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Environment

Experimental system uses microwaves to cook crop pests in soil

By Ben Coxworth
December 18, 2023
Experimental system uses microwaves to cook crop pests in soil
Dr. Sunshin Jung alongside his microwave soil-heating system
Dr. Sunshin Jung alongside his microwave soil-heating system
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Dr. Sunshin Jung alongside his microwave soil-heating system
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Dr. Sunshin Jung alongside his microwave soil-heating system
The microwave apparatus could conceivably be towed through fields behind a tractor prior to seeding
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The microwave apparatus could conceivably be towed through fields behind a tractor prior to seeding

Just like any other organisms, crop-destroying soil microbes die if they get too hot. With that fact in mind, scientists have developed a new system in which soil-heating microwaves are used to kill such pests. The technology could one day replace the use of environmentally harmful pesticides.

Developed by Dr. Sunshin Jung and colleagues at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), the setup incorporates a proprietary antenna that emits microwaves down into the soil.

By selectively increasing or decreasing the wavelength and phase of those waves, it's possible to space them in such a manner that they meet and overlap at specific points underground. The amplitude of the waves is increased at those points, causing the moisture in the soil to heat to a temperature of 60 to 100 ºC (140 to 212 ºF) – the exact temperature can be adjusted via the antenna.

In its current form, the system is able to heat soil to a depth of 30 cm (11.8 in). Jung and his team believe that this should be sufficient for eradicating harmful microbes such as bacteria, fungi and nematodes which live on or near plants' roots – although unfortunately, beneficial microbes would likewise be affected. By contrast, a weed-killing microwave setup developed at the University of Melbourne only reaches down 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in).

The microwave apparatus could conceivably be towed through fields behind a tractor prior to seeding
The microwave apparatus could conceivably be towed through fields behind a tractor prior to seeding

The KERI technology is now in the process of being commercialized by industry partner Jooeun Care Farm Co. It could conceivably also find use in applications such as non-destructively killing termites in wooden structures, melting ice on winter roads, or cleaning oil-contaminated soil.

"We took advantage of the wave nature of microwaves, directing them to superimpose, not spread, and heat the soil underground," said Jung. "This technology helps to kill pests residing underground after harvest without the use of pesticides, their side effects and environmental pollution, and will contribute a lot to agricultural productivity and farmers’ income."

Source: National Research Council of Science and Technology via Newswise

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EnvironmentkoreamicrowaveHeatingCropsAgricultureMicrobesPests
5 comments
Ben Coxworth
Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.

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5 comments
paul314
"although unfortunately, beneficial microbes would likewise be affected" So basically you're talking about eradicating the entire soil biome and hoping that the sterilized stuff doesn't have a worse outcome for plants than the soild with some pests in it as well as beneficial organisms? Maybe they can follow the sterilization with a mix of useful bacteria and other creatures before the really nasty invasives come in and colonize everything the way they often do in digestive systems that have had their microbiomes decimated.
zort
Great, let's finish killing off all the rest of the beneficial microbes, fungi, earthworms, etc. that have somehow managed to survive in our already toxic, depleted fields.
Hey, why do the job halfway?
martinwinlow
The preceding 2 comments convey my feelings on the subject pretty accurately and completely except to say, what a huge waste of energy! Perhaps a better avenue to explore would be using specific frequencies or combinations of frequencies of sound energy to destroy pest infestations, once established, thereby making far better use of energy?
Expanded Viewpoint
Boy, talk about a "Scorched Earth Policy" there! Why not instead do a little bit of research first, and find out which radio frequencies are needed to handle certain pests like Rife did back in the 1930s and 1940s? Then you can target them exactly and probably leave the other good parts of the biome intact?
TechGazer
How about pre/probiotics as a safer, greener alternative? Healthy soil has strains that control bad microbes, so focus on how to maintain the healthy microbiome. Likewise for macro-pests (worms, beetles, etc), there are natural organisms to control them, so techniques could be developed to optimize them.

Sadly, the food processing industry would probably prefer the "sterilize the soil and force farmers to use patented seeds and patented chemicals to grow crops" approach. More control over farmers that way.