| ABSTRACT |
Pest, disease and weed damages in horticultural crop production are frequently reported high between 50 - 100 %. To control the damages requires 40-60 % of total cost crop production. The cost is mainly involved in spraying of weedicides, insecticides and fungicides. Excessive chemical spraying is hazardous to operator and left high chemical residual in crop produces and environmental pollution. Therefore, a Pest Burner Implement was developed as an alternative to the current pest and disease controls. Basically, the Pest Burner Implement is made of steel frame cart, gas cylinders, gas control valve and series of burner nozzles. The implement also has three point linkages that attached to four wheel tractor. The implement enabled to produce fire at 100 ¿ 350 oC that burn weeds, insects and disease pathogen on ground surface. The prototype fabrication cost is RM 12,000 per unit. The projected operational cost is estimated RM 300.00 per hectare as compared to conventional chemical spraying RM 1,000 ¿ 1,500 per hectare. The advantages of the Pest Burner Implement are low cost, green technology, safe to operator, environmental friendly and crop free from chemical residual. The Pest Burner Implement is highly recommended to be used in Organic Farming and Good Agriculture Practice.
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