Operative and environmental performance of a hot-foam machine for the herbicide-free weeding of the vineyard

Abstract

The elimination of chemical herbicides use is a key factor in vineyards, particularly in the case of biological cultivation. The machines employed for mechanical weeding under the vine row are often characterised by low travelling speeds and therefore also by a low working capacity. A new solution is the application of hot foam, to transmit heat to weeds. A hot-foam machine for the herbicide-free weeding of vineyards was then developed, to produce and deposit foam directly onto weeds. The foam strips produced were approximately 40 cm width and 20-25 cm height, with a temperature exceeding 75°C. The future success of this environmentally sustainable technique will be the identification of a 100% naturally biodegradable and long-lasting foam, to maximize heat transmission to weeds.