text linkThis article reports on the results of a study carried out on three prototypes of open flame burners for thermal weed control. Their performance is reported in terms of flame temperature and length, in order to ascertain the best ratio between primary and secondary air, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption. To find the best ratio between primary and secondary air, the length and temperature of the flame were recorded for each of the three burners, examined by varying the inlet sections of the primary air and secondary air. The data on temperature and the flame length of each burner were processed using multiple regression analysis. The LPG consumption was determined with one of the burners using 10 different pressures in combination with three nozzles. The data obtained were subjected to non-linear regression using two gaseous outflow models. The various combinations of primary and secondary air inlet sections affected the values of the flame length and temperature. In general, the best combinations of primary and secondary air inlet for flame temperature did not correspond to those for flame length. However, this experiment showed that the inlet of secondary air is critical for the performance of this type of burner, in terms of flame temperature. The fuel consumption trial showed that the model proposed for the gaseous outflow is suitable for describing the values of LPG consumption collected during the trial. © 2015 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- …
