JFE Shoji Steel Construction Materials ("JTEKT"), a JFE Shoji Group company, and Tohsen Co., Ltd. conducted a test installation of concrete canvas (CC), an effective weed prevention measure, at the Oogata Land Improvement District in Oogata Village, Minami Akita County, Akita Prefecture, from March through September.

CC is a sheet of cement sealed inside a sheet that hardens into concrete when sprinkled with water. Currently, CCT1 (4.5 mm thick), CCT2 (7.00 mm thick), and made-to-order CCT3 (10.00 mm thick) are being developed. In the case of CCT1, the concrete is hardened by sprinkling about 8 liters of water per square meter. As the sheet hardens, it stops the spread of weeds in the rice paddies and near farm roads, thereby preventing weeds.

In addition, since one roll of CCT1 weighs approximately 80 kg, it can be installed without the need for heavy machinery. CCT1 can be cut with a cutter due to its soft cloth material that can fit into complex shapes. Furthermore, the amount of eluted alkali is low, so the environmental impact is low. Because of these features, CC is used not only for weed prevention, but also for a wide range of other applications such as slope protection, animal damage prevention, waterway repair, and disaster recovery.

In March of this year, J Tekken and Tohsen Akita Office installed CC on a trial basis on approximately 60 square meters (2 x 30 square meters on both sides of farm roads) in the Oogata Land Improvement District, and when the weed control status was surveyed in September, the areas where CC had not been installed were covered with weeds, but the areas where CC had been installed were completely weed-free, confirming that CC is an effective weed control measure. The CC was confirmed to be effective as a weed control measure.

The reality is that frequent weeding operations cannot keep up with the aging of the farming population, the lack of bearers, and costs. Both companies will aim to expand sales to help farmers struggling with each problem by installing CC.

≪Before installation ≫ After installation

For inquiries about the product, please contact Civil Engineering & Construction Materials Department, Head Office, JFE Shoji Steel & Construction Materials Corporation ( dobokukenzai@jfe-shoji-kenzai.co.jp)

For a detailed product description, please click here! ⇒https://youtu.be/wLBq5MQ2EaM?si=TyjV-WB63Xx-Etyw