Initial testing of a cage mill with an incorporated blade system on volunteer canola

Harvest weed seed control (managing weed seeds remaining in the field at harvest timing) has become an accepted weed control practice in Australia and research is occurring globally. There are six different methods of harvest weed seed control that all target the weed seeds contained in the chaff at harvest. One of the most highly investigated is integrated mill systems that incorporate a mill of some kind that crushes or otherwise kills the seeds via impact into the back of combine harvesters. The Redekop Seed Control Unit is the newest integrated mill system to be commercialized in the harvest weed seed control industry. It integrates a blade system into a reversible cage mill to increase airflow. Cage mills are the types of mills previously used for crushing coal. The effects of the addition of a blade system to the center of the mill on weed seed kill rate and efficiency of chaff movement. This project determined the control level of volunteer canola when processed by a cage mill with a blade system incorporated. Treatments included an 8 fan blade system, a 4 fan blade and 4 cutting blade system, two chaff volumes (5 and 10 tons per hour) and all combinations of these treatments. There was no significant effect of blade configuration or chaff volume on volunteer canola control which remained above 99% in all treatments. Volunteer canola control remained high with the integration of the blade system into a cage mill. If addition of the system allows for reduced energy requirements for the mill or other efficiencies, it will be a useful development in the integrated mill system evolution.