CA2168040A1 - Process for treating plants by injuring aerial plant parts with a blasting material - Google Patents

Abstract

A process is described for the treatment of plants on agricultural land and non-agricultural land by injuring the aerial plant parts with a blasting material. To this end, plant treatment substances are applied to the aerial parts of the plants before or while the latter are injured in such a way that these plant treatment substances are immediately absorbed by the plants (23) due to their injured surfaces Further, a device and a finely particulate blasting material are described for carrying out this process.

Description

~16~0~

~ROCESS FOR TREATING PLANTS BY INJIJRING THE AER~AL PLANT PARTS
WITH A BLASTrNG MATER~AL

The invention is d;.~:ted to a process for ~ plants on ~c~ ral and non-ag~cultural land by injuling the aerial plant parts ~rith a blasting material, to a de~nce for c~g out thi~ process, ~nd to the blasting r~t~nsl In ~o~n a~culture, plant l~t~\e~ subst~nG~ such as herbicides, fil~lEycide~, in~,c~;ci~1~c, leaf fertiliz~s, micron~trients, and growth rrgulot~rs are Ghiefly applied by means of S~)f~iilg devlces having a supply r~ oir, a pump, and spray n~ ordc~ to achieve the desired effect in this known pro~s it is generaLly ~ecescory to apply ~ese ,.u.lbst,~nt~
rela~ively high doses since o~ly a sm~ll portion of the svb~ ces is effective due tn the fact that the plants are protected agai~st the penetration offoreign su~st~n~e,~ by an external waxy film called the cuticle. 'rhis cuticle represents a co~siderable ba~rier against the penetration of the phytoac~ve subs~lc~s mentioIlP~ above.
However, as a rule, the ~ tances can only have the desired effect when they are absorbed by the aerial parts ofthe plants and circulated and incorporated in the metabolic system. 'rhese subst~r~ which are sensiti~fe in some cases are reduced or modified when rem~inin~ on the surface ofthe plants for long periods. For ~rnrle, the effect ofthese ~llh~t~nr~c can be cons~derably reduced or rh ~a~ in an unde~irable manner due to photoehP-mical or o~adative reactio~s. A particular problem consist~ ~n tha~ the substances are washed away by rain or a large dew formation.
Therefore, the llnhindered penetra~ion ofthe active ingredienls ofthe plant treatment ances into the condllctive ti~ue of the plant through tlle cuticle remains a .liffiC.llt problem in the cc~ ion and app!i~sti~ of plant t. g~ ubstances. The faster the penetr~tion, the more effective the plant t~ "e t subst~nr~ In particular, wben ~enel-aLion is ~ ed quickly, the dosage to be a~lrninigtered on the plant ca~ also be appreciably red~lced.
Since the ~eatment ~ ~ r~u~led for the C~ vation of usefill plant~ and orr plan~:s are generally con~idered enviromnentally ha~ l at prese~t, a reduction of such substarlces ~vhich are for the most part cl~eeified as biocide~ is very desirable.
rt is already known ~om GB 21 20 513 tha~ phytoto~c materials Wl be advantageously applied to plants by injuring ~e plants. However, the d~m~elng ofthe aenal 21 6~0~0 plant parts is r~ ed in this case by means of an ~ln~l5~ ly con~rlic~ted device. The descll~ed process is ~ lt to put i~o practice. On the other hand, for the purpose of e~imin~ting plant gr~wth it is known from DE 25 25 497 Al to completely destroy the plank3 by means of a sandblaster. The described device operates only in the ho. ;~.nt~l position and sen~es to isolate cultivated plants. The use of pla~t treasmpnt s~lbst~nr~s is not de3~il,ed in the reference.
Silnilarly, there has been no lack of ~tt~mr~s to replace herbicides with m~ch~n~
an~lor thennal ..~e~ for ~e ~ 't'~-e-ll of weeds. However, physical processes employing gamJna ra~i~ti--n and heat r~ ti~l have not so far yielded the desired result~. Thes~
processes also include the app'icqtion of liquified gas to a surface which i~ to be cleared of we~ds as i~ r!i~ sed in DE 39 35 719. However, these processes are veIy costly ~rith respect to .e~ t means and are not e~ ~nn,..irAl l~e k~.b;-;~eQ used m modcrn ~ lh~e to kill we~i have extensively supplanted the ,~ecl-~n;~l processes which were fo~ ly applied almost exclusively. By weeds is meant, in general, all wild plant~ and cu1tivated plants growing m locations ~vherc they are not desired (noxious plants). In a narrouJer sense, only the dicotyledon~t~s noxious plants are desi~n~ted as "weeds~. The term "grass weeds~ has become comrnon to d~Qi~n~te monocotyledonous plants~ Noxious plants compete ~ith cultiYated plants for water, li~ht, nutrients, and growing ~pace and acco,~l;n~ly reduce yields per surface srea llnit to a considerable degree. Selective herbicides are used to ~ te noxious plants a~d protect cultivated plants. Rl~nk~t herbicides elimin~te all v~;r~;on snd are applied in partiullar on inrhl5tri~1 land, ra~l systems, routes, and open areas.
Recently, m~intPn~rlcs of rail systems has gained import&nce in vie~ of the greater d~ n~l for trafflc sa~`ety and environment~l protection. In the past, blanket-action railway herbicides proved the most reliable solution to this problem. However, these herbicides are subject to increasingly rigid restriction~ ~nth respect to err~u~ protection re~ tio~e The object of the present in~ention is to trastically reduce the amolmts of active ingredients applied in plant tre~qtmPnt ~ubst~n~s and filrther to improve the process described above, especislly also for elimin~ti~g unwa~ted plant ~yowth on rail s3r~tems, in such ~ way that this pro~s can be carried out at a high Woll~ g speed and extensively Pl in~tes the use of can~enbonal herbicides or sharply reduces the amount o~ such herbicide,~ which i~ applied.

216~0~0 l~is object is met according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Further devFlu~ ent ofthe in~ention is in~ ted in the DdAition~l claims A smaller amount of ac~ive ingredie~ts is required to achieve the desired effect in the rnt of plar~ts in that plant tre~tm~n- ~bs~nc~ are applied to the aerial parts ofthc plant before or while the laKer are injllred by the blasting mateIial in such a way that these plant ~[~t~ a~ ces are ;~ e~ y absorl~ed by the pl~nts owing to their iryured surfaces.
The ac~ive in~redients striking ~e surface ofthe plaIlts are very quickly absorbed by the plants almost completely. In particular, this also at~ords the special advantage that s~lbstRnc~s can be used which nnrm~lly have no her~icidal effect by reason oftheir chemical composition.
Furtl~er, t~e obje~t of the presen~ ~reulion i~ met by.a device for ca~lyulR out this pr~ess which is charP~tPn7~d in that means such as a ~praying noz~le or a spinning disk are provided for acceleration and -Applir~tion and possibly~lso for eombinin~g the bl~ting m~teri~
and platlt treatment s~~lbstAnn,/~ , A fi~ely particulate bias~ng mat~nAl i5 preferably used and is characterized in that its sm~ll solid particles have a par~icle size of 50 to 3,000 llm and are sharp-edged, fissured on the surface and/or porous.
According to a p~:f~"~d embodime~t form of the iDvention, pbllt t~eat~e.~l s~lbstAnce and a finely particulate blasting ~telial are applie~ s~ tAneol1sly by means of a blast nozzle to injure the aenal p~ts ofthe pl_nts in such a way that the plant ll rA~ e~l substance is absorbed and takes effect i me~liAtely due to the sulface damage and opening up of the pl~l~live cutide. The parlicles of blasting material are thrown out of the blast nozle in a con~rolled manner in such a way that they either per.et,~e or tear up or only ~o~ghen the cuticle of the aer~al plant parts, in particular the leaves, and/or also adhere to the le~vei or ~taeh thPrn~P~ves to the plant.
~ hen a /spi~ ~ disk is used, it ~s possible to c~nneGt the cQnt~in~r for the blasting m~ter-~l to the s~ f".~ disk and filrther to so arrange on the latter a spray Tlozzle which is supplied with plant trP~fmPnt nlbstP~ om an ac~te ingredient co~ cr tha~ the plant Ir~dt~llt;nl substance LS applied to the aer~al plant parts before or while the latter are injured by the ~ ti~g matenal.
Phytoeffecti~e mstP i~l such as herbicides, fi~ rides, in~ecticid.-c, leaf fertilizers, ir~ trients or growth regul~tors are preferably used as plant tr~mPnt subst~nce.

216~0il~

Fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, urea, calci~ ;y.~ e or kainite which bring about severe abra~ion of aerial plant palt5 in high do~es in a l~o~m manner ca~ also be u~ed in gr~nul~te~ or liquid forrn as herbicides. These aerial plant parts die quickly~ especially also in the early stage of,growth.
In principle, all plant tre~tm~nt ~Jk,"~ s can be applied to and in~roduced into the pla~ts ;~ eJiP~ d so as to have a rapid effect by means ofthis new process. However, the process is particularly suitable for applying materisls ~n~ a herbicidal ~ctio~ In thi~ case, as a result of the process which can be controlled by means of air pre~re and nozle shape or by the ~p;nning disk, particle size a~d structure ofthe particles, con~ ~able ~l~m~g~ to weeds caG be produccd exclu~iYely by extensiYe ~ rl~s~ ljUly to fbe pla~ts. This dam~ge is brought about espe~ y by a sudden loss of water and by extensive evaporation which is evidenc~l by extensive wilt~g.
lt is possible to control the degree of injury which is most favorable in the particular case by varying the air pressure by which the granules are spun out or by means of the speed of ~he spinning disk, thc quantity of granules, their particle si~e, the internal and external structure of the particles, and the ~ist~nce from the plants to be treated. Thus, especially with young weeds, a sllltably controlled he~ f i5 sl-fli~e~ by it~elf to elimin~te plants ~nthout using herbicides. On the other hand, the novel proc~ss also enables the use of substances whiGh can be effedi ve exclusively due to the s;~ lt~neous opc..in~ up of the cuticles of the plants.
A phytotoxic fer~ilizer in the form of a solid or liquid can also preferably be used as a plar.t treetrnP.nt s~lbst~nc~ ~ccordil4Sly, it is possible to use ammn~ m sulfatc, urea, c91ril.m cy~ de or organic acids as plan~ ll Qt~Pnt sukst~nrPc~ i.e., as herbicidal active ingredie~ts.
Further, ~ngiades, growth re~ll~tors and/or their active ingredients, fertili~ers and other phytoef~e~tive su~slA~r~es call be used, also in c~r~inoti~ n Ac~ording to the inventiol~, the plant Ire~ t ~lbspn~ec are preferably dissolved in liquid and can thu5 also be applied in extensively diluted form coll~s~onding to the required amount of active ingredients. Altematively, the plant tre~tm~nt substa~ce can also take the fo~n of a suspension or ~tml~cion The pla~t tre~tment substance can also be dissolved to form a v~scous l~quid produced by th~ a~ition ofthi~ Pning a~ents such as ctarches, water-soluble waxes, polyuronides or polysacchandes. Accordingly, a v~y good adhe~ing action of 2 1 ~

the plant treatm~nt sl~bst~nre and particular~ also the granules to the surface of the plants i6 achie~ed. A rclease ant absolption of the ~r~hPnn~ active ingredients over a longer period, i.e., a "slow-relesse" effect, is achiev~d in this way.
In particular, the quantity of liquid required for ~etting all sides of the aerial parts, especially t11e leaves, and accordil~gb the a~ount re.~ui,~d for favorable absoIp~on oft~e acti~e in~redients can also be conride~ably reduced by means oftlle steps described above.
AccGn~ y~ for example, only SO I of liquid or less is requlred per hectare.
Particles of b~s~ting m~t~nsl ~rhich are sharp~dged, fLssured on the su~face a~dlor porous have proven advAnt~eol-~. This brings about a ve~y effecti~e ds~gjng of the plant e. Whell the porous particles of blasting ma~erial are open-pored, the active ingredient i5 ~mbedded and the acti~e ingr~li~t, together vvith the particles, ~c.~ les into the plant in a partiallarly ef~ective manner. ~oreover, the par~des of blasting material tl ~m~elves can also constitllte a phytoeffe~ive material.
Further, it is pro~ided within the ~cope of ~e invention that a plant treatrn~nt~llbst~nre i~ applied in sl~ch a way to the aenal plant patts before or while they are injured by the bla~ing material that the plants are killed as a resuk of injuly to the surface and due to the action of a plant ~ enl ~ubst~nce acti~g a~ a phytotoxic material. This process is pre~erably used for the tre~trn~nt of plant growth on rail systems. For this purpose, the ~nt1bl~ctçr and the process accor l;ng to the invention are preferably desif~ ill such a way that not only the plant growth directly in the rail reE~ion (in the inner region), but also the plant growth in the outer region extending beyond the rails is elimin~te~ namely wit}lin shalp boundaries. Accordingly, this outer region can also be treated in a~ adv;mt~f~eo ls manner according to the invertion, which was not true oft~e formerly practiced methods using a sprayed liquid.
When the process according to the invention is carrie~ out for the ~limin~tion of unwanted plant growth in rail systems, the rail-borne veh~cles ~hich were conventionally used to app~y rail herbicides can be used at the comparatively high opeldlillg ~peed of appro~in~tely 40 ~h. These rail-borne vehicles need only be outfi~tP~I ~ith a suitable sandb~aster or a spinning disk which, in particular, satiefies the requirement for sharp boundar~e~, i.e., withoul creeping. If sandblasters are used, these are preferably commercially available compression s~ndblast~rs which are slightly modified if n~ eSs~ry. When sand is 216~4~

used as finely pa~iculate bl~cti~ materiaL il is adv~ssble in v~ew of the desirable long service life to install ~called "Norbid no~zles".
The par~icle size ofthe finely parPculate blasting m~tPrigl i~ determi~ed by the type of plan~s to be treated or eli"~ P~ As regards the unwanted plants nonnalty el;~..;.. -I-A, p~icularly i~ railroad area~, it is pr~r~ een at"~ Ply 50 and 3~000 .~m, especi~lly between appruAi~ y 100 and 1,000 ~lm. With respect to the desired d~m~n~ Of the aenal plant parts, the bl~ehng m~tPriol particles are preferably sharp edged, fissured on the surface and/or por~us, rather than rounded on the sllrface. For reason~ which ~ill be be~ in the following, the fine porous particles of blasting rn~atenal are preferably open-pored. It i~ generally adY~ntage~us for non-herbiGidal plant lrcA~ l to slightly roughen the sur~ace of the plants. Pa~icle size~ of 50 to ~ m have proven ad~antageous for this purpose.
It is adv~nt~eo~le within the scope of the invention to u~e sand, e.g., sea s~nd or dune sand, or blast fumace ash, e.g., copper ash Natural and synthetic ~lu~inocilic~t~c, particularly open-pored ~lllrninnsilicate, can al~o be used. Zeolite and pearlite, espe&ially puffpearlite, have proven particwlarly suitable. Further, the soil in the r~ tive location can also be used itse1~as bl~cting material, this soil beinE~ taken up, procc~ed and fed to the sandblaster during the working proces~ by means of a sp~ device in tbe tractor.
Further, agr:icultural blastin~g material sl~ch as walnut ~ells, ground fiuit pits, ground cha~; ground rice husks~ etc. can also be used as blasting materi~l. In certain cases, they will be tc~o soft to sufficiently injure the ~ce ofthe aerial plant psrts. However, so~ bl~in~
~uterial is generally suitable for use when fi~ ide~, gro~th re~ tor~ or ferlilizer~ Are to be used rather than her~ ~es, since the plant surfi~ce need only be slightly roughened in t~lis case without pe~npnt ~njuly to the plants.
A phyto~ec~ e m~t~n~l iS applied before or while the aerial plant parts are inJured in order to optin~ize the process according to the invention. This can be effected in that the phytoeffec~ive matenal is applied to the inner and/or outer surface of the sha~edged or fissured fine bl~ting material or, if the latter is open-pored, in that it is also introduced in the inner surface. The finely parhculate s~n~hl~ting material is prefe. nbly prepared in solution, in particular in ~e aqueous solution of a plant tre~ment substance, e.g., a phytotoxic material.

21 6~04~

Th~ solYent is e~por~ed after ~ g the inner pores or coating the surface ofthe blasting rnaterial par~cles.
Wlthin the La~ rk ofthe present inve~on, "phytotoxic material" is to be understood in its widest sense. This phytotoxic material may be cla~sic herbicides, csp~,i?lly those absorbed ~ria the aerial par~ of plants, and may even be specified ferti~izers which haYe a phytotoxic effect when the surface of the u~wanted plants has been d~n~e~l For ex~mple, o~ sulPatc h~ proven particlllarly suitable for this purpo5e. Thi5 mea~is that the "phytotoxic m~terial" employed does not possess an ~.nQnnmouC phytotox~c herbicid~l ef~ect in the traditional sense.
With respe~t to the s~FF~rnPn~ use of a phytotoxic fertilizer, the process accord~
to ~e invention ~' b`'tY particular advantages in the selec~re P~ .inA~inn of unwanted plants present in crop~ or plalLts culti~ated in rows, in particular in the selective elimin~tinn of weeds in sugar beets, corn, soybea~s, cotton, tea, and ~uit cultiva~ion. Surprisingly, the phytotoxic fertilizers, given the required particle size, hardnes~ and ir ner or outer surface 6truchlre descnbed above, can be used alone without the finely pardcula~e blasting mater~al descnbed in the prc~e-ling as is norm~lly Pffected In ~e ~nhG~ "~ of the process, according to the invention, in which the physicalinju~y ofthe aerial plant pa~ts is co.n~: ~cd with the use of a plant treatment ~ st~rlc~ in particular a phytotoxic material? e.g.~ a co~nmo~l leaf her~icide, this co..,1.~ ;on results in an improved p~n.,ll dtion of the hel~:cide which is normally s~ n~ y }nndered by the clltide-covered leaf s~ace. Accordingly, herbicidal substance~ can reach the met~bolic s~stem of the nn~ious plants more easily and quickly. Their action is cQn~ rabhJ improved in this way so that ~he amounts of common leaf herbicide, for in~t~nce~ Can be reduced by more than 75% in order to achieve the ~ame effect achieved without ~njury. When using bl~stin5 material whiGh has becn loaded b~for~h~nd, according to the inventio~, with phytotoxic matenal, a so-called "slow-release" effect takes place in ~,vhich this rn~t~ iS released continuou~ly in the plant tissue over a longer period of t;me.
The arnount of f~nely particulate blasting m~tenal to be applied to the ~urface area unit, according to the inventio~, for treating, e.g.. f7-limin~ti~g, unwanted plAnts cannot be given in principle. This quantity depends on the respec~ve cultivated area to be treated and on the m~ter1~l to be applied. As regards the elimin~tion of weeds, the type and age of the plants to 2168~

be e~ ted must be taken ~nto nccount in parhcular Tt lie~ well unthin t~e ability of the pcrson sldlled in the art to d~lr- .";~e the I ~ui~ ~d opti-,lual ~nounts withi~ the scope of the entiYe tea~ing This applies also to the type of finely particulate blas~ing mater~al employed, partiallarly also for the respecti~e hardness and p~rticle size. On sandy 50il~ the soil to be trealed can also be used given suitable si~ing device~ i~ the arrang~"enls employed.
T~e adv~ ages of the invention will be readily appreciated ~om the follo~
PYrl3n~iO~ On the one hand, ~e advantages of Cu.~ n~l herbicides are made use of~ile avoiding the disadvantages involved in their use, e.g., creeping a~d burdening of growld wa$er. It i~ even possl~le to make use of conventi~nsl fertiliærs such as ~mmo~lm sulfate, ~Ir.n~ n~ d~ and urea to achie~re the desired effects. Further, high working speeds of ap~ tely 40 Icm~h can be used in rail regions, for inctsnce, when physical d~ms~e is c~.l,l>i-~cl with the u~e of phytoto~G m~t~ hraYiD~, no autonnmo l~ phytotoxic herbiadal aGtion. The process accor~g to the invention is easy to ca~ry ollt and i5 e~c)nomic.~l It is very çfficiçnt Only ~mall amQl-nt~ of active ingredients are needed to achieYc the desired a~ f 1~ effect on the plants in ~hat a plant tre~tmerlt s~b~t~nc~ is applied in such a way to the aerial plant parts before or while they are i~ured by the b~ n~ material that this plant tre~ment s~lbst~nee is ~bsorbed imTr~ tf~1y by the plants due to their d~m~g~d ~lrf~re~ The active ~ngredients cont~ctin~ the surface ofthe plants are ab~orbed imme~iatply ~nd almost co~n~letely by the plants.
1 he inYention is eYrl~ined more fi~lly in the follo~ng with reference to some pY~rSlrleS.

l~xarnple 1 A ~pla~g car ofthe l~nd l~res~ used on railroad insPll~tions wa~ outfitted with a co.n~ r-,;ally available s~n~bl~t~. In thi~ way, finely particulate sand could be applied in a directed ma~ner to the raii area to be treated. The finely particulate blasti~g matenal employed comprised sand with a particlc size of 1.0 to 2.0 mm. The modified spra~g car traveled at a working speed of appro~mately 40 krn/h and threw offthe afo~ e~n- . ~1 ioned bl~ing matcnal onto the rail sur~ce to be treated in quantities of 2~ to 45 g~m2. This ra~l gurface was mainly overgrown with the fol1Owing plants: polygonum or knotweed, dog fennel or wild ch~moTnile~ annua~ s of t~e genus Panicum~ and m~llet. Most of the plants were in 2 1 6 !Q O l ~

the 2- to 6-leaf sta~e. The u..~ ed plants began to die no~iceably immedi~tely a~cr trea~rnt This process was concluded a~er app1o~ y 16 days and resulted in an almost complete absence of plant growth. The unwanted plant growth wa~ suppressed for appro~in.ately 3 to 4 mont ~x~npIe 2 In ~his ca~c, the same ~e~ds were involved, but in a more advanced stage of growth;
most ofthe plants had formed more than 6 leave~.
The trea~ment was carned o~t as in PY~mple l; howevcr, ~e amount of ~ lCti~g matenal was reduced to 15 to 30 g/m2 a~d, at the same time, 30% of the no~nally required amount of a conven~onal rai1 herbicide was applied.
All of the weeds were killed after ~prr~ ly 3 ~4eeks. The ~ocati~n rpm~in~
practicslly ~ee of we~ds until the end of the ~_g~ta~ion period.

Exç;mple 3 Tn 8 cornfield in which the young corn plants had reached a height of ap~o~ .Atrly 1 cm, al~proAi,nately ~0 g/m2 of a fi~sured blasting rllot~i~l ~copper ash) with a particle size of 0.5 to l.O mn was applied between the rows with sharp bol1n~l~ries by means of a sandblaster in that the com plants were protected on both sides by protective plates which were arranged on the apparalus employed.
The n~ixe~ wee~s which had grown among the corn were killed to the extent that their growth was surpa~sed by that of the Gorn ~r~thin a fe~ weeks and so were no longer bothersom~.
Only 20~/o Of the conv~ntionp I amount of herbicide ~as used to clirninate the weeds re~n~ining in the corn rows.

Example 4 In a ~ugar beet field, the plants hsd formed 6 to 8 true fioliage ~eaves. There was a ve~y extensive mixture of weeds present; the degree of coverage was approximately 60%.

21~i~0~0 The weed~ were ~t ~e~ e~ using the same dl~J&~ls in~ stecl in FY~mrle 3 Con~nercislly available ~ rn-l~tcd) ~....~.or--urn sulfate was applied as bl~ting material in a do~age of 15 g/m2.
A~er 8 days, all weeds had been k~lled. The elimination of the weeds st~n~linr directly in the rows of beets required 20% of the usually required amount of herbicide.

Two ~mho~ 1 eY~mp~s of a device acco,di~ to the invention are shown in the drawings an~ are desc il e~ more fillly i~ the following Flgure 1 shows a s~hem~tic view of a de~,rice;

Figure 2 shows a Gro5s section throu~h the blast nozzle of the device according to Figure 1, Flgure 3 shows a spinning disk.

In Figure 1, a dev~ce ha~ing a blast nozzle 2 which is conne~led via a feed line 3 with a co~ )r~ssed-air gene-alor 4 is desigr-~ted by 1. An industrial-use compressor in Gomhin~tiorl wit~ a col~pr~ssed-air tank neither ~f which are shown ~eparately in the drawing, is used as a con~lessed air ge~erator 4. A control valve ~ is arranged in the feed line 3 between the blast nozzle 2 and the CO~ SSed-a~ generalor 4.
A tank 7 for the blasting material is conn~cteA to the blast noæle 2 via a lateral feed line 6. An adjustable aerating valve 9 is srranged at an outlet 8 of thc tanlc 7 in the lateral feed line ~. Another lateral feed line 10 leads ~om the blast nozzle 2 to an a~ive ingredient tank 11 for the plant ~ .ie~)t substance. An sdjustable ae~ing valve 13 i~ arranged at an output 12 of the actiYe ingredient tank 11 in the feed line 10 to the blast nozzle 2.
As urill ~e seen ~om Figl~re 2, the blast nozzle 2 has a rear central connection piece 14, to which is connpcteA the feed line 3 leading to the compressed-air generator 4. A
compressed-~ir nozzle 1~ in which the entering cG,~pressed sir is accelerated is connecte~ to the con~ec!;on piece 14 in the blast nozle 2. The co,llpressed-air nozzle 15 open~ into a rnixin6 rh~mber 16, a lateral connrction piece 17 for supplying the blasting material from the 2l6~0~a tank 7 ILlcewise open~ iIltO the mLxing ch~nber 16. The feed line 6 lead~ng to the tank 7 is connected to the lateral colln~l;on piece 17.
An acceleradon nozzle 18 in which the mixture of air and blasting Ill.qtPr~ i5 accelerated is connecte~ to the mixing ~h~Tnh~r 16 of the bla t nozzle 2. Another mixing chamber l9 into which opens a lateral conn~t;on piece 20 is connec~e~ to the acceleration no~zle 18. The lateral fee~ line 10 leadirlg to the active ingredient t~nk 11 i~ connected to the lateral ~n~ n piece 20 An outlet op~ning 21 ofthe blast nozzle 2 i5 ~.ne~ed to the mLxlng chamber 19.
A~ will be een from Figure l, a mixture 22 of air, ~l~ctin~ m~tPni~l, water, and plant lle~t~ t s~bs~nc~ exits from the blast nozzle 2 and strikes the aerial parts of plants 23. In the described embodiment example, the compressed air is guided ~ia the feed line ~ to the connecti~n piece 4 of the blast nozzle 2 so as to be controlled via the control valve ~. As will be seen ~om ~igure 2, the co~ ;ssed air is accelerated in the co~ ed-air no~zle 1~5 of the blast nozle 2 and then enters the mixing chamber 16. Blasting material is fed firom the tank 7 to t~e mixing c}umber 16 via the lateral ~onnection piece 17. An aeratin~ valve arran~e~
upstream of the outlet 8 of the tank 7 allows the smount of blasting material supplied to be controlled v~a the level of an adjll~table vacullm pressure The higher the ~djusted va~lm pressure, the greater the amount of blasting m~teri~l w~ich is sucked out. Thus it is possible to a~just the proportion of blasting rnatenal in the col.lpfessed air co"~sponding to the requir~,."er.lj te~.,l.L.cd by the process and the acti~e ingredient col,lponcnts used.
Compres~ed a r and blasting n~t~risl are r~ixed in the n~ixing ch~mber 16 and the partic1es of bl~l~ material are aec~ler~l~d ;n the adjoinin~ acceleration noz~le 18. The plant trP~trn--nt sl1h~t~nr~. is fed into the adjoi~ing mixing c~imher l9 of the blast nozzle 2 via the lateral conr,ec~;ion piece 20. This lateral co~n~io~ piece 20 con~ ni~tps with the active ir,i~redient tank 11 via th~ lateral fccd )inc 10. The quantity of plant tr~tm~nt s~bstance fed to the blast nozzle 2 can be ~Ajl~et~ via the ad~ustable aera~ng valve 13 aITanged at the output 12 ofthe active ing~redient tanlc 11. The aerati~ valve 13 enables the vacuum pressure effective at the output 12 of the active ingredient ta~k l l to be re~]1~ted The higher the adjusted ~aouum pressure, the greater the qua~ r of exitin~ plant trP~tmpnt substa~ce.
Accordin~8ly, the supplied arnount is to be ad~rted in an exact manner to the respe~iYe requirements for treating the plants 23.

216~4~

An isltensive ~i~ng ofthe supplied plant Ire~ ,t sllh~nr~ with the co"lpre~3ed air and the ~l~cting ~^~n~l takes place ~n the mibung ~,1~,.~. 19 ofthc blast nozzle 2 Tn so doing, th~ plant t~ ent subst~nce~ for ir cl~ e, is also added to the ~rface of the par~cles of bl~cting material. The degree to which it ~ rh~ it~elf f~.rentlC nn the texture of the sur~ace of the E,a. ~ s of blasting matenal. As has already been described, a hssured surface of the particles enables an i~ cC~mul~ion of the plant ~ hs~ nce The mixture 22 exits via the outlet op~ning 21 of the blast nozzle 2 and reaches the plants 23 to be treated.
Figure 3 show~ a spinn;ng disk 24 by means of which the blasting m~teri~l and, if required, the plant treslm~n~ subspnce c~n be ac~ a~ and ~pli.ofl The bl~sting l~tf~n_l is fed to ~he spinning disk 24 in the re8~on of its rotational axis 25 from a tank, not showII in the drawing, which i5 arran~ed in the device. If required, the plant l~ substance i9 also fed in this region ~om an associ2ted container. ~ide blades 26 arranged in ~e ~j~li~ disk 24 cause the blas~ing material and, if applicablc~ the plant treatnler~t subst~nr~ to be .
accelerate~ and discharged on the plal~ts 23 ~o be lrealed due ~o th~ rotational movement of the spinni~8 disk 24 as will be seen from Figure 3.
A~ a res~lt ofthe dRs~ribed dev.ices, the darnagin~ ofthe plant surface and the supply of ;he plant tre~tn~ t subst-n~e can be adapted exactly to the respuli~e requirements.
wide variety of plant kr~ .rr~l wbst~nces can be applied to plants 23. The ~tomi~ation in the bla~t nozzle 2 ant the whirling in the spinnir~ disk 24 produce an intimate mi~ure ofthe four con~onel~ls, name~, air, blasting material, liquid, and plant l~e~ n~ sllbs:t~nee or blasting matenal, liquid and plant tr~tmRnt substance, as the case may be. The cuticle is always torn snd injured when the surface ofthe plant is acted upon, so that plant lle~nf -l substance which is preferably dissol~ed in a liquid c~ pcll~,ht~le quickly and almost cQ~ y and has an immedi~te extensive effect. When applied ~im~ neously with the ~19~ing rnaterial, the plant lreA~ f ~I substance is introdu~d deep into the structure of the plants 23 by the hls ~ting materi~L Since the surface of the blasting n~qt~n~l iS wetted with the plant t.~t, .e.-l s--hs~nce, the described effect is ~ iticm~lly enh~nced in an adv-nt~ous manner. Further, the opened surface is siml~lt~n~Qu~ly wetted by the camer liquid ofthe plant tre~tm~nt sUI~st~nce. Thcrcfore, if the plant lre~ln~e~l subst~nc~ is dissolved in a v~cous iiquid to which thicke~lin~ agent~ have bee~ added, the adherence ofthe ~ ing material and plant tre~ment 216~0~0 sub~t~nee to the surface of the plant can be ~ tio~lly increased. One result of this i~. that the amount of plant ll ~,nl~ Jl~s~ r,e and liquid I~whed for the tr~tm~nt of the plants 23 can be subst~nti~lly reduced overall co~ u~d with the pIior art. Only approximate1y 50 liters of liquid or less are required per hectare.
The pene~ralion of herbicides thout3h the cuticle into the conductive tissue of plants h~s always posed a difficult problem particularly in the development and application of herbiades.
The more rapid the penetrati~n, the more effective the herbicidal action. Poor or slow perletration has the follo~nng disadv~nt~Q: a) dripping or washing offofhe~ tion due to rain; b) evaporation of the herbiad~l s~ tinn; a~d G) ~llen~ir~l change in the applied active ~~ " e.g., due to photo~ 1 or oxidative infl~lçn~
As a result of the step in which a plant ~ n~ substance iS applied before or during m~ly to the surface of the plant, this subst~nce can be absolbed by the plant in a partic~lArly t:~cLiYe maMer, namety in that the active ingredient is dnven into the open "wound" during the d~m~e inflirted by the striking s~arp edged blastin~ particles In other words, the penetrahon of the phytotoxiG nlatenal is improved so that thc amount used can be sharply reduced. The dama~ing of the plant surface ~vithin the m~nin~ of the invention which has been addressed repeatedly herein, has a threefold e~ect: 1. In the ca~se of weed el;. . ~ 1 ;Qn, it causes a general we~nin~ of the plants through a subst~nt~ y controlled destruction of tissue; 2. The cuticle (external covering tissue) is pierced repeatedly in a perforating manner by the injury. Tl~is extemal Slm ser~es chiefly to protect against cvaporation so that plants dry out when thi~ ba~ier is e~imin~tPd by deli~ tely inflicti~lg substantial d~mage. This is a desirable effect for killing weeds; 3. However, the cuticle is also a barrier against substances pen~ Lill~ the plant from the outside so that a phytoe~ ctive mater.ial applied before or during injury to the plant can be incorporated into the circul~tin~ and metaboli~ing processes ofthe plant more quickly.
Each of the three effect~ mentioned aboYe in themselves elimin~tes unwanted plants.
But above all7 the coopera~ion of all three efflcts cau~es the plantg to be killed in the root region through a synerg~stic action. Accordingly, even weeds which are difficult to kill are climi~ted while the dosage of hcrbicide is shaIply reduced. As a whole, the pl~nt treatm~nt ~ubstance, which can also comprise active ingredient~ for regulating ~3rowth or nurturing plants, for jnst~r)ce~ can be absorbed by the plant in a part cularly e~ctive manner. On the 21~ Q~I~

whole, it ha~ been shown that when appl~ing the process accor~ to the i~ven~on the dosage of active ingredients can be reduccd to ~p~ tely ~% of the required COA~ dLion conv~- nl ;~n~lly used.

Claims (17)

Patent Claims

1. Process for treating plants on agricultural land and non-agricultural land by injuring the aerial plant parts by means of a blasting material characterized in that plant treatment substances are applied to the aerial plant parts before or while the latter are injured by the blasting material in such a way that this plant treatment substance is immediately absorbed by the plant (23) owing to their injured surfaces.

2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the blasting material is applied by means of a blast nozzle (2) acted upon by compressed air

3. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the blasting material is applied by means of a spinning disk (24) so as to be accelerated mechanically.

4. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that a plant treatment substance and a finely particulate blasting material are applied simultaneously while injuring the aerial parts of the plants (23) in such a way that the plant treatment substance is absorbed and takes effect immediately due to the damaging of the surface of the plants (23).

5. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that a plant treatment substance is applied in such a way to the aerial plant parts before or while they are injured by the blasting material that the plants (23) are killed as a result of injury to the surface and/or due to the action of a plant treatment substance.

6. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, growth regulators and/or their active ingredients, fertilizers and other phytoeffective substances can be used, also in combination, as plant treatment substances.

7. Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plant treatment substances are used in phytoeffective concentration.

8. Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plant treatment substances are used in the form of solutions, suspensions or emulsions.

9. Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the particles of blasting material are porous and open-pored.

10. Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the particles of blasting material have a particle size of approximately 50 and 3,000 µm for herbicidal applications and a particle size of 50 to 500 µm for non-herbicidal applications and are sharp-edged, fissured on the surface and/or porous.

11. Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner and/or outer surface of the particles of blasting material are/is coated with the plant treatment substance.

12. Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the particles or blasting material are also phytoeffective material.

13. Device (1) for carrying out the process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means (blast nozzle 2, spinning disk 24) are provided for accelerating and discharging and, if required, also for combining the blasting material and plant treatment substance.

14. Device (1) for carrying out the process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a compressed-air generator (4) and a tank (7) for the blasting material are connected to a blast nozzle (2), and further in that an active ingredient container (11) for a plant treatment substance is connected in such a way that the blasting material and plant treatment substance are mixed before being applied to the plant parts.

15. Device (1) for carrying out the process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a container for the blasting material is connected to a spinning disk 24 and further a spraying nozzle which is supplied with plant treatment substance from an active ingredient container is arranged in such a way that plant treatment substance is applied to the aerial plant parts before or while the latter are injured by the blasting material.

16. Finely particulate blasting material for carrying out the process according to claim 1 and at least one other claim, characterized in that its small solid particles have a particle size of 50 to 3,000 µm and are sharp edged, have fissures, on their surface and/or are porous.

17. Material according to claim 16 and at least one other claim, characterized in that its inner or outer surface is coated with a phytoeffective substance.