Method and apparatus for the management of a soil pest or pathogen

A method for the management of a soil pest or pathogen, comprising:

• providing a source of high voltage electricity having a predetermined capacitance;
• electrically coupling the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance with a soil location having a soil pest which requires management;
• supplying the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance to the soil in a predetermined number of pulses to effect an in-situ management of the soil pest or pathogen at the soil location;
• and
• wherein the step of supplying the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance to the soil location, and in predetermined pulses to effect the management of the soil pest or pathogen at the soil location further comprises, delivering to the soil location greater than 2 joules of electricity per cubic centimeter of soil at the soil location so as to facilitate a reduction in an adverse soil pest pathogenesis at the soil location of greater than 5 percent.

A method for the management of a soil pest or pathogen, comprising:

• providing a source of high voltage electricity having a predetermined capacitance;
• electrically coupling the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance with a soil location having a soil pest which requires management;
• supplying the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance to the soil in a predetermined number of pulses to effect an in-situ management of the soil pest or pathogen at the soil location;
• wherein the step of electrically coupling the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance further comprises providing a plurality of spaced electrodes having a given length dimension, and inserting the plurality of the spaced electrodes into the soil location to a predetermined depth, and wherein the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance is electrically coupled with at least some of the spaced electrodes;
• and
• wherein the plurality of spaced electrodes are located at a distance of 1 centimeter to 40 centimeters one, from the others, and wherein each of the electrodes have a length dimension of 4 centimeters to 80 centimeters.

A method for the management of a soil pest or pathogen, comprising:

• providing a source of high voltage electricity having a predetermined capacitance;
• electrically coupling the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance with a soil location having a soil pest which requires management;
• supplying the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance to the soil in a predetermined number of pulses to effect an in-situ management of the soil pest or pathogen at the soil location;
• wherein the step of supplying the source of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance to the soil in predetermined pulses further comprises, selecting an application time during which the respective pulses are applied of 0.1 seconds to 60 seconds to effect a desired management of the soil pest;
• and
• wherein the step of supplying the source of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance to the soil location further comprises providing at least one high voltage DC solid state electrical switch, and which, when rendered electrically closed, allows the passage of the source of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance, and a high electrical current, to the soil location, and wherein, when the electrical switch, when rendered electrically open, substantially stops the passage of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance, and high electrical current, to the soil location;
• and wherein the method further comprises providing a multiplicity of capacitors which are selectively, electrically coupled with the high voltage DC solid state electrical switch, and wherein the high voltage DC solid state electrical switch is electrically coupled with at least one of the capacitors, and wherein the high voltage DC solid state electrical switch, when rendered electrically closed, facilitates an electrical discharge of at least one of the capacitors.

A method for the management of a soil pest or pathogen, comprising:

• providing a source of high voltage electricity having a predetermined capacitance;
• electrically coupling the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance with a soil location having a soil pest which requires management;
• supplying the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance to the soil in a predetermined number of pulses to effect an in-situ management of the soil pest or pathogen at the soil location;
• wherein the step of electrically coupling the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance further comprises providing a plurality of spaced electrodes having a given length dimension, and inserting the plurality of the spaced electrodes into the soil location to a predetermined depth, and wherein the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance is electrically coupled with at least some of the spaced electrodes;
• wherein the step of providing the plurality of spaced electrodes further comprises selecting a predetermined spacing of the respective electrodes which facilitates a transmission of the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance across the soil location having the soil pest or pathogen requiring management, and between at least some of the plurality of electrodes, and wherein the transmission of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance between at least some of the electrodes decreases a pathogenesis of the soil pest or pathogen which is to be managed;
• and
• wherein the method further comprises providing an isolation transformer which is electrically coupled with both the source of high voltage electricity having a predetermined capacitance, and with the plurality of spaced electrodes which are inserted into the soil location having the soil pests or pathogens which need to be managed;
• and 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 adjacent electrodes, and which impedes at least in part, the dissipation of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance into the soil at the soil location.

A method for the management of a soil pest or pathogen, comprising:

• providing a source of high voltage electricity;
• providing a plurality of spaced electrodes each having a given length dimension, and which are oriented in a predetermined, spaced relationship, one relative to the other, and orienting the spaced electrodes in electrical discharging relation relative to a soil location having a soil pest or pathogen such as a fungi, or nematode to be managed;
• 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 so as to form a source of high voltage electricity having a predetermined capacitance;
• providing a high voltage solid state electrical switch which is electrically coupled with the source of high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance, and which is stored in the capacitor, and wherein the high voltage solid state electrical switch is further electrically coupled with each of the spaced electrodes, and wherein the high voltage solid state electrical switch can be rendered electrically open so as to facilitate a storage of the source of high voltage electricity in the capacitor, and electrically closed so as to facilitate an electrical discharge of the capacitor and the subsequent delivery of the source of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance to the respective plurality of spaced electrodes;
• providing an electrical switch driver which is electrically coupled with the high voltage solid state electrical switch, and wherein the high voltage solid state electrical switch, when actuated, is effective in causing the high voltage solid state electrical switch to be rendered either electrically open, or electrically closed;
• providing an isolation transformer which is electrically coupled with both the source of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance, and with the plurality of spaced electrodes which are oriented in electrical discharging relation relative to the soil location, and 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, at least in part, the dissipation of the high voltage electricity having the predetermined capacitance into the soil at the soil location;
• providing a controller which is coupled in controlling relation relative to the electrical switch driver, and which is effective in rendering the high voltage solid state electrical switch electrically opened and closed;
• and
• repeatedly rendering the electrical switch driver operable to facilitate an electrical opening and closing of the high voltage solid state electrical switch and so forming a multiplicity of pulses of electricity which are delivered to the plurality of electrodes, and which are oriented in electrical discharging relation relative to the soil location, and wherein the plurality of electrical pulses facilitate a reduction in an adverse soil pest or pathogen pathogenesis or effect at the soil location which is greater than 5%.