Design and construction of a flamer for weed control

The aim of this study was to develop and field test a weed flamer that can be used for in-row and intra-row weeding. Fort his purpose, a 4-row, 8-torch weed flamer was designed using computer aid and was constructed. Field tests were conducted using a selected weed specie (Convolvulus Arvensis L.). The 4-row weed flamer was used on 60 m long plots and five different LPG doses were applied. The effect of flaming on the selected weed specie was determined with four replications at growth stages of 2-4, 6-8, and 10-12 leaf, and dose-response curves were drawned at 1, 7, and 14 day after treatmentes (DAT). Dry matter levels and weed heights were measured after 14 DAT and the effect of the developed flamer was determined on weed control. The torches can be used either for in-row and intra-row flaming with the machine developed in this study. With proper adjustments and modifications, the flamer can be operated with a protective shield (hood) or can perform open flaming. The unit carrying the torches and protective shield is supported by a four-arm mechanism that is attached to the chassis of the flamer and also proceeds on a tyre on the ground. As such, each unit is able to move up and down depending on the roughness of the ground proving a constant flame application height for the torch. Based on data analysis for the field experiments, The LPG doses necessary for 90% control of the dry matter at 14 DAT for 2-4, 6-8, and 10-12 L stages were found to be 123, 162, and 183 kg ha -1 , respectively.