In a series of articles, the Kondinin Group, with support from John Deere, identifies new developments in agricultural
technology and assesses their potential benefits for Australian farmers. This month, Kondinin Group research and
development business co-ordinator Neville Gould previews the Carier Rollmaster weed wiper.
revolutionary means of economically
treating weeds with weed wiper
technology may soon be available in Australia.
The British-made Carier Rollmaster is a
rotary weed wiper, which differs from other
weed wiper technology by using a unique
sticking agent Dripstop C2K to assist in the
non-drip and non-drift application of chemical
to weeds. The sticking agent is a vegetable oil
thickener, which changes the viscosity of the
chemical, enabling it to stick to the roller and
then to the weeds.
The wiper uses a reservoir tube, which
contains the chemical and sticking agent, and
a transfer blanket to automatically apply a
herbicide and sticker to a roller. The roller
applies the mixture to the vulnerable
underside of the weed leaves, where it is
protected from rainfall and direct sunlight for
improved efficacy.
The manufacturer claims that providing the
weeds are more than 100 millimetres taller than
the crop, the weed wiper can dispense chemical
without damaging the crop. It is also claimed
the roller, which is electrically driven in the
opposite direction to forward travel, exposes
the weeds to about 250mm of chemical
application (depending on ground speed).
Because the equipment only applies chemical
to weeds it contacts, the wiper can be
economical. The manufacturer claims up to
40 hectares a day can be treated with a sixmetre implement for about $20/ha, depending
on weed density and speed of operation.
A
Self-regulating application
Chemical application is self-regulated from
the top roller to the bottom roller. That is, if
the mixture is wiped from the bottom roller, it
is automatically replaced by the top roller.
No mixture is drawn from the top roller if the
bottom roller is not wiping weeds.
The self-regulating process does away with
the need for expensive automatic chemical
controllers and electronic sensors to control
FIGURE 1 Carier Rollmaster weed wiper
Battery-driven motor
Herbicide and thickener-filled
reservoir tube and transfer blanket
Mixture transfered
automatically to
roller enabling
drip-free
operation
Chemical applied
to underside of
leaves of weeds
above crop
height
Direction of travel
Source: Carier.
Weeds subjected to about
250mm of chemical application
depending on ground speed
the application rate as well as micro jets or
drippers, which are prone to blockages.
The wiper can be used where the wiper or
the chemical does not touch the growing crop.
Its application would be appropriate for
lentils, chickpeas, field peas and canola, which
are slow starters and often become overpowered by weeds in the early growth phase.
Construction
The roller is made from 250mm-diameter
and 6.4mm-thick polyvinyl carbonate (UPVC,
large sewer pipe). The manufacturer claims it
can handle reasonably rough paddock
conditions such as moderate impact with
stumps and rocks. It will not tear as carpet
covered rollers are prone to do and remains
relatively clean from plant growth.
To empty, the chemical reservoir is removed
from the weed wiper and drained either
through the filling bunghole or by removing
one of the end caps. The unit is easily cleaned
using a low-pressure hose passed over the
reservoir and roller, while the machine is in a
chemically safe area.
Applying chemicals
Overseas study tour
he Carier Rollmaster weed wiper was
displayed at the SIMA equipment
exposition
held
in
Paris, France,
during February 2001. A Kondinin Group
delegation, supported by John Deere,
attended SIMA
and the National
Agricultural
Machinery Show
and Iowa State
Power Farming
Show in the US.
T
FARMING AHEAD No. 114 June - 2001
The application rate is set by design of the
machine and is not adjustable, except by
altering the speed of travel. The manufacturer
claims the ideal operating speed range extends
to 10 kilometres per hour. Very slow speeds
may exceed the maximum permitted dose of
glyphosate of five litres/ha. The wiper is
designed to work with Roundup Biactive and
R oundup. The diluted chemical is mixed with
the polymer Dripstop in the reservoir. This
product does not enhance or alter the activity
of Roundup, so does not need registration with
the National Chemical Registration Authority.
The non-drip, non-drift
weed wiper uses a unique
sticking agent to apply
chemical to the roller
surface and subsequently
to the weeds.
The wiper can be used in windy conditions
and also for certain conditions in the wet such
as for clearing paths and on bracken in forests.
The reservoir is fitted with baffles to prevent
the chemical from flowing to one end when
working on sloping country.
Future in Australia
The wiper is available in four working
widths of 1.2m, 2m, 3m and 6m. These were
designed for United Kingdom pasture
conditions where paddocks are frequently
uneven but this has limited the development
of wider machines. Wider models are not
planned, which will limit their broadacre
usefulness in Australia.
The roller has low power requirements and
is powered directly from the tractor or vehicle
battery so there is no need for power take-off
driven motors. The wiper can be towed
behind a tractor, four-wheel-drive vehicle, an
all-terrain vehicle or fitted to the three-point
linkage or long-reach arm of a tractor.
There is currently no outlet in Australia but
the weed wiper is expected to be available
during 2002. Prices range from $3500 for the
1.2m three-point linkage-mounted model to
$14,000 for the 6m hydraulic folding unit.
About the author
Neville Gould is research
and development business
co-ordinator with the Kondinin
Group, based in NSW. He is an
agricultural engineer with
20 years experience and
specialises in conservation
farming machinery, tree-crop harvesting
technology and machinery design. Contact
him on phone (02) 6845 4502.
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MACHINERY
Developments
International focus
Wiping away weeds with ease