Investigation of the effectiveness of AC/DC electric current as a weed control method using NDVI technique

Abstract:

Due to the negative environmental effects of herbicides, restrictions are imposed in many developed countries and the transition to alternative methods is encouraged. Upon these restrictions and prohibitions, non-chemical weed control methods have been started to be developed. One of these alternative weed control methods is the electric current method.

Background:

Using multiple electrodes, the mortality rates were measured by exposing the plants germinated in laboratory conditions to AC and DC currents for different periods.

Objective:

In this study, the effects of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) on the mortality rates of plants were investigated.

Methods:

By comparing the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) values measured before and 1 week after the plants were exposed to electrical current, the effect of AC/DC on the mortality rate was determined.

Results:

While mortality was between 11% and 17% for AC, mortality occurred at a rate of 31% in plants that had 300 volts DC applied for 350 s.

Conclusions:

The degrees (r) of these relationships were 79.7% and 95.7%, respectively. According to these results, mortality rates increased as the voltage increased.

Keywords:
Environment; Herbicide; Electrical/Mechanical Weed Control