Promising directions for the creation and use of technical means for weed control in the system of organic farming

Annotation Purpose. Reduction of labor costs for the production of organic vegetable products through the creation and use of new methods and techniques for weed control. Methods. Monographic, analytical, abstract-logical, structural modeling, design and manufacture of alternative technical means for the implementation of effective methods of weed control in the system of organic farming. Results. The main alternative methods and technical means for weed control in the system of organic farming in the world and in Ukraine are identified. Currently, alternative methods of weed control are weed control by flame, hot water and steam, and electropulse weed control. In fire cultivation, when the soil heating temperature does not exceed 70 °C, proteins in weed plants are damaged in the “thread” stage. In phase 4–6 the leaves, at the same temperature, destroy up to 90 %, and in the later phase of development – up to 75 % of weeds. Conclusions. An analysis of research and publications has shown that the use of known mechanical, thermal and electropulse weed control methods in various technological operations for growing crops will allow effective weed control in organic farming without the use of chemicals. The high-precision navigation system developed in the NSC “IAEE”, which is capable of carrying out a machine-tractor unit at a predetermined trajectory with a deviation of ±2 cm, will solve the problem of combating weeds in the ranks of vegetables and ingun crops in the system of organic farming. Keywords: organic farming, fire cultivation, weed control, steam and hot water, electropulse action.