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

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.

Comparison between flaming, mowing and tillage weed control in the vineyard: Effects on plant community, diversity and abundance

“…The vineyard (cv: Merlot), located in Buttrio (Udine, Italy), was 16 years old and trained to a bi-lateral Guyot, tied to a supporting wire at approx. 1.00 m above the ground [11]. The vines were spaced 1.15 m on the row and 2.80 m between the rows.…”

“…The vines were spaced 1.15 m on the row and 2.80 m between the rows. Until year 2017, the vineyard was managed using sod alleys (i.e., permanent ground cover between the rows) and a combination of tillage and herbicide application to control weeds under the vines (rows) [11]. A field experiment was performed during the growing seasons of years 2018 and 2019 to compare the effect of flaming (with two intensities), tillage and mowing on weed control on the row in the vineyard.…”

“…in organic farming [7]. Traditional flame weeding involves significant fossil fuel consumption, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) [8,9], propane [10] or diesel oil, but recently an innovative biomass-fueled flaming device (CS Thermos, San Vendemiano, TV, Italy) has been proposed to allow a more sustainable approach to weed control in the vineyards, able to reduce green-house gases (GHG) emissions and fuel costs [11].…”

“…In rainy climates, where weed growth rate is particularly high, weed control between vineyard rows is typically done by mowing or shredding [11]; however, weed control under the rows is critical, due to the difficulty of reaching the vine area and to the possibility of damaging trunks and roots [11]. Mechanical methods for weed control, such as tillage and mowing, are applied with a pool of different machines, commonly equipped with automatic vine-skipping devices to avoid plant damages [14].…”

“…Mechanical methods for weed control, such as tillage and mowing, are applied with a pool of different machines, commonly equipped with automatic vine-skipping devices to avoid plant damages [14]. Mechanical methods, however, have a number of downsides, including the need of repeated applications (4-6 per year) at low working speeds (2-4 km/h), incomplete weed control around trunks and posts, limitations on wet soils, erosion risks due to tillage in hilly vineyards [11].…”