A researcher from the American University of Oregon, in partnership with hazelnut and blueberry producers, is testing Brazilian electric weeding technology from Zasso Group. This less environmentally invasive way of controlling weeds has gained strength in Europe and is now also beginning to be widespread in the USA. “Our technology, in addition to being modern and safe, is environmentally friendly. Following a global trend in agribusiness, more and more effective methods with less environmental impact must be implemented on farms around the world”, points out the brand's Co-CEO, Sérgio Coutinho.
With the support of a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Marcelo Moretti, a researcher and assistant professor of horticulture at OSU, last month began experiments as part of a three-year project to evaluate the effectiveness of electrical control of weeds in Oregon. “I suspect growers will embrace this as an additional tool for controlling weeds, especially those resistant to herbicides,” Moretti said. For him, the solution can be adopted by both organic and conventional producers.
The researcher believes it is important to find more non-chemical tools to control herbicide-resistant weeds. This happens when a field of weeds is sprayed year after year with a single herbicide. Weaker plants die, but some naturally stronger plants survive, reproduce and pass on their resistant traits to the next generations.
Testing began in two hazelnut orchards, where herbicide-resistant Italian ryegrass is a serious problem. Moretti will also work with a blueberry grower to test the effectiveness of electrical control on perennial weeds such as bindweed, a member of the morning glory family.
The equipment used is the EH30 Thor model. The Zasso Group system generates a high voltage current that is applied to the plant through contact with a metal bar. As the high voltage passes through the plant toward the roots, the electrical resistance generates heat, leading to cell membrane rupture and plant death.
The professor believes the technology will be widely applicable to fruit and nut trees, hops, vineyards and other crops. Different sizes of units equipped with the technology can be used, such as the Electroherb model, which easily maneuvers on hills and in narrow rows.
Compared to other forms of weed control, the initial investment and labor inputs for electrical control are expected to be greater per hectare than the average chemical costs of most non-chemical methods. However, this should be considered an investment because as Moretti said, in areas where herbicide resistance exists, he expects Zasso Group's technology to cost less in the long term compared to multiple chemical applications.
Coutinho highlights that this is a smart investment. “At first glance it seems like an additional expense, but with the effectiveness of the tool, the ecologically correct results being very positive and in the long term the effective reduction in the massive use of herbicides, the technology certainly pays for itself and is viable for crops” , highlights the Co-CEO.
American farmers who will participate in the research, adopting the technology, will need to follow safety protocols, as will all of the company's customers in Brazil and Europe. “The person operating the machine is not at risk of electric shock, but caution is needed when applying it”, reports the researcher.
During trials, Moretti's team will test the effectiveness of the method on different types, densities and ages of weeds, various types of soil, in various types of climate and with different stresses.
The United States and Canada are the world's largest producers and consumers of blueberries. In the Southern Hemisphere, Chile and Peru are the main ones and in Brazil there is also cultivation of this fruit. Here it focuses on states with milder climates and a typical winter season, such as Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná and regions of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Recently there was also support from producers in the Midwest.
The fruit has a bittersweet flavor and functional characteristics. With its consumption it became popular throughout the world and nationally due to its high content of natural antioxidants, mainly due to its use in confectionery. With the addition of new blueberry producers in the country, the possibility of implementing Zasso Group technology here in another crop also increases.
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