"Revolutionizing flaming equipment and techniques for certified organic weed and pest control"
Synergy of Weed Science + Engineering
What is Flaming?
The crop growth stage and equipment design are the two main factors that must be optimized to obtain successful flaming treatments. Ascard (1995a) categorized the treatments into two main types: selective and non-selective. Selective flaming treatments are done after the crop has emerged, and the objective is treating the weeds while minimizing crop damage. Non-selective treatments (also known as broadcast treatments) cover a specified path and do not distinguish between weed and crop; everything in the treatment path is fully exposed to the hot gases. The correct crop growth stage and equipment design (torch configuration and/or shielding with hoods) are critical in both types of treatments. Pre-planting, pre-emergence, and early crop growth stages are the optimal times for a non-selective treatment. The crop is not exposed to high temperatures during pre-planting and pre-emergence. During early growth stages, however, the crop must either be able to recover quickly from the flaming damage (e.g. young corn, Figure 2), or be much more tolerant of the high temperatures than the surrounding weed species (e.g. young soybeans, Figure 2). In non-selective treatments, equipment design is critical for minimizing energy input while still obtaining the desired weed control level over the entire treatment area.
Crops have a longer and much more heat tolerant stalk at later crop growth stages (e.g. late season corn and soybeans, Figure 3), and any of the lower crop leaves damaged by the flaming treatment are not critical to the crop. In general, crops will drop lower leaves anyway, because the upper crop canopy shades these leaves from the sun; without sufficient sun exposure, the energy
to maintain the lower leaves exceeds the amount of energy they are capturing through photosynthesis.
Lastly, selective and non-selective treatments can be applied in two ways: banded flaming and full flaming. Defined by the amount of area that is covered during the treatment, banded flaming applies heat to a small band (8-12 inches) that is centered on the crop row; whereas, full flaming treats all of the area within a treatment path (e.g. a full 30 in. wide crop row) .
Products
AFI has developed a series of tractor mounted flame weeding units. The revolutionary row crop flamer provides organic farmers a much needed tool to control weeds within crop rows and provides a feasible weed control method during wet conditions. Tremendous versatility is a part of its design. It can either complement existing mechanical weed control methods (e.g. rotary hoeing and cultivation), or work independently . Looking at crop applications, the current focus is corn and soybeans. However, successful preliminary testing has been completed in sunflower and sorghum (silage), and given simple modifications (i.e. hood width), the AFI flamer could be used in many other crops (e.g. alfalfa [hay], cotton, dry edible beans). Compared with existing flaming equipment, AFI’s flame weeding equipment has two key innovations, hood/torch technology and an electronic ignition system, that will yield four major improvements for the customer.
- Increased energy efficiency is realized. Existing flaming equipment utilizes open torch technology; control of the hot combustion gases ceases once they exit the torch. The hood technology complements the flaming torch, reducing heat losses from the combustion gases and providing longer exposure times at higher temperatures than open torches. With the increase in energy efficiency, the same level of weed control can be obtained with less fuel (i.e. lower treatment cost/acre)
- A higher quality, more consistent weed control is achieved. Ascard (1995a) addressed inconsistent weed control as another limitation of flaming with open torch equipment, and wind is the major reason behind the inconsistent weed control when open torches are used. Wind can wreak havoc on the effectiveness of existing flaming equipment. It can evacuate the heat out of the treatment zone earlier than normal, resulting in little damage to the weeds and a failed treatment. Wind is an element of the weather that is frequently encountered in the field, and in order to hit the right treatment timing, moderate winds have to be tolerated. Utilizing a hood eliminates the issues caused by wind.
- Flaming treatments are safer with hoods. The importance of safety cannot be stressed enough when dealing with the high temperatures of combustion. Open torches can be dangerous and wind is to blame in this case as well. Nothing stops the wind from carrying the hot gases out of the treatment zone and into possibly dangerous locations where equipment could be damaged or an operator could be burned. Flaming hoods aid tremendously in keeping the hot gases contained and away from the equipment, the operator, and the crop.
- The AFI flamer is easier to operate. An electronic ignition and detection system makes operating the equipment much easier and safer. No longer does the farmer need to continue the dangerous practices of manually lighting all of the torches or turning around in the end-rows of the field with the system in pilot flame mode. AFI’s ignition system automatically ignites and extinguishes the torches. It will also monitor the torches through flame detection, and reignite a torch if it extinguishes during a treatment. If a torch cannot be reignited, the ignition controls will simultaneously shut the system down and warn the farmer of the problem torch.
Following AFI’s plan, the farmer will be provided with recipes for treatment of various crops and will know what to expect after flaming treatment is applied. Looking at what is to be expected from a treatment, the major question deals with the effect of flaming on crop yield. Field testing has verified successful weed control in the following agronomic crops: corn, soybeans, sorghum, and sunflower.
Our flamers control weeds within the crop row, which are impossible to remove by cultivator, directly protecting crop yield and resulting in up to $450 per acre in additional revenues. We have observed this at many experimental fields of the University of Nebraska, and at many organic farms that have been using AFI flamers over the last few years. This extra income from increased yield by flame weeding was also confirmed independently by many organic farmers that regularly attend Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) conferences held annually in La Crosse, WI.
Flame Weeder Models Available
1. Safety:
the equipment is designed with SAFETY as the highest priority
2. Electronic Ignition:
since the flames are often not visible in daylight, each torch is monitored and the operator on the tractor is alerted if there is a torch failure
3. Flame Detection:
since the flames are often not visible in daylight, each torch is monitored and the operator on the tractor is alerted if there is a torch failure
4. Robust Torches:
combustion stability (very rarely flame out), efficiency, ease of adjustment for Banded or Full flaming are features built into every AFI torch
5. Convenience & Flexibility:
Category 2-3 Three-Point Hitch, Storage Stands integrated into each machine, and Adjustable Gauge Wheels
6. Specially-Designed Hoods:
heat is held close to the ground, providing more consistent treatment results, especially in windy conditions
7. Propane Dose Tables:
provide the pressure settings and tractor speeds required to apply a full range of propane doses for effective flame weeding
8. Flame Weeding Manual:
includes propane dose and timing recipes for effective flame weeding of all major row crops
About US
George Gogos
CEO and Lead Product Developer
Academic Degrees:
Ph.D., 1986 University of Pennsylvania
M.S., 1982 University of Pennsylvania
B.S., 1980 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
30 plus years of research in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and combustion science, including:
-Flow & heat transfer using functionalized metallic surfaces
-Vaporizing and combusting sprays
-Flame weeding equipment design and development
Chris Bruening
Lead Product Developer / Design Engineer
Academic Degrees:
Ph.D., 2017 University of Nebraska–Lincoln
M.S., 2009 University of Nebraska–Lincoln
B.S., 2006 University of Nebraska–Lincoln
A combined 10 plus years of research in flame weeding and flame weeding equipment design and development
VIDEOS
8-Row Unit - Mid/Late Stage Corn - Banded Treatment
12-Row Unit - Late Stage Soybeans - Banded Treatment
Contact Us
Interested in seeing an AFI equipment?
We have several customers located around the Midwest that are willing to show their AFI flame weeder.
Please arrange with us to find an AFI flame weeder nearest you.
Agricultural Flaming Innovations
P.O. Box 80603
Lincoln, NE 68501
Phone: 402.326.8086