{"id":16556,"date":"2025-05-01T22:21:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T02:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growiwm.org\/?page_id=16556"},"modified":"2025-11-12T16:40:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T21:40:35","slug":"weed-electrocution","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/growiwm.org\/weed-electrocution\/","title":{"rendered":"Weed Electrocution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Weed Electrocution <\/h1>\n\t\t\t
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Weed electrocution<\/strong>, also known as electrical weed control<\/strong>, is a non-selective, non-chemical method in which electricity passes through the plant, including some root tissue, leading to cell rupture and death. Weed electrocution can be highly effective against a broad spectrum of weeds, even at later growth stages, with minimal soil disturbance. Many factors can influence the effectiveness of electrical weed control, including weed density, species, and plant and soil moisture. Electrical weed control is seldom used as a standalone tactic, rather, it is considered a supplemental strategy to other weed management tactics. Use the accordions below to explore more details on this practice. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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A pigweed wilts and begins to die after being electrocuted by an electrical weeder unit called the Weed Zapper on a Maryland farm. (Photo credit: Claudio Rubione, GROW)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is the history of weed electrocution?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The first versions of electrical weed control emerged in the late 1800s, with the first U.S. patent registered in 1890. However, research in row crops using electrical weed control didn\u2019t begin until the 1970s, with a study by Dr. Michael Diprose in sugar beets. Diprose worked with the first commercially available electrical weeder, manufactured in the 1980s, and marketed as the Lasco LW5 Lightning Weeder. Fast-forward to today, and several iterations of weed electrocution units are commercially available from multiple manufacturers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow does weed electrocution kill weeds? \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Weed electrocution units transfer high-voltage electrical current into targeted plants. The high-voltage current passes through plant and root tissues and then into the ground. The plant material acts as a resistor, converting the electrical current into heat. The heat results in membrane disruption, cell rupture, and eventual plant death.<\/p>\n

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Currently, two types of electrical weed control tools are commercially available: spark-discharge<\/strong> and continuous electrode-contact<\/strong>. Both types can deliver similar amounts of electric current but differ in how it is transmitted. The spark-discharge unit, which was the initial design for this technology, discharges a high-voltage current when weeds come into contact with a single electrode. The electrode is often a copper bar placed above the crop so that current only reaches weeds taller than the canopy (Figure 2).<\/p>\n

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The continuous-contact units create a circuit between two sets of electrodes, the weed and the soil (Figure 3). The electrodes drag along the ground, delivering current to any plants that come into contact (Figure 4). Continuous-contact electrical weeders can be used for burndown prior to planting or, if shielded, can only target weeds between crop rows. Both types of electrical weeders are powered by the tractor power take-off (PTO) and are effective in various cropping systems.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat weed species and row crops are best suited to weed electrocution? \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The suitability of weed electrocution is highly dependent on the type of machine (spark-discharge or continuous electrode-contact) and the cropping system.<\/p>\n

Spark-discharge electrical weed control: <\/strong>
\nThe spark-discharge method is used in row crops such as soybeans and even some vegetables, when the weeds are taller than the crop canopy. The spark discharge method uses an unshielded electrode ranging from 20 to 40 feet long that is positioned above the crop canopy (Figure 2).<\/p>\n

Research results from the University of Missouri <\/a>demonstrated that a spark-discharge electrical weeder called the Weed Zapper (Old School Manufacturing) provided the best control of waterhemp in soybeans (achieving 96% control 42 days after treatment). This level of control was most effective when there were consistent height differences between the crop and the weed, which occurred at the R6 soybean stage in this study. Conversely, waterhemp control was much lower (54% control at 42 days after treatment) when the plants were shorter than the crop.<\/p>\n

The researchers also tested the machine on various summer annual broadleaf weeds and found that it provided over 95% control of horseweed, common ragweed, and giant ragweed. This level of control was achieved when the weeds were pollinating or at seed set and were well above the soybean canopy. Similar control (greater than 95%) was achieved on grass species such as barnyardgrass, giant foxtail, and yellow foxtail at reproductive growth stages (flowering, pollination, and seed set). This study also found that efficacy across all species was greatest when plant moisture was higher, and the plants were not under drought stress. The researchers also reported that targeting weeds at later growth stages, either during or after seed development, reduced seed viability by 54 to 80%, depending on the species. As demonstrated by research at Cornell University<\/a>, the downside to this timing is that weeds will have already competed with the crop prior to control, potentially resulting in yield losses. Additionally, the spark-discharge method of electrical weed control would not be compatible with shorter weed species that persist below the crop canopy.<\/p>\n

Continuous-contact electrical weed control:<\/strong>
\nThe continuous-contact electrical weed control units are often designed to be deployed on smaller weeds in fallow, roadside or other non-crop environments, or orchards and vineyards (Figures 3, 4, and 8). Inter-row units are currently being developed and tested in vegetable and agronomic crops. To date, there is little published research using continuous-contact electrical weeders. Preliminary findings have reported that continuous-contact electrocution is equally effective on both grasses and broadleaf weeds when weeds are under 10 inches tall. For larger weeds, slow travel speeds or multiple passes will likely be needed for effective control.<\/p>\n

Research at Oregon State University<\/a> has focused on perennial weed control in blueberry and hazelnut. The results showed that a single treatment applied at a slower operational speed (less than 1 mph), provided effective initial control of Canada thistle, although some regrowth was observed over time. Two or three consecutive passes at a faster speed (1 to 2 mph) over a four-week interval significantly improved effectiveness, achieving up to 90% control. The continuous-contact electrical weeder also demonstrated promising results for yellow nutsedge, reducing tuber viability by 43 to 55% depending on application speed and timing, contributing to population declines in subsequent seasons. Multiple passes targeting actively growing shoots were the most effective. Many factors influence this technology’s effectiveness, including weed species, size, density, travel speed, and soil\/plant moisture. More research is needed to understand how these parameters influence weed control efficacy with continuous-contact electrical weeders.<\/p>\n

Finally, there is ongoing research at both Texas A&M and Oregon State University to evaluate spark-discharge electrical weeders as tools for cover crop termination, with varying results depending on cover crop species. Read more here: https:\/\/growiwm.org\/could-we-shock-cover-crops-for-termination\/.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhere in the row crop growing season does weed electrocution fit best? \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The best time to deploy electrical weed control in your weed management system will depend on the crop and the type of electrical weeder. As previously mentioned, spark-discharge weeders require a height difference between the weed and the crop to be effective. In taller crops like corn, where weeds are typically beneath the canopy, the spark-discharge electrocution method would not be feasible for most of the growing season. This method is more suitable for shorter crops such as soybeans, peanuts, and cotton. In soybean, the spark-discharge method seems to fit best later in the season, as a rescue treatment managing tall weeds that have escaped previous weed control methods. Some organic peanut growers are trying to adapt repeated electric weeding starting shortly after planting and continuing until harvest for more complete weed control.\u00a0 To learn more about how one Maryland farmer is using an electrical weeder on his row crops, see the video below:<\/span><\/p>\n