Field Testing of a Biomass-Fueled Flamer for In-Row Weed Control in the Vineyard

Pergher Pergher,Mainardis Mainardis,Gubiani Gubiani

doi:10.3390/agriculture9100210

Abstract

Concern about the adverse effects of chemicals on the environment and on human health, and increasing restrictions of herbicide use, have led to a renewed interest in non-chemical weed control, particularly under the row of vineyards. A new, biomass-fueled (wood pellet), flaming prototype (CS Thermos, San Vendemiano, TV) was tested in the vineyard during Spring–Summer 2018, and compared with tillage (disc cultivator, weeder blade, and finger blade) and mowing (in-row, vine-skipping mower). Efficacy (in % of weed biomass removed or killed) and re-growth between two applications (in g dry biomass/m2) were assessed for each treatment at two sampling locations (between the vines, and around the vines). Flaming resulted in greater efficacy of weed removal in comparison to tillage (blade weeder) and mowing, both between the vines (64%–75% versus 44%–68%, and 40%–68%, respectively) and around the vines (56%–78%, 39%–46%, and 37%–48%, respectively). However, five applications of tillage significantly reduced total weed growth until 27 July (by 26%) between vines in comparison to three applications of flaming, while no significant differences were found around vines. Such findings suggest that more frequent applications of flaming may be needed to give average weed control comparable to that of tillage, while improving it close to the vine trunks. Advantages and disadvantages of the prototype versus tillage and mowing, and versus conventional, LPG-fueled flamers are discussed in the paper.

Highlights

Weed control is an important practice in vineyard management
Such findings suggest that more frequent applications of flaming may be needed to give average weed control comparable to that of tillage, while improving it close to the vine trunks
Advantages of the biomass-fueled prototype versus conventional, LPG-fueled flamers are: The use of a renewable fuel; lower fuel costs; and the possibility of further savings by using vine wood pellet produced in the farm from pruning residuals

Summary

Introduction

Weed control is an important practice in vineyard management. Its primary objective is to reduce weed competition with the crop for water, nutrients, and sunlight (especially in low trellis systems).Additional benefits for weed control are improving air circulation to reduce the incidence of diseases, reducing cover for voles and other rodents, and improving harvest efficiency [1,2].In rainy climates, such as that of the North-East of Italy, weeds between the rows of vineyards are commonly controlled by mowing or shredding, in order to keep a permanent sod (weed cover) which is fundamental to improve traffic on wet soils (esp. for pesticide application), and to reduce soil erosion in hilly vineyards. Weed control in the row is, more critical because of the difficulty of reaching the area under the vines, and the risk of damaging the trunks and roots Traditional, mechanical methods, such as tillage and mowing, can be applied with a variety of specialized machines, mostly provided with automatic vine-skipping mechanisms to avoid damage to the crop [3,4]. All of them have several constraints such as: the need of repeated applications (4–6 per year) at low working speeds (2–4 km/h); weed control around vine trunks and posts is never complete, and damage to vine roots and trunks may still occur; limitations on wet soil and weeds; and risk of erosion from tillage in hilly vineyards. Brushes [4] can perform better around trunks and posts, and work faster, but typically damage the vine trunks, causing wounds that can increase the risk of Agriculture 2019, 9, 210; doi:10.3390/agriculture9100210 www.mdpi.com/journal/agriculture

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