Author：Jeng-Lung Huang

Assistant Agricultural Engineer, Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, COA

Abstract：

    Taiwan is location of subtropical, the weeds growth rapid. The organic rice cultivation cannot use herbicides, so weed control carried out mainly in manual operations, but manual operation inefficient, operations only 0.08 to 0.1 hectares per person every day. This study aims to reduce manual weeding hard work, improve efficiency, developed rice weeder. The three lines of improved rice weeder we developed use 2.4 hp two-stroke gasoline engine for power, driving stainless steel weeding wheel and rear with stainless steel pontoon to enhance support force, easy operation in muddy fields, the operating efficiency of 0.1 ha/hr. Experiment in Haiduan and Chihshang township organic rice fields respectively, to investigate improved rice weeder feature, weed control effect and yield trials. After two times mechanical weeding operation, of non-biennial root weeds such as barnyardgrass control rate average of up to 60%, and biennial root weeds such as nutsedge control with the average rate of approximately 13.75%. In the control without use of mechanical weeding the weeds are increasing. Investigate yield, each crop use of two time mechanical weeding to control weeds compare with no weeding, yields were increased by 4.2% and 5.6%. Improved rice weeder we developed for newly germinating non-biennial root such as barnyardgrass control of up to 60%. Used in organic farming fields can reduce people working, increase production and improve farmers cultivated earnings.

Keywords: Rice fields, Weeding, Weeds, Organic cultivation.