Design and Fabrication of a Microwave Weed Killer Device for Weed Control Applications

Abstract

In this paper, the design and the results of a microwave radiation system for agriculture applications is discussed. The system is fabricated and successfully tested on weed seeds. The device, which uses a commercial 1 kW magentron, proved to be effective for preventing the germination control of popular weeds of Iran. Seven weed species were tested separately by using this system and then the irradiated soil was cultivated in a greenhouse. The results show that by increasing soil temperature up to 70 o C, the germination rate of weed seeds is less than 20 percent (in some cases zero percent). It should be mentioned that the safety of the system is also studied according to ICNIRP standard. NOMENCLATURET P T otal power (W) 0 Vacuum permittivity (Fardays m -1 ) G Antenna Gain ′′ Complex dielectric permittivity (Faradays m -1 ) av W Average Power Density (w m -2 ) Electric field (V m -1 ) APD Absorbed Power Density Angular frequency of the microwaves (Rad s -1 ) min r