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Open AccessArticle
On-Target Deposition from Two Engine-Powered Sprayers in Medium-Foliage-Density Citrus Canopies
by
Peter Ako Larbi
Peter Ako Larbi
Dr. Peter Ako Larbi is a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Agricultural Application Engineering of [...]
Dr. Peter Ako Larbi is a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Agricultural Application Engineering with the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources (UC ANR; 2018-present) and an affiliated faculty member of the Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering at UC-Davis (2019-present). Based at the Kearney Agriculture Research & Extension Center in Parlier, CA, his research focuses on developing, evaluating, and deploying spray application technologies, techniques, and decision support systems aimed at improving agricultural productivity while reducing the impact of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals on the environment. His other research interests include precision agriculture, machinery systems, remote sensing, and sensor technology. Prior, Dr. Larbi was an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Systems Technology at Arkansas State University with a joint appointment in the Division of Agriculture at University of Arkansas (2014-2018). He also held postdoc researcher positions at the Washington State University Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems (2012-2014) and the University of Florida Citrus Research & Education Center (2011-2012). He has to his credit several publications and presentations as well as a U.S. patent. Dr. Larbi has a PhD in agricultural and biological engineering from the University of Florida and an MSc and a BSc in agricultural engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana.
1,2
1
Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Parlier, CA 93648, USA
2
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 1883; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091883 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 27 May 2024
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Revised: 18 August 2024
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Accepted: 21 August 2024
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Published: 23 August 2024
Abstract
Spray penetration into citrus canopies is critical for adequate coverage and deposition to ensure effective pest control. However, mismatch of air assistance to target canopy characteristics can lead to unintended spraying losses through overpenetration. To evaluate the effect of air assistance on on-target deposition, two sprayers (surrogates for airflow rates) were used to apply a fluorescent tracer dye solution @ a target concentration of 300 ppm to 16 medium-foliage-density tree blocks in a commercial mandarin orchard. The complete factorial experiment in three replications, also designed for validating a model-based spray decision support tool, comprised two forward travel speeds (1.6 and 4.8 km/h), two disc-core nozzles (TeeJet® D3-25 and D6-45), and either one or two nozzle rows to obtain a wide range of application rates (496 to 9719 L/ha). Dye deposition significantly decreased with canopy depth (p =< 0.001) by nearly seven times across the 3.4 m wide canopies but was not significant over 1.2 to 2.2 m sampling height (p = 0.867). Deposition obtained with the low-airflow-rate sprayer was significantly greater (p =< 0.001) than that obtained with the high-airflow-rate sprayer over the dose range likely due to too much air pushing out spray droplets. This study underscores the importance of matching the air assistance of orchard sprayers to the target canopy.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Larbi, P.A.
On-Target Deposition from Two Engine-Powered Sprayers in Medium-Foliage-Density Citrus Canopies. Agronomy 2024, 14, 1883.
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091883
AMA Style
Larbi PA.
On-Target Deposition from Two Engine-Powered Sprayers in Medium-Foliage-Density Citrus Canopies. Agronomy. 2024; 14(9):1883.
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091883
Chicago/Turabian Style
Larbi, Peter Ako.
2024. "On-Target Deposition from Two Engine-Powered Sprayers in Medium-Foliage-Density Citrus Canopies" Agronomy 14, no. 9: 1883.
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091883
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