Earlier this year, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA (DPIRD) issued a statement saying it was joining with AGXTEND Europe, a CNH Industrial business, to test a device that uses electricity to non-selectively kill weeds.

The research has co-investment from GRDC, Wine Australia, WA consultants, AHA Viticulture and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation.

According to DPIRD, the Swiss-made Zasso Electroherb machine is based on Brazilian technology.

In a 2022 GRDC Update video, DPIRD’s Miranda Slaven says the machine is powered via a tractor’s power take-off to produce a high voltage current, which is applied directly to weeds via a series of electrodes mounted behind or in front of the tractor.

She says that to achieve optimum weed control, the tractor travels up to four kilometres per hour, however, DPIRD researchers will test the machine at faster speeds.

“The non-selective electric weeding process works by passing electricity through a weed following contact with the electrical applicator’s electrodes. This causes the cell walls to be destroyed, killing the plant, or suppressing growth,” Ms Slaven says.

“The machine has not been tested under Australian conditions before. It is used in European horticulture and viticulture and for urban and industrial weed control, including roadsides.”

Ms Slaven says a preliminary experiment looking at weed morphology indicated volunteer crops and grass weeds could be the hardest to control, due to the plants' high surface area and extensive branching of roots and shoots.

“It will be tested initially for weed control on viticulture and horticulture properties and later along roadsides and fence lines, as well as for fallow weed control,” she says.

“We will target herbicide-resistant weeds such as annual ryegrass, wild radish and problematic weeds including feathertop Rhodes grass and fleabane.”

More information: Miranda Slaven, miranda.slaven@dpird.wa.gov.au