Spray drift assessment encompasses classification of the capacity each sprayer/technology/setting combination to reduce or avoid spray risk, as well measurement define buffer zones mandated during pesticide application. Compounding challenge these tasks is great variability field evaluation results from environmental conditions, application technology, canopy structure, and procedures. This study, performed in Spanish context, evaluates effects different parameters on comparative...

Improvements in the spray application of plant protection products enhance agricultural sustainability by reducing environmental contamination, but increasing food quality and human safety. Currently, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are raising interest applications 3D crops. However, operational configurations UAV-spray systems need further investigation to maximise deposition canopy minimise off-target losses. Our experimental research focused on investigating effects coverage due...

Abstract The pulse width modulation (PWM) spray system is the most advanced technology to obtain variable rate application without varying operative sprayer parameters (e.g. pressure, nozzle size). According precision agriculture principles, PWM prime that allows required amount where needed droplet size spectra which benefits both uniformity of quality and drift reduction. However, some concerns related effect on–off solenoid valves alternating on/off action adjacent nozzles on final uneven...

A step-by-step laboratory procedure was used to identify the optimal configuration of a tower-shaped trailed sprayer intended for application in vertical shoot trellised vineyards. Different fan settings, air-conveyor orientation, and nozzle were tested their effect on both airflow pattern spray distribution. The rate at outlet velocity crop target distance identified different settings obtained by combination two gear speeds three Power Take Off (450, 500 540 rev min−1). difference between...

Abstract BACKGROUND The efficacy and environmental sustainability of pesticide application largely depend on maximizing target coverage, while minimizing off‐target losses. Recently, laboratory‐based measurements were used to develop new cannon‐type spout increase the droplet size spectra produced by a pneumatic vineyard sprayer. study described below evaluated effectiveness device reduce losses (both in‐field off‐field ground losses), distribute an adequate canopy spray. Field trials...

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Drift is one of the most important issues to consider for realising sustainable pesticide sprays. This study proposes an alternative indirect methodology comparative measurements drift reduction potential (DRP) generated by airblast sprayers, aimed at overcoming practical inconveniences and drawbacks standardized ISO 22866:2005. A test bench in absence target crop wind was employed measure values (DPVs). variation proposed method that introduced a between sprayer device...

Abstract BACKGROUND The efficacy of treatments in vineyards largely depends on the necessary balance between leaf coverage and spray drift and, therefore, knowledge about droplet size is major importance, but scarce scientific information available pneumatic spraying, often adopted this crop. objective work was to obtain relationships spectra characterization parameters main affecting factors nozzles. RESULTS Three liquid flow rates (LFR) four air speeds (AS) were combined laboratory...

The most widespread method for weed control and suckering in vineyards is under-row band herbicide application. It could be performed only (WC) or (WSC) simultaneously. During application, spray drift one of the important environmental issues. objective this experimental work was to evaluate performance specific Spray Drift Reducing Techniques (SDRTs) used either WC WSC applications. Furthermore, reduction achieved by buffer zone adoption investigated. All measurements were conducted...

Air assistance and droplet's characteristics influence on the pesticide deposit its distribution over intended target during spray application process. The present research work is focused characterization of leaf coverage overall within whole canopy by combining different settings air with nozzles, generating sizes. A new designed air-assisted orchard sprayer was tested, presenting a wireless remote-regulation system to control airflow rate from fan adjusting blade pitch. In this way, five...

The Smart City concept relates to improve efficiency of city services and facilitate a more sustainable development cities, as well standing the key for future technological developments in Future Internet, IoT and, great quantity information stored, big data cloud computing. In this sense, paper presents ClouT project, joint European-Japanese whose main aim is making citizens aware resources helping them use care these by mean smart Cloud. This objective addressed through definition three...

Pneumatic spraying is especially sensitive to spray drift due the production of small droplets that can be easily blown away from treated field by wind. Two prototypes environmentally friendly pneumatic spouts were developed. The present work aims check effect spout modifications on quality, test convenience setting liquid hose out in cannon-type and hand-type nozzles its droplet size, homogeneity driftability laboratory conditions. Laboratory trials simulating a real sprayer conducted...

When very low temperatures are needed for industrial applications, reverse Brayton cryocoolers can be adopted. This paper reports the results of an energy analysis in which performance a cryocooler prototype was studied. The is innovative both cycle configuration and pressure temperature levels. Moreover, nitrogen, eco-friendly gas that safe people, used as working fluid. Simultaneous measurements at inlet outlet main thermodynamic components, nitrogen flow rate, power consumption were taken...

Drift is one of the most important issues to consider for realising sustainable pesticide sprays. This study proposes and tests an alternative methodology quantifying drift potential (DP) air blast sprayers, trying avoid difficulties faced in conducting field trials according standard protocol (ISO 22866:2005). For this purpose, ad hoc test bench designed DP comparative measurements was used. The proposed evaluated terms robustness, repetitiveness coherence by arranging a series at two...

Weed control in vineyards is essential to allow optimal vines development. In this study, three different techniques (hoeing, chemical control, and mulching) used vineyard’s under-row weed were compared considering their: operative economic aspects, energy consumptions environmental impacts. Trials performed a vineyard located Canelli (AT), Italy, characterized by 3 gradient slopes (<5%, 10-15%, >20%). Each technique has been tested adjacent rows per each of the (randomized block...

Pesticide losses and uneven spray distribution should be avoided as much possible they reduce the effectiveness of spraying increase environmental contamination well costs. Within H2020-project OPTIMA goal is to develop a smart sprayer for bed-grown carrots, including optimizations such air support variable nozzle spacing. This paper focuses on selecting most optimal types, spacing height crops, while taking into account different target zone widths depending growth stage, based droplet...

Highlights Ad hoc methodology was assessed to evaluate the Pneumatic Spray Delivery-Solid Set Canopy Delivery System (PSD-SSCDS) cleaning performance. Evaluated were five viable techniques including air injection and water rinse. performance meets ISO16119-4 internal requirements. Among tested methods, rinse most effective technique. Abstract. Solid set canopy delivery system (SSCDS), a fixed spray variant, has potential realize automated timely applications in modern grapevine production...

Abstract Background In order to improve the biological control agent (BCA) efficacy, stress factors threatening viability of microorganisms during spray application need be determined. The effect mixture temperature and exposure time on Trichoderma harzianum T 22 Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 were tested. Concurrently combined mechanical thermal BCA tested at two initial temperatures (14 25 °C) by simulating a using airblast sprayers featured different tank capacity liquid circuit...

The timely and flexible treatment of solid set canopy delivery systems (SSCDS) is expanding. Laboratory field trials were conducted to evaluate the performance three different irrigators (Pulsar™ system nozzle combination), typically used in anti-frost irrigation vineyards/apple orchards, for plant protection product (PPP) a Guyot-trained trellised vineyard.Results showed that irrigator setups perform best when matched task-flat fan emitters horizontal spray application (canopy top) circular...

Airblast sprayers are widely used for the application of plant protection products (PPP) in citrus. Adaptation vertical distribution spray cloud to canopy (density, shape and size), is essential deposit an adequate amount PPP on target reduce losses (drift, runoff). Vertical profiles three air-assisted axial fan hydraulic with different configurations settings were obtained evaluate effect these profile. From analysis empirical results, impact operational (nozzle, air volume flow rate)...

Plant protection product (PPP) applications to isolated olive trees are commonly performed with regular air-assisted sprayers, which not adapted their particular characteristics. Whilst strong efforts have been undertaken over the last years improve technical aspects like canopy detection and automated proportional dosing, nearly no made regarding sprayer adaption crop. For this reason, three prototype sprayers were developed for traditional intensive cultivations systems (P1: centrifugal...