WO2024188500A1 - Method for performance control during electrical treatment of plants - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for performance control during electrical treatment of plants (40), having the steps of: (S200) determining at least one value indicative of a speed (v) at which an applicator unit (2) is moved over the plants (40) in order to apply electrical energy to the plants (40), (S300) evaluating the value indicative of the speed (v) in order to determine a parameter dataset (PDS) for performance control, and (S400) adapting at least one operating variable (BG) of the electrical treatment according to the parameter dataset (PDS).

Description

Method for performance control during electrical treatment of plants

The invention relates to a method and a computer program product as well as a control device for controlling the performance of an electrical treatment of plants. The invention further relates to a carrier vehicle and a treatment device for carrying out an electrical treatment of plants with such a control device.

Desiccation is a process in agriculture in which crops with desiccated roots are killed in order to accelerate ripening. A welcome side effect is the simultaneous killing of weeds, whose green parts would otherwise be harvested with grain, for example, and would increase the moisture content of the crop.

Field crops are crops that are grown in fields. Field crops include cereals, root crops, pulses, oilseeds, and green crops such as silage maize, which are used as animal feed or to generate energy.

Green manure is a natural method in agriculture for covering and improving the soil. It primarily refers to the targeted cultivation and subsequent killing of plants that are not harvested but remain on the field, for example, to protect against erosion, secure nutrients or improve the soil / create humus. Catch crops can also be used for this purpose in the final phase of use. A catch crop is a crop that is grown between other crops that are used for the main purpose as green manure or for use as animal feed.

Electrophysical processes that introduce electrical current into plants and then extract it from the same plant, adjacent plants or from the soil, allowing residue-free treatment as no chemical agents are used. The conductive agents used serve to save energy and increase efficiency, are easily biodegradable and contain only unproblematic salts (nitrate-phosphate-free), which the plants need anyway for healthy growth.

When electric current flows through parts of a plant, they are damaged depending on the electrical current strength, voltage, type of current (direct current, alternating current, frequency, smoothing level or residual ripple, etc.). There is currently no comprehensive and uniform theory of the effect. It can be assumed with certainty that the vascular bundles for transporting fluids in the plant, as the parts with the lowest electrical resistance, are damaged to such an extent that they become inoperable and the plant subsequently dies and dries out, depending on the degree of damage and the weather conditions. If high levels of energy are used, local thermal destruction of plant tissue can also occur.

The use of direct electrical current for the electro-treatment of plants is known, for example, from US 2,007,383 and WO 2019/052591 A1, while the use of direct or alternating electrical current is known, for example, from WO 2018/095450 A1 or WO 2018/050142 A1.

Traditionally, two metallic applicators are used to apply electrical current to plants in order to at least keep the electrical resistance at the contact point as low as possible.

Such applicators are also known as long applicators (long-range applicators, also tongue applicators or LRB, from English "Long Range Blade"). Such applicators have a distance of 0.8 m to 1 m, for example. However, short applicators (SRA - for English: Short Range Blade) can also be used, the distance of which is in the range of 0.1 m to 0.5 m. Furthermore, in some cases the circuit is not closed by a second contact on plants with the opposite pole, but by electrodes cutting into the soil.

From DE 10 2021 114 692 A1 a method and a device for treating plants is known, especially for desiccation of potato plants, but also for green manure control.

Another device for the electrical treatment of plants is known from WO 2018 / 050138 A1.

However, the topology of the ground and/or the vegetation and thus the ohmic resistance of the treated area vary. Therefore, the electrical power and voltage provided depending on the resistance, which contribute to the success of the treatment, also vary. Since the driving speed of the towing vehicle and the applicator for applying direct electrical current to plants also vary in real operation, the specific amount of energy relevant to the effect (energy per area, kWh/ha) also changes. These changing variables reduce the biological effectiveness or lead to excessive use of energy resources and a reduction in the area performance if they are not controlled effectively and in line with requirements for the individual applicators.

There is therefore a need to identify ways in which improvements can be achieved, particularly with regard to the effectiveness of electro-treatment of plants.

The object of the invention is achieved by a method for controlling the performance of an electrical treatment of plants, comprising the steps:

Determining at least one value indicative of a speed with which an applicator unit for applying electrical energy to the plants is moved over the plants, Evaluating the value indicative of the speed to determine a parameter data set for performance control, and

Adjusting at least one operating variable of the electrotreatment according to the parameter data set.

This makes it possible to compensate for variations in driving speed and thus to homogenize the energy input when applying electrical energy to plants. The electrical energy can be provided in the form of a direct electrical current. This avoids wasting energy due to an unnecessarily high energy input, for example when a carrier vehicle with the applicator unit temporarily reduces its speed.

According to one embodiment, a map data set and/or operating data of a carrier vehicle and/or a treatment device are evaluated to determine at least the value indicative of a speed. For this purpose, a control device can be provided that can be assigned to the carrier vehicle or the treatment device. The map data set contains data that describe, for example, dimensions and/or position of the ground surface on which the plants to be treated are located. Furthermore, the map data set can also contain data relating to lanes or routes along which the carrier vehicle with the applicator unit is to be moved over the ground surface with the plants to be treated. In conjunction with a GPS module, different positions of the carrier vehicle with the applicator unit can then be determined at different times and thus the speed. This means that no access to operating data of the carrier vehicle is required. Alternatively, operating data of the carrier vehicle can also be used, such as that of a speedometer or a wheel speed of the carrier vehicle. This makes it particularly easy and reliable to determine the speed. According to a further embodiment, the parameter data set has a target power output. In other words, the target power output adjusts the electrical power delivered to the plants to be treated to the speed. For example, a reduced speed leads to a reduced power output, while an increased speed leads to an increased power output. A specific amount of energy relevant to the effect (energy per area, kWh/ha) is therefore kept constant, thus avoiding energy waste.

According to a further embodiment, the parameter data set has a target spray quantity. The target spray quantity indicates which quantity of a substance mixture is applied to a surface section of a predetermined size. The substance mixture can be a liquid that contains a component that reduces the electrical contact resistance in the area of the plant surface and/or a surface-active substance. In this way, it can be ensured in particular that there is no overdosing of the substance mixture when the speed is temporarily reduced, which would result in the electrically conductive substance mixture forming short-circuit bridges on the surface of plants, so that electrical current does not flow through the plants, but along the wetted plant surface through short-circuit bridges. This avoids wasting energy.

According to a further embodiment, the parameter data set has an activation/deactivation signal for at least partially activating/deactivating the applicator unit. It can be provided that all applicator units of an applicator row are activated or deactivated with the activation/deactivation signal. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that selected applicator units of the applicator row are activated or deactivated with the activation/deactivation signal, so that a first surface section is not subjected to electrical energy, while, for example, an immediately adjacent surface section is subjected to electrical energy. Energy is applied. For example, by evaluating map data sets that indicate which areas have already been treated, double treatment of areas that have already been treated can be avoided. This avoids wasting energy.

According to a further embodiment, the parameter data set has a target speed. For example, the target speed can be used to reduce the speed if, for example, the applicator unit achieves maximum power output from the converter. In other words, the applicator unit is moved at too high a speed for a predetermined surface area to be supplied with the predetermined amount of electrical energy, since the converter cannot provide this amount of electrical energy. This ensures that a sufficient amount of electrical energy is supplied. This prevents under-supply of electrical energy.

According to a further embodiment, at least one cornering speed is taken into account in the step of evaluating the value indicative of the speed in order to determine a parameter data set for the performance control. Since a plurality of applicator units are arranged along the applicator row transversely to the direction of travel, radius-dependent speed differences arise when cornering. By taking the cornering speed into account, e.g. by recording and evaluating values for the radius of the cornering and/or a steering angle of the carrier vehicle, these differences can be compensated by specifically controlling individual applicator units in the applicator row. This avoids, for example, the application of too much or too little electrical energy.

According to a further embodiment, in a further step, a mixture of substances is applied in a targeted manner to at least one part of the plant, in particular to stems and/or leaves of the plants, wherein the Mixture of substances has at least one component which reduces the electrical contact resistance in the region of the plant surface, wherein the mixture of substances has at least a first component which contains at least one surface-active substance selected from the group consisting of surfactants, and at least a second component which contains at least one viscosity-increasing substance selected from the group consisting of pure silicas, pyrogenic silicas, mixed oxides, magnesium layer silicates, organic additives based on biogenic oils and their derivatives, polyamides and modified carbohydrates.

Furthermore, the substance mixture can have one or more components, wherein one of the components has multiple effects, such as the effect of a surface-active substance and the effect of a viscosity-increasing substance.

The invention further includes a computer program product for carrying out such a method, a control device and a carrier vehicle and a treatment device for the electrical treatment of plants with such a control device.

The invention will now be explained using the figures. They show:

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a

Embodiment of a carrier vehicle with a treatment device for the electro-treatment of plants.

Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the device shown in Figure

1 shown carrier vehicle with the treatment device for the electro-treatment of plants. Figure 3 shows a converter associated with the treatment device.

Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a scenario in a

Electro-treatment of plants.

Figure 5 shows a control unit associated with the treatment device.

Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of another scenario for electrical treatment of plants.

Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of another scenario for electrical treatment of plants.

Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of a process flow for

Operation of the carrier vehicle shown in Figures 1 and 2.

First, reference is made to Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows an arrangement of individual components of a treatment device 1 for the electrical treatment of plants on an agricultural machine serving as a carrier vehicle 30.

The treatment device 1 can be used to carry out an electrical treatment by applying electrical energy to plants in the form of an electrical current, in particular a direct electrical current, e.g. for the purpose of desiccation or green manure control. It can be provided that electrical contact resistances are reduced by previously applying a mixture of substances 15 that reduces contact resistance, such as a corresponding liquid. Agricultural machinery is a specialized machine that is primarily used in agriculture. It can be self-propelled or pulled by or attached to an agricultural towing vehicle, such as a tractor. In other words, the agricultural machine can be a towing vehicle with its own drive or a trailer without its own drive that is pulled by a towing vehicle.

In the present embodiment, the carrier vehicle 30 is designed as a tractor. In contrast to the present embodiment, the carrier vehicle 30 can also be designed as a fertilizing, sowing or harvesting machine that has been modified by attaching the components of the treatment device 1. For this purpose, the components of the treatment device 1 can also be provided in the form of a kit. For example, the kit can have components of a treatment device 1 designed as an attachment.

The treatment device 1 can have one or more modules 10, 20, each of which can be designed as an attachment. The treatment device 1 can be designed as a machine/agricultural machine, i.e. as interchangeable equipment consisting of up to two attachments which are simultaneously mounted on the carrier vehicle 30. Furthermore, the treatment device 1 can be designed as interchangeable equipment, i.e. as a device which the driver of the carrier vehicle 30 attaches to it himself after it has been put into operation in order to change or expand its function, provided that this equipment is not a tool.

In the present embodiment, the treatment device 1 has a first module 10 for applying the contact resistance-reducing substance mixture 15 and a second module 20 for transmitting direct electrical current to plants. By applying the contact resistance-reducing substance mixture 15, contact resistances, e.g. between applicators and contacted plant parts, can be reduced. Furthermore, reduces the tendency to arcing, which reduces energy consumption.

Deviating from the present embodiment, the treatment device 1 can also have only a second module 20 for transmitting electrical current to the plants. Furthermore, it can be provided that, for example, in a combination consisting of a towing vehicle and a trailer pulled by the towing vehicle, the first module 10 is assigned to the towing vehicle and components of the second module 20 are assigned to the towing vehicle and the trailer. The components of the second module 20 can also only be assigned to the trailer. Furthermore, the components of the first module 10 and the second module 20 can be assigned to the trailer.

In the present embodiment, the first module 10 is arranged at the front and the second module 20 at the rear of the carrier vehicle 30. This arrangement makes it possible for the application of the contact resistance-reducing substance mixture 15 to always take place before or at the same time as the electrophysical treatment by applying an electrical current, such as, for example, direct electrical current.

The first module 10 has at least one application device which is designed to apply the transition resistance-reducing substance mixture 15 to plants. The first module 10 has a plurality of jointly or preferably individually controllable nozzles 11 which are arranged in a desired total working width of the treatment device 1 (e.g. 0.3 - 48 m, preferably 6 - 27 m).

In the present embodiment, the carrier vehicle 30 supplies mechanical drive energy for an electric generator 32 of the second module 20 via a power take-off shaft 31 or a hydraulic circuit, which in the present embodiment is located in the rear area of the carrier vehicle 30. In the case of treatment devices 1 with very high energy requirements due to For example, for very high working widths or carrier vehicles 30 without sufficient free power capacity, independent power generator systems can also be used, which can be coupled to the carrier vehicle 30, mounted on a trailer or moved on a trailer.

Electric current is conducted from the generator 32 with electrical lines to at least one transformation and control unit 33 of the second module 20. There, the electric current is converted for the transformation and then brought to the predetermined electrical voltage with a predetermined residual ripple in centrally or distributed positioned transformers and further control units.

In the present embodiment, the second module 20 has an applicator unit 2 with a plurality of applicators 21a, 21b, 21c for applying direct electrical current to plants, which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel FR, so that plants first come into contact with the first applicator 21a, then with the second applicator 21b and finally with the third applicator 21c of the applicator unit 2. Deviating from the present embodiment, more than one applicator unit 2 can be provided or more than three applicators 21a, 21b, 21c. The applicators 21a, 21b, 21c are arranged on a parallelogram-like support structure 24.

Applicators 21a, 21b, 21c of an applicator unit 2 are understood here as individual, possibly multiple and spatially separated electrically conductive contact units between plants, which are normally connected to a high-voltage source. The applicators 21a, 21b, 21c have a different electrical potential during operation depending on the circuit and contact. An applicator unit 2 is understood to be a unit made up of at least two - in the present embodiment at least three - applicators 21a, 21b, 21c, which have a different electrical potential during operation and are connected to different potential outputs of a single high-voltage unit. However, it is possible to electrically switch off parts of the applicator unit 2. An applicator unit 2 can, but does not have to, consist of a mechanically fixed assembly and thus be separated from other applicator units 2. According to the design, it is thus possible for an applicator unit 2 to be distributed across several mechanically and spatially independent assemblies. Conversely, several applicator units 2 can also be combined to form a rigid assembly.

The electrical voltage is made up of a constant equivalent value and a residual ripple value, whereby the residual ripple value fluctuates between a maximum value and a minimum value. The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value corresponds to the peak-valley value.

The peak-valley value is less than 1,000 V. In the present embodiment, the peak-valley value is in a range from 100 V to 500 V, depending on the load (pure ohmic resistance).

Reference is now additionally made to Figure 2.

A plurality of applicator units 2 are arranged next to one another in an applicator row 12, wherein the extension direction of the applicator row 12 preferably extends transversely, in the present embodiment at an angle of 90°, to the direction of travel FR of the carrier vehicle 30.

Figure 2 shows that a surface section A of an area with plants was treated with the treatment device 1 by applying a direct electrical current. For this purpose, the carrier vehicle 30 moved the treatment device 1 in the direction of travel FR at a speed v over the surface section A and applied a direct electrical current across the entire width b of the applicator row 12. Each applicator unit 2 thus applies a strip-shaped surface section A of the area. For this purpose, the treatment device 1 in the present embodiment is assigned a plurality of converters 7 of the second module 20, which is explained with additional reference to Figure 3.

In the present embodiment, each of the applicator units 2 of the applicator series 12 is assigned a converter 7, i.e. each applicator unit 2 of the applicator series 12 has its own converter 7.

In the present embodiment, the generator 32 provides three-phase electrical current with an electrical voltage U of 400 V at a frequency of 50 Hz to 60 Hz. A distribution unit distributes the three-phase electrical current to the majority of the converters 7.

After conversion by the respective converters 7 and rectification with rectifiers (not shown) and subsequent smoothing with smoothing capacitors (also not shown), an electrical direct voltage of 1,600 V to 5,500 V with a maximum residual ripple of 5% to 20% (in the frequency range 60 kHz to 100 kHz) is provided. Thus, each of the plurality of converters 7 provides a first polarity P1 at a first output, in the present embodiment, a positive polarity, and a second polarity P2 at its second output, in the present embodiment, a negative polarity.

In the present embodiment, power control is achieved by a combined frequency and pulse width modulation.

The respective converters 7 are electrically connected to the applicators 21a, 21b, 21c. The converters 7 permanently record a respective strength of an electrical direct current I and a level of an electrical direct voltage U on a secondary side of the converter 7, so that a value for the ohmic resistance can be determined at any time. The respective converters 7 receive a respective setpoint SW for the output DC power output is specified. Thus, in the present embodiment, electrical energy is used in the form of a direct electrical current.

In operation, the first applicator 21a has a first polarity P1, in the present embodiment a positive polarity, the second applicator 21b has a second polarity P2, in the present embodiment a negative polarity, and the third applicator 21c has the first polarity P1 due to the electrical connection to a constant power source (not shown). By choosing the polarities P1, P2, arcing, for example between the first applicator 21a and the second applicator 21b, can be reduced.

Reference is now additionally made to Figure 4.

A scenario of electrical treatment of plants is shown.

To the right and left of a driving lane 22 there are rows of plants 23, e.g. on ridges, such as potatoes. The rows of plants 23 do not run parallel to the driving lane 22 in the upper part because the field does not have a rectangular basic shape. At the same time, the planting density of the plants 40 is increased along the driving lane 22 in order to achieve, for example, better potato quality.

An electrical treatment of the plants 40 with unchanged parameters, in particular but not only of the treatment device 1, can lead, for example, to the plants 40 being exposed to an insufficient amount of electrical energy, ie an under-exposure occurs. Conversely, an over-exposure can also occur, in which electrical energy is wasted. Furthermore, an overdose of the contact resistance-reducing substance mixture 15 can also occur, which also leads to a waste of electrical energy. Furthermore, unwanted multiple electrical treatments can also occur, in which electrical energy is also wasted. Reference is now made to Figure 5 to show ways in which such energy waste can be counteracted.

A control unit 8 is shown, which can have hardware and/or software components for the tasks and functions described below. The control unit 8 can be assigned to the carrier vehicle 30 or the treatment device 1.

The control unit 8 is designed to determine a value for the speed v with which the applicator unit 2 is moved over the plants 40 in order to supply the plants 40 with electrical energy.

For this purpose, the control unit 8 in the present embodiment is designed to evaluate a map data set KDS to determine the value for the speed v.

The map data set KDS can contain data that describe a scenario as shown in Figure 4 in machine-readable form. In other words, the map data set KDS contains data that describe, for example, dimensions and/or position and/or orientation of the ground area on which the plants 40 to be treated as well as the roadways 22 are located.

In conjunction with a GPS module, different positions of the carrier vehicle 30 or just of the applicator unit 2 can then be determined at different times and thus the speed v. Thus, no access to operating data BD of the carrier vehicle 30 and/or the treatment device 1 is required.

Deviating from or in addition to the present embodiment, operating data BD of the carrier vehicle 30 and/or the treatment device 1 can also be used, such as that of a speedometer or a wheel speed of the carrier vehicle 30. Furthermore, the control unit 8 is designed to evaluate the value for the speed v in order to determine a parameter data set PDS for the performance control.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of sizes are determined for the parameter data set PDS. The parameter data set PDS can, for example, have the format of an nxm matrix. In contrast to the present embodiment, however, only a single size can be determined for the parameter data set PDS. In this case, the parameter data set PDS has the format of an nx1 matrix.

In the present embodiment, one of the majority of the variables of the parameter data set PDS is a target power output SLA. The target value SW for controlling the converter 7 is determined based on the target power output SLA.

Thus, the target power output SLA specifies the electrical power delivered to the plants 40 to be treated and adapts it to the speed v in order to keep the specific energy quantity relevant to the effect (energy per area, kWh/ha) constant.

Another of the plurality of variables of the parameter data set PDS in the present embodiment is a target spray quantity SSM for the substance mixture 15. Based on the target spray quantity SSM, for example, the quantity of the substance mixture 15 that leaves the nozzle 11 of the treatment device 1 during a predetermined period of time is determined.

Another of the plurality of variables of the parameter data set PDS in the present embodiment is an activation/deactivation signal ADS for at least partially activating/deactivating the applicator unit 2. The activation/deactivation signal ADS can be a binary signal with logic one for activation and logic zero for deactivation. Furthermore, the activation/deactivation signal ADS can be a single logic signal for activating/deactivating all applicator units 2 of the applicator row 12 and is therefore transmitted to the treatment device 1. As will be described later, the activation/deactivation signal ADS can be a plurality of logic signals for activating/deactivating each individual applicator unit 2. Each applicator unit 2 can thus be controlled individually. In this case, the activation/deactivation signal ADS has the format of an nx1 matrix.

Another of the majority of the variables of the parameter data set PDS in the present embodiment is a target speed SGS. The target speed SGS is transmitted, for example, to a drive train control of the carrier vehicle 30, which controls a drive train of the carrier vehicle 30 and thus the speed v. In other words, the target speed SGS is used to regulate or control the drive train of the carrier vehicle 30. Deviating from the present embodiment, it can also be provided that the target speed SGS is used to intervene in or activate a braking system of a trailer without its own drive, which is pulled by the carrier vehicle 30 and thus braked.

Thus, in the present embodiment, several operating variables BG of the electro-treatment are adapted depending on the specific variables of the parameter data set PDS, namely depending on the target power output SLA and/or the target spray quantity SSM and/or the activation/deactivation signal ADS and/or the target speed SGS.

Reference is now additionally made to Figure 6.

Another scenario is shown for an electrical treatment of plants 40. Here, the carrier vehicle 30 with the treatment device 1 performs a turning maneuver. While all applicator units 2 of the applicator row 12 move at the same speed when driving straight ahead (as shown in Figure 4), very large deviations from an average speed can occur when cornering, particularly when turning on the headland.

In the extreme case, the outermost of the applicator units 2 at one end of the applicator row 12 of an assumed 24 m wide applicator row 12 stands still during a circular rotation, the carrier vehicle 30 moves, for example, at 6 km/h speed on a circular path and the outermost applicator unit 2 at the other end of the applicator row 12 has, for example, twice the edge speed at 12 km/h.

In order to take these speed differences into account when cornering, the control unit 8 is designed to take the cornering speed into account. In the present exemplary embodiment, a position of the respective applicator unit 2, including a reference distance from a central axis and a pivot point of the carrier vehicle 30, is automatically calculated with the line of movement of the carrier vehicle 30 using a geometric model.

The respective speed values determined in this way are then evaluated in order to provide an individually adapted setpoint SW for each applicator unit 2 of the applicator series 12 for controlling the respective converter 7.

In the event that, during such a cornering, one of the specific respective speed values results in the performance of the respective converter 7 being exceeded (ie the maximum performance of the respective converter 7 is reached), the driver of the carrier vehicle 30 can be warned by an optical and/or acoustic and/or haptic signal. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that a braking intervention in the drive train of the carrier vehicle 30 takes place in order to bring about a reduction in the speed v by braking.

Reference is now made additionally to Figure 7.

Another scenario is shown for an electrical treatment of plants 40. The carrier vehicle 30 with the treatment device 1 drives in the direction of travel FR into the area section F that has already been treated. In contrast, the area section E has just been treated.

If the already treated surface section E must not or should not be subjected to electrical treatment again, a respective, corresponding, individual activation/deactivation signal ADS is provided for the respective applicator units 2 of the applicator row 12.

In this case, the activation/deactivation signal ADS does not comprise a single binary signal with the values logical one or logical zero, but the activation/deactivation signal ADS has the format of an nx1 matrix with a plurality of single binary signals for each of the applicator units 2 of the applicator row 12.

To determine the activation/deactivation signal ADS with the plurality of binary individual signals, the map data set KDS can be read in and evaluated, which contains data relating to the area sections E, F. Additionally or alternatively, sensor data, such as image data sets from cameras, can also be read in and evaluated.

Reference is now additionally made to Figure 8.

The method for the electro-treatment of plants 40 can comprise applying the contact resistance-reducing substance mixture 15 to shoots and/or leaves of plants 40 in advance in a step S100. In a further step S200, at least the value indicative of the speed v at which the applicator unit 2 is moved over the plants 40 in order to supply the plants 40 with electrical energy is determined.

In order to determine at least the value indicative of the speed v, a map data set KDS and/or operating data BD of the carrier vehicle 30 and/or the treatment device 1 ??? are evaluated.

In a further step S300, the value indicative of the speed v is evaluated in order to determine a parameter data set PDS for the performance control.

The parameter data set PDS can contain the target power output LSA and/or the target spray quantity SSM and/or the activation/deactivation signal ADS and/or the target speed SGS.

Furthermore, in step S300, at least one cornering speed can be taken into account.

In a further step S400, at least the operating variable BG of the electrical treatment is adapted according to the parameter data set PDS.

Deviating from the present embodiment, the order of the steps may also be different. Furthermore, several steps may be carried out at the same time or simultaneously. Furthermore, deviating from the present embodiment, individual steps may be skipped or omitted.

This significantly increases the energy efficiency of electrical treatment of plants. List of reference symbols

1 treatment device

2 Applicator unit

7 Inverter

8 Control unit

10 first module

11 Nozzle

12 Applicator row

15 mixture of substances

20 second module

21a electric applicator

21b electric applicator

21c electric applicator

22 Tram lane

23 Plant row

24 Support structure

30 Carrier vehicle

31 PTO

32 Generator

33 Transformation and control unit

40 Plant

A surface section

ADS activation-deactivation signal b width

BD operating data

BG company size

E Surface section

F Surface section

FR Direction

I direct current

P1 Polarity P2 Polarity

PDS parameter data set

SGS target speed

SLA Target power output SSM Target spray quantity

SW setpoint

U Voltage v Speed

S100 Step

S200 Step

S300 Step

S400 Step

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for controlling the performance of an electrical treatment of plants (40), comprising the steps: (S200) determining at least one value indicative of a speed (v) at which an applicator unit (2) for supplying the plants (40) with electrical energy is moved over the plants (40), (S300) Evaluating the value indicative of the speed (v) to determine a parameter data set (PDS) for performance control, and (S400) Adapting at least one operating variable (BG) of the electrical treatment according to the parameter data set (PDS). 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein a map data set (KDS) and/or operating data (BD) of a carrier vehicle (30) and/or a treatment device (1) are evaluated to determine at least the value indicative of a speed (v). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the parameter data set (PDS) contains a target power output (LSA). 4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the parameter data set (PDS) contains a target spray quantity (SSM). 5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the parameter data set (PDS) contains an activation/deactivation signal (ADS) for at least partially activating/deactivating the applicator unit (2). 6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the parameter data set (PDS) contains a target speed (SGS). 7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in step (S300) at least one cornering speed is taken into account. 8. Computer program product, also designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 7. 9. Control device (8) for performance control during an electrical treatment of plants (40), wherein the control device (8) is designed to determine at least one value indicative of a speed (v) at which an applicator unit (2) is moved over the plants (40) for supplying the plants (40) with electrical energy, to evaluate the value indicative of the speed (v) in order to determine a parameter data set (PDS) for the performance control, and to adapt at least one operating variable (BG) of the electrical treatment in accordance with the parameter data set (PDS). 10. Control device (8) according to claim 9, wherein the control device (8) is designed to evaluate a map data set (KDS) and/or operating data (BD) of a carrier vehicle (30) and/or a treatment device (1) in order to determine at least the value indicative of a speed (v). 11. Control unit (8) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the parameter data set (PDS) contains a target power output (SLA). 12. Control device (8) according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the parameter data set (PDS) is a target injection quantity (SSM). 13. Control device (8) according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the parameter data set (PDS) is an activation-deactivation signal (ADS) for at least partially activating/deactivating the applicator unit (2). 14. Control device (8) according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the parameter data set (PDS) contains a target speed (SGS). 15. Control device (8) according to one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the control device (8) is designed to take into account at least one cornering speed. 16. Carrier vehicle (30), in particular a self-propelled agricultural machine, with a control device (8) according to one of claims 9 to 15. 17. Treatment device (1) for carrying out an electrical treatment of plants (40), in particular designed for attachment to a Carrier vehicle (30) with a control device (8) according to one of claims 9 to 15.