Reduced Volume Spray Application in Top Fruit—Control of Spray Losses

摘要

@@ Highly efficient spray application in top fruit requires low water volume rates and small droplets to minimise number of fillings per spray round. A further increase of the work rate is realized by adapting forward speed to canopy width. This technique has been endangered because pesticide application in the close vicinity of water courses requires an officially approved spray drift reduction, which was not available for small droplets so far. For developing a method, orchard trials have been conducted to measure soil sediments, vertical spray drift and particle drift deposits from an axial fan sprayer and a tower sprayer at forward speeds of 6, 9 and 12 km/h at reduced and canopy adapted fan speeds.