Soil Pest Management via High Voltage Electrical Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing soil pests like nematodes, such as fumigation, are costly, environmentally hazardous, and have low efficacy, failing to effectively control nematode infestations which significantly impact crop yields and are difficult to eradicate once established.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that delivers high voltage electricity with a predetermined capacitance to the soil using spaced electrodes, generating electrical pulses to impede nematode activity, reducing adverse effects on plants by targeting their neurological responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fumigants are used to control nematodes, then nematode control efficacy is improved, but environmental safety and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical fumigants with an electrical system consisting of electrodes connected to a high voltage power source. The electrical current delivered through electrodes embedded in the soil directly targets and kills nematodes through electrocution and neurological disruption, eliminating the need for toxic chemical substances while maintaining effective nematode control.
2Reliability
If high voltage electricity is delivered to soil, then nematode control efficacy is improved, but plant safety is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical treatment is applied locally through electrodes positioned specifically in the root zone where nematodes are present. The high voltage electrical pulses are concentrated in the immediate vicinity of the electrodes, creating a localized treatment zone that affects nematodes while the electrical energy dissipates before reaching distant plant tissues, thereby protecting plants from harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system delivers electrical current in periodic pulses rather than continuous application. This pulsed electrical treatment allows brief intervals between pulses for energy dissipation and reduces cumulative electrical exposure to plants, while still maintaining effective nematode control during the active pulse periods when nematodes are directly exposed to the electrical field.
3Reliability
If conventional electrical treatment is applied to soil, then nematode control is attempted, but treatment speed and efficacy are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs high voltage electrical pulses that rapidly traverse the soil medium and directly impact nematodes through electrocution and neurological disruption. This rushing through of electrical energy completes the treatment process in seconds, dramatically increasing treatment speed compared to conventional methods that rely on slow chemical diffusion or prolonged physical treatment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively reduces nematode infestation impacts on plants by delivering targeted electrical pulses, achieving greater than 5% reduction in adverse effects, such as root galling, without causing significant harm to the plants or environment.
Implementation Method 1
providing a source of high voltage electricity having a predetermined capacitance; providing a capacitor and which is electrically coupled with the source of the high voltage electricity, and storing the source of the high voltage electricity in the capacitor
Implementation Method 2
operating the isolation transformer in a manner so as to effect a transmission of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance through the soil location, and between the adjacent spaced electrodes, and to impede the dissipation of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance into the soil at the soil location
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for the management of a soil pest is disclosed and which includes a source of high voltage electricity; at least one capacitor for storing the high voltage electricity; a multiplicity of electrodes inserted into a soil location having a soil pest to be managed, and an electrical switch which is controllably opened and closed so as to form a pulse of electricity which is passed through the soil location and between the electrodes so as to effect the management of the soil pest.