Author
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Nelson, Stuart |
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Submitted to: World Congress on Microwave and Radio Frequency Processing
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2003 Publication Date: 9/22/2003 Citation: NELSON, S.O. MICROWAVE AND RADIO-FREQUENCY POWER APPLICATIONS. ABSTRACTS OF 3RD WORLD CONGRESS ON MICROWAVE AND RADIO FREQUENCY PROCESSING, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. 2003. P. 31. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The potential for agricultural applications of radio-frequency (RF) energy for the solution of various problems in agricultural production, crop handling and storage, and product preservation and conditioning has been considered for many years. With the development of economical microwave power equipment and widespread use of microwave power in the food industry, additional agricultural applications have been studied. This paper is concerned with RF and microwave dielectric heating applications in agriculture for purposes other than food processing, and will include a review, update, and discussion of some of those agricultural applications of interest to the microwave and RF power industry. These applications include RF and microwave dielectric heating treatments for controlling stored-product insects in grain and other commodities; for treating seed to improve or stimulate germination of crop seeds, particularly alfalfa; for conditioning of soybeans to improve nutritional value and pecans to improve shelf life; for crop seed treatment to control plant pathogens; for soil treatment to control weed seeds; for accelerating the drying of farm crops; and for treatment of alfalfa seed intended for sprouting to reduce human pathogen populations on the seed. The state of the art will be described and prospects for commercialization will be discussed. |
