NL1042461B1

NL1042461B1 - A method for combined mechanical haulm puiling and root undercutting combined with sensor controlled precision chemical spot treatment application system for potato haulm killing

Info

Publication number: NL1042461B1
Application number: NL1042461A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Regnerus Piet; Regnerus Wilko
Original assignee: Regnerus Wilko; Piet Regnerus Mba
Priority date: 2017-07-12
Filing date: 2017-07-12
Publication date: 2019-01-28

Abstract

An environmentally friendly and broadly applicable method and device for destruction of foliage and undercut roots from root crops while the latter remain in the ground, for example but not limited to, potatoes. The invention, a combined haulm puller and root under cutter combined with a sensor controlled spot sprayer, consisting at least out of one unit for haulm puiling, one root under cutting unit and one sensor controlled spot sprayer unit. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is secured to the tooi bar of a tractor for destruction of haulm and roots from row crops. The invention allows a sustainable potato haulm destruction, reducing late/ tuber blight infection and virus spread, improving and speeding skin-set, stolon and root separation, the regulation of tuber size and prevent regrowth of potatoes.

Description

TITLE: A method for combined mechanical haulm pulling and root undercutting combined with sensor controlled precision chemical spot treatment application system for potato haulm killing

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an environmentally friendly and broadly applicable method and device for mechanical haulm pulling and root undercutting combined with sensor controlled precision chemical spot treatment application system for removing and destruction of potato haulm and root. The invention consists at least out of one unit for mechanically haulm pulling, one unit for under cutting root and one sensor controlled precision chemical spot treatment unit. The invention allows mechanically and spot specific chemical application potato haulm destruction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Haulm destruction is a common method to remove potato haulm/vine from growing (seed) potatoes. Foliage destruction prevents transmission of virus from the shoots to the tubers. Other reasons for potato haulm destruction are reducing late/ tuber blight infection, improving and speeding skin-set and stolon separation, the regulation of tuber size and prevent re-growth of potatoes. The destruction may be achieved in two ways, chemically or mechanically. The invention relates to a mechanically method and device for haulm pulling and root undercutting combined with a sensor controlled selective chemical spot treatment dosing system according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention relates to a method for pulling potato haulm according to the pre amble of claim 6. It is noted that such a haulm puller and such a method is known from patents US2544024, EP0980644A1 and NL1009902. The invention also relates to a method of mechanically under cutting roots. Such an undercutting apparatus is known from patent W08801830, NL9101405 and EP091747A1. And the invention relates to a method of sensor controlled chemical spot treatment. It is noted that such an apparatus is known from patent WO 2004005625 Al, US 4206569. These patents describe a method that relates to the distribution of herbicides by sprayers which are sensor activated. Cited patents are apparatus used separately and never have been combined before in one method and device. That is why the invention combines the three different methods in one embodiment.

Potatoes have been an important high-value crop in the World and future growth is expected. Rising welfare has created a bigger need for potatoes around the World. Potato haulm destruction prior to potato harvest is a wide used method. Reasons for potato haulm destruction are reducing late/tuber blight infection and virus spread, improving and speeding skin-set and stolon separation, the regulation of tuber size and prevent re-growth of potatoes. Numerous strategies, eguipment, and chemicals for dealing with potato haulm destruction have been developed over the years. Conventional potato haulm destruction strategies include use of chemicals via spray application, spray application of chemicals in combination with mechanical pulverizing or stripping to potato haulms, convective or radiant heating of potato haulm via combustion of propane or other combustible fuels and mechanical methods like haulm pulling and root undercutting. Each approach has its advantages and drawbacks. Chemical haulm destruction is most used due to high capacity and low costs. Chemicals used in (seed)potato production quickly destroy the haulm shoots within a few days. More spray applications are often required to kill newly formed shoots. Haulms can also be destroyed mechanically by haulm pulling: this method breaks the stolons and removes haulms in one performance. Mechanical potato haulm destruction by haulm pulling is the most sustainable of all methods, but has higher direct costs. Another drawback of mechanically haulm pulling is the weather dependency of this method. When the circumstances are not optimal, like wet or extreme dry conditions, haulm pulling frequently is ineffective for a hundred percent haulm removal in one performance, with an extra chemical spray application as a result. Therefore, it is the object of the invention to overcome these drawbacks and disadvantages.

Although much has been done to enhance selectivity, provide rapid breakdown, and otherwise reduce undesirable environmental and ecological effects of haulm destructive chemicals, there is an increasing concern about the long-term effects on agricultural sustainability and society as a whole of continued use of chemicals. Residues from agricultural potato haulm destruction chemicals are found in harvested crop products as well as in ponds, streams and rivers. Residues of chemicals are even found in aquifers as well as rural or municipal water supplies. As a result, chemicals for haulm destruction are under continual review due to their potential off-site impacts to water ways, the environment, food safety and human health. Therefore, managing potato quantity, quality and a sustainable growing process is critical to maintaining a future 'licence to operate' . But potato growers facing a big challenge to reduce the amount of chemicals used. That is why the invention combines three methods: mechanically haulm pulling, root under cutting and a sensor controlled selective chemical spot treatment application system. In this way, cut down of chemical agent usage for potato haulm destruction is maximized and the, under difficult circumstances, ineffective haulm removal by the haulm pulling mechanism is corrected with a hundred percent haulm destruction in one application as a result.

In view of environmental risks associated with the application of chemicals in agriculture, non-chemical or integrated precision spot treatment for potato haulm destruction are preferred. But agriculture potato growers leave little room for error, as unwanted plant growth, after haulm destruction, may pose potato tubers to late/tuber blight infection and virus spread. Destruction of potato haulm securely at all times and circumstances is obviously crucial for quality of potatoes, and this has led to the development of the invention.

Originally, precision spot treatment chemical application devices came about in the form of a pavement precision sprayers. Mounted on an agile and robust quad bike, the precision sprayers and sensors on these pavement sprayers spot even the tiniest weed growths, and douse them in a concentrated spray of herbicides. Commercially available sensor controlled precision weed spraying technology for detecting weeds from bare soil are also known in agriculture. However, these precision devices never have been used for potato haulm destruction. The sensitivity of available sensors and spot treatment ensures large areas to be covered with very low chemical usage, and thus very suitable for large scale agriculture crop fields. This makes the sensor controlled precision sprayer technique ideally suited for a combination with mechanically haulm pulling and root undercutting in potato haulm destruction. That is why the invention contributes greatly to a reduced environmental footprint, more food safety and less danger for human health, achieved by the combination of mechanically haulm, root removal and efficient sensor controlled selective chemical spot spray technology, for a hundred percent potato haulm destruction in one performance under every circumstance .

An object of the invention is to provide a sustainable and cost-effective mechanical potato foliage removal method using at least one pair of (contra) rotating or circulating rollers and/or belts disposed in side by side relation as the principal haulm damage mechanism. Pulled haulms ensures cut off feeding of potatoes from surface. This stops the grow of tubers directly and prevents infection of tubers from surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical method and apparatus to undercut roots. The undercutter unit digs below the surface with an oblique blade to cut the roots off that feed the potatoes from the soil. This stops the flow of nutrients and water to the potatoes and induces a state of shock that causes the skin to toughen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus to help effectively destruct non-removed haulm, due to ineffectively working of the mechanically haulm pulling mechanism, generally using sensor controlled spot treatment to provide a haulm destruction method that requires a minimum use of chemicals for haulm destruction.

It is another object of this invention to provide embodiments of apparatus for effective potato haulm destruction, using minimum amounts of chemicals without contaminating agricultural workers, consumers, animals and the environment .

The invention combines non-chemical mechanically haulm pulling and root undercutting with a very accurate and rapid haulm detecting technology to spot spray, non-removed, haulm in a highly efficient and effective manner.

The invention is based on surprising experimental observations that, when the haulm pulling, root undercutting and sensor controlled selective chemical spot treatment are combined, an effective haulm and root destruction is reached in one performance.

Based on those experimental observations, the invention presents a more effective method for destruction of (seed)potato foliage and the like.

The invention aims to a hundred percent haulm destruction in one performance with minimum use of chemicals. To reduce agricultural chemical use, an effective mechanically method of desiccation in potatoes is needed. Therefore, the invention combines three different methods, i.e. potato haulm pulling, root undercutting and sensor controlled selective chemical spraying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprising, a carrying frame (1), haulm pulling assembly (2), root under cutting assembly (3), sensor controlled precision chemical spot treatment application assembly (4) and a photoelectric sensor (8).

The invention could be summarized by the points below: 1. A method and device for removing and destroying the leaf and under cutting roots from crops while the latter remain in the soil, for example but not limited to potatoes (5). The method and device consists of a haulm puller (2) combined with a root under cutter (3) and sensor controlled precision spot spraying system (4) for removing and destruction of potato haulm and roots, comprising: at least one haulm pulling assembly (2) for engaging haulm (6) to be pulled, one root cutting assembly (3) for root to be cut and one sensor controlled precision chemical spot treatment application assembly (4), during movement in a longitudinal direction of treatment along a row of plants, leaving the tubers behind. 2. A combined haulm puller, root under cutter and sensor controlled spot spraying system according to point 1, self-propelled, autonomous driving and/or for connection with a tractor, comprising a frame, containing at least one haulm pulling assembly (2), said pulling unit including one or more disposed rollers and/or belts for haulm to be pulled, and at least one root undercutting assembly (3), said cutting unit including one or more disposed elongated blades for cutting the roots, and at least one sensor controlled spot treatment assembly (4), for precision chemical spot spray application of unpulled haulm and means carried by said frame. 3. A combined haulm puller and root under cutter according to point 1, comprising: a frame, carrying at least one pair of (contra) rotating or circulating rollers and/or belts disposed in side by side relation below said frame, where said rollers and/or belts rotatable supporting the latter longitudinally of said frame to pull the haulm (6) between said rollers and/or belts (2), a root under cutter (3) carried by said frame and mounted lengthwise of said rollers and/or belts, said root under cutter including longitudinally disposed elongated blades, disposed in side by side relation below said frame and said blades to cut off roots from tubers, a sensor controlled precision sprayer spot application unit (4) disposed in side by side relation below said frame and said precision application unit to destroy the unpulled haulm with a chemical dosage. 4. A combined haulm puller, root under cutter and sensor controlled precision spot sprayer according to any one of the preceding points, further comprising at least one, but preferably several haulm pulling, root cutting and sensor controlled precision spot sprayer assemblies (2)(3)(4) located side by side for simultaneously treating plant ridges (7), such as but not limited to potatoes. 5. A combined haulm puller, root under cutter and sensor controlled precision spot sprayer according to points 1-3, in which the pulling units are preferably mounted upfront of the said root cutting and precision spray units on the said carrying frame (1). 6. A combined haulm puller, root under cutter and sensor controlled precision spot sprayer according to point 1-3, in which assembly (2) has a pulling unit hauled over a ridge and/or soil, with two hydraulically, mechanically or electrically driven rollers and/or belts against each other to grip the haulm and pull it out of the ground free from the tubers. Where the rollers and/or belts bear against each other the stems are gripped, and pulled physically out of the soil leaving the tubers behind in the ridge. Ί. Ά combined haulm puller, root under cutter and sensor controlled precision spot sprayer according to point 1-3, in which assembly (3) has one or more disposed elongated blades for cutting the roots beneath the tubers in a ridge and/or soil, as the carrying frame moves forward the said blades undercutting roots from the tubers. The blades move in longitudinal direction below the ridge through the soil cutting off roots, and leaving the tubers behind. 8. A combined haulm puller, root under cutter and method for selectively spot spray application according to point 1-3, in which assembly (4) has one or more photoelectric sensors (8) which automatic detect passing unpulled haulm as the said carrying frame (1) moves along a row of crop. 9. A chemical spraying apparatus (4) mounted on said carrying frame and operatively associated with said sensor along said row of crops; wherein said chemical spraying apparatus will be actuated in response to the presence of unpulled haulm detected by the photoelectric sensor and apply a chemical dosage spot treatment on sensed unpulled haulm as the device moves along a row of crop. 10. The method as recited in points 8 and 9 wherein said sensor comprise a photoelectric transmitter and receiver. 11. A method as pointed in points 8-10 for selectively spot spraying of unpulled haulm, comprising: a photoelectric sensor, a selectively actuatable chemical and water unit; wherein, the chemical and water unit is actuated in response to the presence of unpulled haulm detected by the said sensor, a water tank, a pump, a flow rate meter, a control valve, an injector valve, a spraying frame and at least one nozzle, furthermore the injector valve is connected to a chemical agent tank. 12. The method of killing potato haulm in a field of, for example, potato plants comprising the steps of: a. pulling haulm from the rows of crop, and b. under cutting roots from tubers of the rows of crop, while c. automatically sensing unpulled haulm in the crop row, d. spraying the sensed unpulled haulm responsive to sensing while, and e. by activating the spray nozzle used to spray the sensed haulm.

Claims

1. Inrichting voor het verwijderen en vernietigen van loof en het doorsnijden van de wortels bij knolgewassen terwijl de knollen in de bodem achterblijven, zoals in het bijzonder aardappelen, welke inrichting een looftrekker omvat (2) met een wortelsnijmes (3) en een sensor gestuurd precisie spuitsysteem (4) voor het verwijderen en vernietigen van het loof en de wortels, omvattende ten minste een looftreksamenstel (2) voor het uittrekken van loofstengels (6), een wortelsnij-inrichting (3) om wortels door te snijden en een sensor gestuurde selectieve spuitinrichting (4) welke tijdens beweging in een bewerkingsrichting langs de gewassen beweegt waarbij de knollen in de grond achtergelaten worden.A device for removing and destroying foliage and cutting the roots of tubers while the tubers remain in the soil, such as potatoes in particular, which device comprises a hauler (2) with a carrot cutter (3) and a sensor controlled precision spraying system (4) for removing and destroying the leaves and roots, comprising at least one haulm pull assembly (2) for pulling out haulm stems (6), a carrot cutting device (3) for cutting roots and a sensor-controlled selective spraying device (4) which during movement moves in a processing direction along the crops, leaving the tubers in the ground.

2. Inrichting volgens conclusie 1, zelfrijdend/autonoom rijdend en/of voor verbinding met een trekkend voertuig, voorzien van een frame, dat ten minste bestaat uit een looftreksamenstel (2), waarbij de trekeenheid uit één of meer rollen en/of banden/riemen (3) bestaat voor het lostrekken van loofstengels, een wortelsnij-inrichting met één of meerdere aangebrachte langwerpige messen voor het afsnijden van wortels en tenminste een sensor gestuurd precisie spuitinrichting (4) voor het detecteren en chemisch behandelen van niet los getrokken loofstengeldelen, alles bevestigd aan een frame (1) ·Device as claimed in claim 1, self-driving / autonomous driving and / or for connection to a towing vehicle, provided with a frame, which consists at least of a hauling pull assembly (2), wherein the towing unit consists of one or more rollers and / or tires / belts (3) exist for pulling loose stalks, a root cutting device with one or more elongated blades for cutting roots and at least one sensor-controlled precision spraying device (4) for detecting and chemically treating unplugged leaves, everything attached to a frame (1) ·

3. Inrichting volgens conclusie 1, omvattende een gestel, met ten minste één paar (contra) roterende rollen en/of banden/riemen geplaatst in een zij aan zij relatie on der genoemd frame. De aan het frame verbonden rollen en/of banden/riemen klemmen het loof tussen twee gekoppelde rollen en/of banden/riemen, een wortelsnijgestel, bestaande uit in lengterichting aangebrachte langwerpige messen, welke is aangebracht aan het genoemde frame om de wortels af te snijden van knolgewassen, een sensor gestuurde precisie spuitinrichting geplaatst in een zij aan zij relatie onder het frame voor het nauwkeurig toedienen van een chemische dosis met als doel niet uitgetrokken loofstengeldelen te vernietigen.Device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a frame with at least one pair of (counter) rotating rollers and / or belts / belts placed in a side-by-side relationship of said frame. The rollers and / or belts / belts connected to the frame clamp the foliage between two coupled rollers and / or belts / belts, a carrot cutting frame consisting of elongated knives arranged in longitudinal direction, which is arranged on said frame to cut off the roots of tuberous crops, a sensor-controlled precision sprayer placed in a side-by-side relationship under the frame for accurately administering a chemical dose for the purpose of destroying undrawn foliage.

4. Inrichting volgens conclusies 1-3, verder omvattende ten minste één, maar bij voorkeur meerdere, looftreksa-menstel, wortelsnij-inrichting en een sensor gestuurde precisie spuitinrichting (2) (3) (4) achter elkaar op gesteld voor het gelijktijdig behandelen van planten in ruggen en/of vlakke bodem (7), zoals, maar niet beperkt tot aardappelen.Device as claimed in claims 1-3, further comprising at least one, but preferably several, haulm extractor, root cutting device and a sensor-controlled precision spraying device (2) (3) (4) arranged one behind the other for simultaneous treatment from plants in ridges and / or flat soil (7), such as, but not limited to, potatoes.

5. Inrichting volgens conclusies 1-3, waarbij de looftrek-eenheden bij voorkeur gemonteerd zijn vooraf aan de genoemde wortelsnijeenheden en precisie spuiteenheden aan genoemd frame.The device of claims 1-3, wherein the hauling units are preferably mounted in advance to said root cutting units and precision spraying units on said frame.

6. Inrichting volgens conclusie 1-3, welk samenstel (2) een looftrekeenheid, in lengterichting bewegend over een rug en/of bodem, bestaande uit tenminste twee hydraulisch, mechanisch of elektrisch aangedreven rollen en/of banden/riemen die tegen elkaar ingrijpen om het loof te klemmen en van de knollen los te trekken waarbij de knollen in de grond achterblijven.Device as claimed in claims 1-3, which assembly (2) is a hauling unit, moving longitudinally over a back and / or bottom, consisting of at least two hydraulically, mechanically or electrically driven rollers and / or tires / belts which engage against each other to clamp the foliage and pull it away from the tubers leaving the tubers in the ground.

7. Inrichting volgens conclusie 1-3, waarbij samenstel (3) één of meer aangebrachte langwerpige messen bevat voor het afsnijden van de wortels onder de knollen in een rug en/of vollegrond wanneer het frame in lengterichting beweegt zullen de genoemde messen de wortels onder de knollen doorsnijden waarbij de knollen in de grond achterblijven.Device as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein assembly (3) comprises one or more arranged elongated knives for cutting off the roots among the tubers in a ridge and / or open ground when the frame moves in the longitudinal direction said knives will lower the roots cut the tubers leaving the tubers in the ground.

8. Inrichting volgens conclusie 1-3, welk samenstel (4) een of meer foto-elektrische sensoren (8) bevat welke automatisch niet uitgetrokken loofstengeldelen detecteren als het frame in lengterichting langs een rij gewassen beweegt.Device as claimed in claims 1-3, which assembly (4) comprises one or more photoelectric sensors (8) which automatically detect undrawn foliage parts as the frame moves longitudinally along a row of crops.

9. Een spuiteenheid (4) aangebracht, in combinatie met het looftreksamenstel en wortelsnijinrichting, aan genoemd frame welke gecombineerd met de genoemde sensor langs de rij gewassen beweegt; waarbij genoemde spuitin-richting wordt geactiveerd in reactie op de aanwezigheid van niet uitgetrokken loofstengeldelen, gedetecteerd door de foto-elektrische sensor, en een plaatselijke chemische behandeling geeft na detectie.A spray unit (4) mounted in combination with the haulm pulling assembly and root cutting device on said frame combined with said sensor moves along the row of crops; wherein said sprayer is activated in response to the presence of unexpanded foliage particles detected by the photoelectric sensor, and provides a local chemical treatment after detection.

10. Inrichting volgens conclusies 8 en 9, waarbij de sensor bestaat uit een optische zender en ontvanger.Device according to claims 8 and 9, wherein the sensor consists of an optical transmitter and receiver.

11. Inrichting volgens conclusies 8-10 voor het selectief spuiten van niet, door het looftreksamenstel, uitgetrokken loofstengeldelen, omvattende: een foto-elektrische sensor, een naar keuze bedienbare chemische en water unit; waarbij de chemische en water unit wordt bediend in reactie op de aanwezigheid van niet uitgetrokken loofstengeldelen gedetecteerd door genoemde sensor, een watertank, een pomp, een debietmeter, een regelklep, een injectieventiel, een sproeigestel bestaande uit ten minste één nozzle, waarbij het injec-tieventiel is verbonden aan een tank met een chemisch additief.11. Device as claimed in claims 8-10 for selective spraying of leaves, not pulled out by the foliage assembly, comprising: a photoelectric sensor, a selectively operable chemical and water unit; wherein the chemical and water unit is operated in response to the presence of undrawn foliage parts detected by said sensor, a water tank, a pump, a flow meter, a control valve, an injection valve, a spraying device consisting of at least one nozzle, the injection The valve is connected to a tank with a chemical additive.

12. Werkwijze voor het vernietigen van loof, zoals maar niet beperkt tot aardappelloof, omvattende de volgende stappen: a. het uittrekken van loofstengels van rijen gewassen, en b. het doorsnijden van wortels onder knolgewassen, evenals c. het automatische detecteren van niet uitgetrokken loofstengeldelen, welke d. na detectie automatisch een dosis chemicaliën toedient op niet uitgetrokken (aardappel)loofstengeldelen f. door het activeren van een sproei-nozzle gebruikt voor het sproeien van de gedetecteerde loofstengels.12. Method for destroying foliage, such as but not limited to potato foliage, comprising the following steps: a. Extracting foliage stems from rows of crops, and b. cutting roots among root vegetables, as well as c. the automatic detection of unclaimed foliage money, which d. after detection automatically administers a dose of chemicals on non-extracted (potato) foliage f. by activating a spray nozzle used for spraying the detected foliage stems.