RF and microwave low power dielectric heating using parallel plate applicator to control insect pests on tomato plant

Abstract

This paper focuses on electromagnetic exposure to control insect pests in agriculture using parallel plate applicator. A tomato plant and “Helicoverpa armigera” eggs and larvae are exposed to 915MHz and 2450 MHz. A parallel plate applicator is fabricated and matched with Radio Frequency and Microwave source at 50Ω. The power up to 250W was applied to parallel plate applicator in an anechoic chamber to observe the behavior and heating effect on commodities inside the applicator. The rise in temperature of the tomato plant and tomato with insect pest stages were different for different dielectric properties. The reduction in the hatching was observed after the exposure. The first instar to fifth instar larvae erratic movement was observed during exposure. The faster response of heating was observed at the higher side of exposed power. The effect on the heating rate considering the variations in the space between two parallel plates of the applicator is analyzed in this research. The parallel plate capacitor is referred to as an applicator in this paper.