Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Plant pests and invasive weeds are an increasing concern in agriculture that can lead to negative consequences for the farmer, as a source of financial losses. The ability to detect plant pests is therefore important, to stop the spread and eliminate the problem. The usage of certified seeds is one of the methods to reduce the risk of plant pests and invasive weeds. As these pests and weeds exude scents, the canine´s well-developed olfactory sense and scent detection ability could be another method to detect and stop the spreading of the pests and the weeds.
Previous studies have confirmed the benefits of using scent detection dogs in various professions, including forestry. The aim of this study was to determine how the dog can contribute to the reduction of invasive weeds in agriculture, through the detection of wild oats. To examine this theory an experiment was conducted, and also the effectiveness of different target scents was tested. The training of canine can be performed in many ways; therefore, this study also examined which method are considered to be the most suitable in regard to the dogs’ welfare and performance.
Data on the effectiveness of the different pseudo-scents was collected through a visual observation. During the experiment, distraction scents were introduced to enable reinforcement of choosing the right scent despite being distracted by others. This to ensure that the correct scent was learned. The pseudo-scent was then replaced with a control scent, consisting of pure wild oat, to investigate whether the dogs could connect the two scents. Despite the small data collection, the result indicated a potential in the inhibited seeds. The dogs in the study showed a clear recognition between the scent detection and the pure wild oats, after which a connection could be made. However, in order to conclude the potential of the inhibited seeds as a sent detection, a larger sample size must be obtained. If this could be a validated method against invasive weeds it could also contribute to an improved environment, food safety and human health.