An electrifying new non-chemical weed killing alternative will soon be tested on WA fields

An all-new non-chemical device that uses electricity to remove weeds will be put through its paces in WA to determine if it could be the future of sustainable weed control. The high-tech Swiss-made Zasso Electroherb machine uses mechanical power to produce a high voltage current, which is applied directly to plants via a series of electrodes mounted behind or in front of a tractor. A joint venture by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and global agricultural goods company Case New Holland Industrial, the WA testing will examine how the device can be used in Australian agriculture to generate cost savings and influence crop yields. It would be the first technology of its kind to be tested under Australian field conditions, but is currently used in Europe on a small scale for horticulture and viticulture properties and for roadside weed control. Electro-weeding works by passing electricity through a plant with an electrical applicator, which causes its cell walls to be destroyed — killing the plant or suppressing growth. DPIRD research scientist Miranda Slaven said electric weed control could be part of an integrated solution to reduce dependence on chemical inputs. “Finding alternative weed control strategies to chemical measures is important in Australia, due to increasing rates of herbicide resistance and increasingly discerning market demands,” she said. The machine is en route to Western Australia and will be commissioned before being rolled out in the field in coming months.