Determine if weed electrocution can reduce/inhibit weed seed from returning to the soil seedbank without causing injury to soybean.

The electrocution system is designed to contact and electrocute weeds above the crop canopy; any plant that comes into contact with the boom will be electrocuted. This method could allow a producer to control escaped weeds before the weeds can set seed that will return to the soil seed bank. The goal of this project is to evaluate weed electrocution in a Missouri soybean system.

1. Evaluate control of common weed species following electrocution.
2. Evaluate soybean following contact by the boom at different growth stages.

Data from these studies will be presented at technical and producer meetings. Development of technical manuscripts are anticipated to begin in the fall of 2021. In 2020, a virtual field day video was produced highlighting this research and received much press. Similar exposure of the research is anticipated for 2021.

These results will provide Missouri producers with timely knowledge of a non-chemical option for preventing weed seed production that can be integrated with herbicides for effective weed management.