Sustainable Use of Soil with E-MOTIKA
UL FS
Date of publication:
Tillage machines are a necessity in agriculture, but they compact the soil and do not allow smaller farmers and growers to till and weed in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. Researchers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana, together with project partners on the Accelerated Vegetable Hoeing project - "MOTIKA," addressed this challenge by developing a hoeing machine specifically for smaller farmers and crop growers.
The hoeing arm is lightweight, which causes less soil compaction and damage, while also preventing erosion and soil degradation, contributing to soil fertility. The hoe, by mechanically removing weeds, reduces the need for herbicides, positively impacting the reduction of groundwater pollution. As the arm is fully automated and allows for standing use and easy movement across the cultivated area with the help of wheels, it significantly reduces the labor burden of hoeing.
Due to its operating principle based on planetary gearing, the hoe removes most weeds accumulating both along the rows and between the rows. Two In-Wheel electric motors provide self-propulsion for movement, and the entire system is battery-powered. Since it operates on electric or battery power, it allows for the use of renewable energy sources. Hoeing is ensured by two electric motors that drive the moving parts of the device through transmissions. Upon the user's command, a working motion is triggered, removing weeds from the vicinity of the plant.
The hoe was tested by project partners in the fall of 2023, who suggested some improvements. These relate to simplifying the vertical movement of the hoeing tools, making the hoe even easier to use.
The project also includes training and knowledge transfer. To disseminate knowledge among agricultural advisors and experts in the field, the leading institutions are the Agricultural and Forestry Institute Maribor and Celje, and Čarna d. o. o., while the Biotechnical Center Naklo focuses on spreading knowledge to younger generations in the education sector.
The project is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe invests in rural areas. Its main goal is the sustainable use of agricultural land by ensuring soil fertility and preventing erosion and soil degradation through the use of the hoeing arm designed as a planetary gear system.
