Prototype for the application of proportional phytosanitaries to the size of trees in citrus
Keywords:
Aplication proportional, citrus, pulverization, sensorAbstract
The prevailing need to reduce the use of phytosanitary products, which helps mitigate its effect on the environment, makes it necessary to apply phytosanitary products more precisely, so in this work the design and the first results are presented of the evaluation of an experimental air-assisted sprayer designed to adapt application doses to tree canopy size. The prototype features vertical booms and customized air vents in conjunction with three ultrasonic rangefinders to estimate distances to targeted trees at three different heights. These ranges are continuously being sent to the decision making processor which applies a logic rule based on different criteria adjusted to the specific objectives selected for each application. Multiple field tests were performed in orange groves with varieties Clemenules and Orogrande. After applying a reference volume of 3000 l/ha, results showed that spraying savings up to 30 % are possible while maintaining the same coverage rates.
Downloads
References
Comisión Europea 2006. Estrategia temática sobre el uso sostenible de los plaguicidas. Comisión de las Comunidades Europeas, Bruselas.
Escolá A., Solanelles, F., Planas, S., Rosell, J.R. (2.002).Electronic control system for proportional spray application to the canopy volume in tree crops. International Conference on Agricultural Engineering Ag Eng 2.002.
Escolá A., Camp, F., Solanelles, F., Llorens, J., Planas, S., Rosell, J.R., Gracia F., Gil, E. (2007). Variable dose rate sprayer prototype for tree crops based on sensor measured canopy characteristics. 6th European Conference on Precision Agriculture. Wageningen Academic Publishers: 185-191.
Fox, R. D., Derksen, R. C., Zhu, H., Brazee, R. D., y Svensson, S. A. (2008). A history of air-blast sprayer development and future prospects. Transactions of the ASABE, 51(2): 405-410.
Furness, G. O., Magarey, P. A., Miller, P. H., y Drew, H. J. (1998). Fruit tree and vine sprayer calibration based on canopy size and length of row: Unit canopy row method. Crop Protection 17(8): 639−644.
Gil, E., Escolá, A., Rosell J.R., Planas, S., Val, L. (2007). Variable rate application of plant protection products in vineyard using ultraonics sensors. Crop Protection, 26(8): 1287-1297.
Moltó, E., Martin, B., Gutiérrez, A. (2001). Pesticide loss reduction by automatic adaptation of spraying in globular trees. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 78(1): 35-41.
Pai, N., Salyani, M., and Sweeb, R. D. (2009). Regulating airflow of orchard airblast sprayer based on tree foliage density. Transactions of the ASABE, 52(5): 1423-1428.
Salyani, M., Whitney, J. D., and Farooq, M. (2002). Application of abscission sprays for mechanical harvesting of Hamlin Orange. ASTM STP 1430 Pesticide Formulations and Delivery Systems 22: 134−147.
Sanz, R., Palacín J., Sisó, J. M., Ribes-Dasi M., Masip, J., Arnó J; Llorens, J; Vallès J. M., Rosell JR. (2004). Advances in the measurement of structural characteristics of plants with a LIDAR scanner. International Conference on Agricultural Engineering Ag Eng 2.004.
Stover, E., Scotto, D., Wilson, C., and Salyani, M. (2002=. Spray applications to citrus: overview of factors influencing spraying efficacy and off-target deposition. IFAS Fact Sheet H S-851.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
