A new approach to under vine weeding was unveiled at EIMA 2016 last month.
The Italian company Caffini launched a novel weed management system, named the “Grass Killer” which was awarded a technical innovation prize.
The system uses high pressure water blasting rather than chemicals to treat under vine weeds.
Caffini says the Grass Killer uses only water pressure applied via a specially designed under vine module fitted to a trailed tank and high pressure pump.
“Instead of using chemicals that are harmful to the environment it exploits the action of the jet at over 1000 bar,” the company explained.
“With such high pressure you can penetrate deep into the ground, up to a few centimetres, to chop the root system of the plant.”
The machine features a 1000 bar piston pump fed from a trailed water tank available in 600, 800, 1000, 1500 or 2000 litre capacity.
The rotating water jet head is fitted on a breakaway arm with the nozzles fitted vertically to jet blast weeds from under the vine in much the same way as any number of shrouded spray systems work.
Chain shrouds are designed to stop flying debris.
The nozzle holder rotates at 600rpm via a hydraulic motor drive and when combined with the recommended travel speed of 2.5 kilometres an hour, ensures a uniform coverage of the treatment area.
The Grass Killer uses about 2000 litres of water per hectare on 2.5 metre wide vine rows, according to the company.
Caffini reckons the water powered weeding system can solve the weed problem for a year with just two annual applications.