Energy and Economics of Electrical Weed Control

ENERGY requirements of an Electrical Discharge System* (EDS), for weed control were determined in 10 field experiments. The EDS unit used an average of 8.0 L/ha of diesel fuel while operating at 4.7 km/h and treating 3.0 ha/h at a field efficiency of 94 percent. Economic comparisons were made between the EDS weeder, a herbicide roller, and a recirculating sprayer. The electric weeder needed to be used on 210 ha/year to equal the same per hectare cost as the roller applicator and 920 ha/year to equal the same unit cost as the recir-culating sprayer. These costs were for machine owner-ship and operation costs including labor but disregarded the weed control effectiveness and crop yield variations.