Apparatus to electrically kill a plant or at least attenuate plant growth comprising an electrical energy processing unit and an electrical continuity system, the electrical energy processing unit to transmit processed electrical energy between an applicator electrode of an applicator unit and an earth electrode of an earth unit, the electrical continuity system comprising: a signal generator configured to generate a continuity signal and to transmit said signal around a continuity circuit including, or in operational proximity to, one or both of the said electrode(s); a signal processing arrangement configured to at least partially isolate the transmitted continuity signal from the processed electrical energy; a control circuit operable to: determine, using said isolated continuity signal or a property related thereto, an electrical continuity between the ground and one or both of the said electrodes; control, using said determined electrical continuity, the processed electrical energy.

A method and apparatus for the management of a soil pest is disclosed and which includes a source of high voltage electricity; at least one capacitor for storing the high voltage electricity; a multiplicity of electrodes inserted into a soil location having a soil pest to be managed, and an electrical switch which is controllably opened and closed so as to form a pulse of electricity which is passed through the soil location and between the electrodes so as to effect the management of the soil pest.

An electrical energy processing unit of apparatus to kill a plant or at least attenuate plant growth, the electrical energy processing unit comprising: a converter configured to receive unprocessed electrical energy from an electrical energy source, to convert the unprocessed electrical energy to processed electrical energy and to output said processed electrical energy to an applicator unit; a control circuit operable to control the converter to convert the unprocessed electrical energy to the processed electrical energy, wherein the processed electrical energy comprises a waveform with a frequency of at least 18 kHz and with a peak voltage of at least 1 kV.

The invention relates to plant control and agriculture technology. More specifically a method and device for reducing or eliminating invasive alien plants, live pests or weeds located in frozen soil, wherein the method and device is adapted for generating microwave radiation with a frequency from about 915 MHz to about 24 GHZ.

An autonomous ground vehicle for agricultural plant and soil management operations. According to some embodiments, autonomous ground vehicle includes: a camera unit configured to generate images of agricultural ground soil and plant organisms, a first mechanical arm having an end effector comprising a hoe portion and an electrode portion, a second mechanical arm having an end effector comprising an electrode portion, a high voltage booster electrically connected to the electrode portions, an electronic memory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions; one or more processors in electronic communication with the electronic memory storage medium, configured to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in an electronic memory storage medium for implementing a plant species control management operation comprising electrical control and mechanical control options.

A method for the management of a soil pest or pathogen is disclosed and which includes a source of high voltage electricity; at least one capacitor for storing the high voltage electricity; a multiplicity of electrodes inserted into a soil location having a soil pest and/or pathogen to be managed; and an electrical switch which is controllably opened and closes so as to form a pulse of electricity which is passed through the soil location and between the electrodes so as to effect the management of the soil pest and/or pathogen

Embodiments of an apparatus and methods can removing unwanted plants or weeds from an area such as an agricultural plot or lawn. The apparatus includes a three-dimensional imager configured to capture plant images and locate plants; an image processor configured to distinguish between wanted and unwanted plants based upon the captured plant images; at least one laser device configured to emit a laser beam having power sufficient to damage the unwanted plants; a guidance system configured to direct at least one laser beam toward the unwanted plant; and a chassis configured to support the three-dimensional imager, the laser device, and the guidance system. The chassis is configured to be moved across the area.

A method for weed control, including: (a) providing an electrode coupled to a power source via a power provision arrangement; and (b) delivering an electrostatic shock on or near a weed plant via the electrode. A device for performing electrostatic weeding, including: (a) an electrode; (b) a handle, coupled to the electrode; and (c) a power provision arrangement operationally coupled to a power source, the power provision arrangement being in electrical communication with the electrode; wherein the electrode is adapted to provide an electrostatic shock to a weed plant so as to damage or destroy the weed plant.

A change of state of weed seeds to having reduced germination viability in under one minute by illuminating a seed with at least one of 2 J/cm.sup.2 cumulative illumination energy, and 0.2 W/cm.sup.2 irradiance, but no more than 7 W/cm.sup.2 average irradiance, of at least one of an Indigo Region Illumination Distribution (IRID), and infrared radiation that is substantially Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR) radiation, preferably 2-8 microns. The MWIR radiation from heated borosilicate glass or glass powder at just under 500 C offered a peak MWIR emission of 3.75 microns was unexpectedly effective, and can be used in a radiant and transmissive weed seed accumulator transport belt. The process can be incorporated into a harvester combine to convert a tailings flow prior to discharge on an agricultural field. An illuminated harvest combine using an illuminator according to the invention allows reduction of the weed seed bank.

Embodiments of an apparatus and methods can removing unwanted plants or weeds from an area such as an agricultural plot or lawn. The apparatus includes a three-dimensional imager configured to capture plant images and locate plants; an image processor configured to distinguish between wanted and unwanted plants based upon the captured plant images; at least one laser device configured to emit a laser beam having power sufficient to damage the unwanted plants; a guidance system configured to direct at least one laser beam toward the unwanted plant; and a chassis configured to support the three-dimensional imager, the laser device, and the guidance system. The chassis is configured to be moved across the area.