Air compressors have a long history of applications in agriculture, with compressors providing the power needed to spray crops with herbicides for many years.

However, new research suggests a new use for air compressors in tackling unwanted weed growth – simply blasting them out of the ground.

Reported in the latest issue of the journal Weed Technology, Frank Forcella of the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service claims compressed air alone can achieve 90% control of weeds over the course of a season.

This is achieved not by blasting the weeds with herbicides that they can develop an immunity to, but by blasting them with a jet of air containing grit.

In particular, the use of air compressors in this way can allow weeds to be eliminated from crop fields that are being grown to organic standards, where herbicides may not be an option.

The study focused on abrasive grit blasted at corn plants and found, significantly, that the corn plants themselves were not damaged by the process, nor were their yields less than usual, making compressed air an eco-friendly and economical option for growers.

Air compressors are likely to be an increasingly important part of the uninterruptible power supplies of the future, according to Pike Research.

The analyst says there are several innovations that will appear in next-generation UPS systems, allowing them to provide reliable power when the mains supply is interrupted.

Air compressors are one component that could help towards this, as compressed air appears alongside electrical batteries as a source of backup power.

“Next-generation UPS systems will combine several key features, including a built-in energy storage source such as batteries, flywheels, or compressed air,” Pike Research predicts.

Vice-president of research Bob Gohn adds that systems that can switch between different methods of providing power can help to lower energy costs in the long term.

The predictions are another example of how air compressors are playing an increasing role in providing power of all kinds.

However, they also remain as a way of harnessing the power of compressed air to deliver bursts of high energy for use in power tools, spraying applications and for a host of other purposes.