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Verification of the effectiveness of the mechanical regulation of Rumex spp. with WUZI under different locational conditions

Project


Project code: 04OE019
Contract period: 24.05.2004 - 30.11.2004
Budget: 16,205 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research

As a result of the good success in controlling dock (Rumex spp.) in grassland trials in the years 2002 and 2003, the automotive machine WUZI built by an Austrian farmer was tested in the year 2004 on 10 different grassland areas. The 'trump unit' of WUZI is made up one cutter head, which is positioned above the dock, drops, and tills the plant with its roots in the soil. The project was conducted in collaboration with the advisory boards HDLGN in Hessen, the ÖKORINGs in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, and the Organic Farming demonstration farms. Before and after the use of WUZI, the density of dock was determined on the 10 grassland areas in quadruplicated control-and WUZI-treated plots. The assessment of the output per machine-hour or the output per hectare was conducted after consultation with the farmers. The density of dock was very different and varied from 0,35 dock plants m-² to 3,41 dock plants m-². The result of the dock control of the 10 grassland areas was averaged at 62 % with a range of 35 % to 88 %. The output per machine-hour averaged 260 plants h-1 and a maximum of 437 plants h-1. The prerequisite for good results is a well trained operator. Due to changing personnel, this was not guaranteed at all times. To keep the labor and economic costs low, the mechanical control of dock with WUZI should be carried out early, meaning at a dock plant density of 0,25 to 0,5 plants m-². So, for an expected output of 400-500 plants h-1, the expenditure of time would be 5-12 h ha-1. A survey of the farmers involved showed that 80 % would use WUZI again. At the same time, farmers gave a lot of tips and proposals for optimising WUZI.

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