Figure 1 in Exploring the potential of electric weed control: a review

Figure 1. Schematic representation of electric weed control technology using the spark-discharge method; produced by Guanhao Cheng from the information presented in Diprose and Benson (1984), Savchuk and Bayev (1975), Slesarev (1972), and Wilson and Anderson (1981). The process starts when the plant comes into close proximity to or contact with the electrode (ti). Electricity is then transferred through the plant's foliage and into the roots before dissipating into the soil. The application is grounded by the groundcontact device (GCD). Each object through which the current passes is depicted as having individual resistance, such as the target vegetation (Rv), soil and machinery (Rs), or parallel objects (Rp). This continues over time until the final point of electrode–plant contact (tf). The efficacy of weed control depends on contact time (tc), which is the duration of the electrode's contact with the plant. Contact time is determined by the electrode's effective contact surface and the distance traveled while the electrode is transferring the current to or in contact with the plant (Se).