One potential alternative to chemical weed control is the use of microwave radiation, a particular form of indirect thermal weeding. Absorption of microwave radiation causes water molecules within the tissue to oscillate, thereby converting electromagnetic energy into heat. This technique is rapid, versatile and effective, as the electromagnetic waves heat the plant tissue and destroy cellular integrity. The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential use of dielectric heating for weed management. Ten weed species representing monocots and dicots were selected for this study: southern crabgrass, dallisgrass, yellow nutsedge, fragrant flatsedge, false green kyllinga, common ragweed, field bindweed, henbit, white clover, and pitted morningglory. There was a lag or warm up period between energizing the magnetron and actual microwave radiation production. To eliminate the gap between electric power supplied to magnetron and actual microwave radiation produced, a conveyer was used. Overall injury to grasses, sedges and broadleaf weeds was higher at each dose when weeds were treated by microwave radiation while moving on a conveyer in comparison to being stationary. Grasses showed slightly more tolerance to microwave treatments in comparison to broadleaf weeds. Older weeds (8 to 10 weeks old) showed more tolerance to microwave treatments in comparison to younger weed plants (4 to 6 weeks old). Microwave radiation was able to control a range of weed species, although larger weeds were more likely to regrow after treatment. Ambient temperature had a significant effect on injuries caused by microwave radiation to target weeds, with control increasing as the air temperature increased. Weed control using microwave radiation required more energy when weeds were treated at 13 C compared to 35 C. More energy was needed at lower air temperatures to raise the plant canopy temperature from ambient levels to beyond the biological limit. Microwave radiation at lower doses caused greater injury to common chickweed and yellow woodsorrel than bermudagrass, suggesting the potential for selective weed control in certain situations. A custom built microwave applicator provided similar control of emerged weeds as the contact herbicides diquat and acetic acid. / Ph. D.

The dissertation has set the aim to determine the influence of a high-temperature environment on highly resistant to thermal killing. Not all weeds equally respond to the thermal effect when wet water vapour is applied for thermal weed control. After thermal destruction of the above-ground part some varieties of weeds spring up again. Analysis of the morphological structure of weeds and their responsiveness to wet water vapour allows weed classification into three groups: weeds of low resistance to thermal killing, those of high resistance to thermal killing (meadow-grass and rosette weeds) and of very high resistance to thermal killing. If the thermal control of these weeds is carried out too late, weeds overgrow cultivated plants, which results in harvest losses. In order to improve the technology of thermal weed control it was necessary evaluate the parameters of a high-temperature environment, the morphological structure of weeds highly resistant to thermal killing, stages of weed growth and development, the influence of air inter-layers in weed leaves on the spread of a high-temperature field to deeper tissues, and the influence of the angle of tilt of weed leaves on thermal control. This paper analyses the influence of the aforementioned factors on the control of weeds highly resistant to thermal destruction and proposes measures for the formation of a high-temperature environment intended for a more efficient thermal control of weeds using wet water vapour. / Darbo tikslas – nustatyti aukštatemperatūrės aplinkos poveikį sunkiai termiškai sunaikinamoms piktžolėms. Terminei piktžolių kontrolei naudojant drėgną vandens garą, ne visos piktžolės vienodai reaguoja į terminį poveikį. Termiškai sunaikinus antžeminę dalį, atskiros piktžolių rūšys po kurio laiko atželia. Išnagrinėjus piktžolių morfologinę sandarą ir piktžolių jautrumą drėgnam vandens garui, galima piktžoles suskirstyti į tris grupes: lengvai termiškai sunaikinamos, sunkiai termiškai sunaikinamos (miglinės ir skrotelinės piktžolės) ir labai sunkiai termiškai sunaikinamos piktžolės. Terminėje piktžolių kontrolėje didelę problemą kelia sunkiai termiškai sunaikinamos piktžolės. Suvėlinus šių piktžolių terminę kontrolę, piktžolės stelbia žemės ūkio augalus, patiriami derliaus nuostoliai. Norint tobulinti piktžolių terminės kontrolės technologiją teko įvertinti aukštatemperatūrės aplinkos parametrus, sunkiai termiškai sunaikinamų piktžolių morfologinę sandarą, piktžolių augimo ir vystymosi tarpsnius, piktžolių lapų oro tarpsluoksnių įtaką aukštatemperatūrio lauko plitimui į gilesnius audinius, piktžolių lapų posvyrio kampo įtaką terminei kontrolei. Šiame darbe yra nagrinėjama minėtų veiksnių įtaka sunkiai termiškai sunaikinamų piktžolių kontrolei, bei siūlomos sprendimo priemonės formuojant aukštatemperatūrę aplinką efektyvesnei terminei piktžolių kontrolei drėgnuoju vandens garu.