Testing of Roller-Crimper-and-Undercutting-Blade-Equipped Prototype for Plants Termination

The use of roller crimpers to terminate plants and obtain a natural mulch before cash crop establishment has been identified as valid sustainable approach control weeds. Several enhancements have evaluated improve speed up plant termination avoid delays in planting consequent yield losses, which can occur with standard crimpers. In the present study, new prototype machine provided crimper an undercutting blade, allowing it simultaneously crimp stems cut root systems, designed, realized, tested. aim research was therefore evaluate effectiveness for compare commercial crimper. performed on spontaneous vegetation cover (weeds). A monophasic exponential decay model weed rate over time performed. fitted showed that is able achieve greater faster devitalization compared crimper, lower plateau (0.23 vs. 5.35 % greenness material, respectively) higher constant (1.45 0.39 day−1, respectively). Further studies are needed prototype’s relation different soil textures, moisture conditions, amounts biomass manage, further extend its broad range situations, including termination.