Planting Zone Temporarily Sterilized With Electricity
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No pests, pathogens, or weed seeds remain viable in the planting zone created by Boden Ag’s Bolt. Electrodes supercharge the zone with electric pulses that destroy cell membranes. Unlike chemical soil sterilant, Bolt preserves the bulk of the robust microbial population found in healthy soils, allowing them to repopulate the zone within 30 to 50 days.
“Bolt treats a tiny portion of the land, only 3 in. wide and 7 in. deep with standard equipment,” says Max Mathison, Boden Ag. “The temporarily sterilized zone gives the emerging seed or transplanted seedling a competition and pest-free start. At the same time, any fertilizer applied at planting will be more effective.”
The Bolt technology was invented by Bryan Tomm, an Illinois farmer with the goal of preventing denitrification and leaching of side-dressed nitrogen. “He experimented with the use of electricity to knock out microbial communities involved in the nitrogen cycle,” says Mathison. “The Bolt system delivers extremely high voltage at an extremely high frequency between coulters that act as electrodes.”
The high frequency reduces the power needed to create the electric pulses. Power is produced by an alternator driven by tractor hydraulics. It charges the on-board battery that supplies the pulses to the electrodes.
“Amperage draw will vary according to soil conditions, from 5 to 15 amps per row,” says Mathison. “The amperage draw is usually on the low end, especially in lighter soils. Moist or saturated conditions increase the draw.”
Boden Ag was formed to commercialize Bolt and relocated to California earlier this year. The technology is still pre-commercial, with an extremely limited inventory in field trials with high-value crops this year. Pre-emergent weed control, as well as pest and pathogen control, are being evaluated.
“We’re moving existing units around to multiple farms to maximize the information we can gather,” says Mathison. “In about 4 mos., we hope to have greater clarity and narrow our market focus. We plan to do a limited production run to get more units into rotation over the next 12 mos.”
Initially, the technology may be available through leasing or other non-sales templates. “After a year or two, we’ll be more comfortable selling the equipment,” says Mathison.
While he hopes to return the technology to corn fields in the Midwest eventually, current efforts will continue to focus on high-value annual crops. Field trials in corn showed an increase of 14 bushels per acre, more than seen with commercial nitrogen inhibitors. Cotton trials produced an increase in lint of 249 lbs. per acre, slightly more than commercial inhibitors. Operating costs with a 12-row applicator are estimated at only 19¢ per acre.
“So far, the numbers aren’t penciling out for use in corn,” says Mathison.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Max Mathison, Boden Ag (ph 916-647-8418; info@boden.ag; www.boden.ag).
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Planting Zone Temporarily Sterilized With Electricity MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous No pests pathogens or weed seeds remain viable in the planting zone created by Boden Ag’s Bolt Electrodes supercharge the zone with electric pulses that destroy cell membranes Unlike chemical soil sterilant Bolt preserves the bulk of the robust microbial population found in healthy soils allowing them to repopulate the zone within 30 to 50 days “Bolt treats a tiny portion of the land only 3 in wide and 7 in deep with standard equipment ” says Max Mathison Boden Ag “The temporarily sterilized zone gives the emerging seed or transplanted seedling a competition and pest-free start At the same time any fertilizer applied at planting will be more effective ” The Bolt technology was invented by Bryan Tomm an Illinois farmer with the goal of preventing denitrification and leaching of side-dressed nitrogen “He experimented with the use of electricity to knock out microbial communities involved in the nitrogen cycle ” says Mathison “The Bolt system delivers extremely high voltage at an extremely high frequency between coulters that act as electrodes ” The high frequency reduces the power needed to create the electric pulses Power is produced by an alternator driven by tractor hydraulics It charges the on-board battery that supplies the pulses to the electrodes “Amperage draw will vary according to soil conditions from 5 to 15 amps per row ” says Mathison “The amperage draw is usually on the low end especially in lighter soils Moist or saturated conditions increase the draw ” Boden Ag was formed to commercialize Bolt and relocated to California earlier this year The technology is still pre-commercial with an extremely limited inventory in field trials with high-value crops this year Pre-emergent weed control as well as pest and pathogen control are being evaluated “We’re moving existing units around to multiple farms to maximize the information we can gather ” says Mathison “In about 4 mos we hope to have greater clarity and narrow our market focus We plan to do a limited production run to get more units into rotation over the next 12 mos ” Initially the technology may be available through leasing or other non-sales templates “After a year or two we’ll be more comfortable selling the equipment ” says Mathison While he hopes to return the technology to corn fields in the Midwest eventually current efforts will continue to focus on high-value annual crops Field trials in corn showed an increase of 14 bushels per acre more than seen with commercial nitrogen inhibitors Cotton trials produced an increase in lint of 249 lbs per acre slightly more than commercial inhibitors Operating costs with a 12-row applicator are estimated at only 19¢ per acre “So far the numbers aren’t penciling out for use in corn ” says Mathison Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Max Mathison Boden Ag ph 916-647-8418; info@boden ag; www boden ag
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