Inspection method for spray rate controllers in Flanders (Belgium)

In Belgium, the inspection of sprayers is performed by official and mobile teams ruled by two inspection authorities. The management of the inspection is done by the Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Public Health and the Environment (FAVV). In the Flemish region the inspection is delegated to the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO). In Belgium, the mandatory inspection of sprayers was started up in 1996 and the 6th inspection cycle (2011-2012-2013) is currently running. In the past decade the number of sprayers equipped with a spray rate controller, increased significantly. In the first inspection cycle (1996-1997-1998), only 4.58% of the sprayers were equipped with a spray rate controller in Flanders. In the fifth inspection cycle (2008-2009-2010), this percentage increased significantly to 20.37%.As the original inspection method for spray rate controllers showed some lacks and was time consuming, ILVO developed a simple and reliable method for testing rate controllers used on field and orchard sprayers

Hyperspectral classification of Cyperus esculentus clones and morphologically similar weeds

Cyperus esculentus (yellow nutsedge) is one of the world's worst weeds as it can cause great damage to crops and crop production. To eradicate C. esculentus, early detection is key-a challenging task as it is often confused with other Cyperaceae and displays wide genetic variability. In this study, the objective was to classify C. esculentus clones and morphologically similar weeds. Hyperspectral reflectance between 500 and 800 nm was tested as a measure to discriminate between (I) C. esculentus and morphologically similar Cyperaceae weeds, and between (II) different clonal populations of C. esculentus using three classification models: random forest (RF), regularized logistic regression (RLR) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). RLR performed better than RF and PLS-DA, and was able to adequately classify the samples. The possibility of creating an affordable multispectral sensing tool, for precise in-field recognition of C. esculentus plants based on fewer spectral bands, was tested. Results of this study were compared against simulated results from a commercially available multispectral camera with four spectral bands. The model created with customized bands performed almost equally well as the original PLS-DA or RLR model, and much better than the model describing multispectral image data from a commercially available camera. These results open up the opportunity to develop a dedicated robust tool for C. esculentus recognition based on four spectral bands and an appropriate classification model

Voices Unheard: Women and Their Children in Nepal’s Incarceration System

This research project focused on women in Nepal’s incarceration system. Our goal was to hear and share their stories with the hopes of humanize and de-stigmatize perceptions of female prisoners in and outside of Nepal. A central component to these stories, as we learned, was also the story of prisoner’s children and the NGOs who provide assistance to this vulnerable group of women and their children. The researchers travelled to the east and west of Kathmandu to visit rural and urban prisons in Nepal, and visited various children homes, however the research was based out of Kathmandu, where many of the key NGO headquarters are located. Key findings include reasons for incarceration, stories of life in prison, reintegration as an ex-prisoner and the stigma that continues to impact the lives of the women even after release. The stories obtained and findings from our research are significant in understanding the blurred line between a “criminal” and a civilian. Lastly, this research highlights the larger framework of injustice that requires a systematic legal and societal shift towards a more inclusive future

An overview of the defects on tested field sprayers in Belgium

contribution to session 5 Member States shall establish certificate systems for mutual recognition of the certificates (according article 8/6

An overview of the defects on tested orchard sprayers in Belgium

In Belgium, the inspection of sprayers is performed by official and mobile teams ruled by two regional inspection authorities, ILVO and CRA-W. The management of the inspection is done by the Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Public Health and the Environment (FAVV). Inspection authorities need to have an ISO 17020 certification, consequently the Belgian inspection is completely independent and objective. FAVV delegates the inspection to one inspection service per region (one for the Walloon part and one for the Flemish part). In this way inspection results are centralized and easily consultable. The inspection results are a very useful tool to have an overview of the general condition of the Belgian sprayers. Those results can be helpful when advising on changes in legislation. They can also be used as an instrument to advise fruit growers and farmers how to improve their spraying machines, r what points they have to pay attention to when buying a new or second-hand machine. Therefore, a detailed overview is made of the inspection results on orchard sprayers for the 5th inspection cyclus (3 years: 2008-2009-2010)

Experimental study of factors influencing the risk of drift from field sprayers Part 2: Spray application technique.

Recently, spray drift and its effects have become an important aspect of risk assessment in the registration process of pesticides in Belgium. In this regulation, drift reducing spray application techniques can be used to reduce buffer zones. The purpose of this research is to measure and compare the amount of drift sediment for different spray application techniques under field conditions. A drift prediction equation for the reference spraying was used to compare other spraying techniques with the reference spraying, under different weather conditions. Drift measurements were performed for several combinations of nozzle type (flat fan, low-drift, air injection) and size (ISO 02, 03, 04 and 06), spray pressure (2, 3 and 4 bar), driving speed (4, 6, 8 and 10 km.h-1) and spray boom height (0.3, 0.5 and 0.75 m). Nozzle type as well as spray pressure, driving speed and spray boom height, have an important effect on the amount of spray drift. Larger nozzle sizes, lower spray pressures and driving speeds and lower spray boom heights generally reduce spray drift. Concerning nozzle types, air injection nozzles have the highest drift reduction potential followed by the low-drift nozzles and the standard flat fan nozzles

Development of a stereovision-based technique to measure the spread patterns of granular fertilizer spreaders

Centrifugal fertilizer spreaders are by far the most commonly used granular fertilizer spreader type in Europe. Their spread pattern however is error-prone, potentially leading to an undesired distribution of particles in the field and losses out of the field, which is often caused by poor calibration of the spreader for the specific fertilizer used. Due to the large environmental impact of fertilizer use, it is important to optimize the spreading process and minimize these errors. Spreader calibrations can be performed by using collection trays to determine the (field) spread pattern, but this is very time-consuming and expensive for the farmer and hence not common practice. Therefore, we developed an innovative multi-camera system to predict the spread pattern in a fast and accurate way, independent of the spreader configuration. Using high-speed stereovision, ejection parameters of particles leaving the spreader vanes were determined relative to a coordinate system associated with the spreader. The landing positions and subsequent spread patterns were determined using a ballistic model incorporating the effect of tractor motion and wind. Experiments were conducted with a commercial spreader and showed a high repeatability. The results were transformed to one spatial dimension to enable comparison with transverse spread patterns determined in the field and showed similar results

An overview of the compulsory inspection of sprayers in Belgium

Poste

The inspection of soil-disinfection equipment in Belgium.

In Belgium, the mandatory inspection of field and orchard sprayers was already started up in 1995. At that time, there were only inspection protocols available for those two types of sprayers. From 2008 on, two new inspection protocols were developed: one for greenhouse sprayers and one for soil-disinfection machines. Those inspection protocols were added to the Belgian legislation and implemented since 2011. The inspection protocol for greenhouse sprayers was mainly based on the two existing protocols (field and orchard sprayers) as the working principle of those machines was similar.Soil disinfection machines used on Belgian territory needed another approach because of the differences in pressurising and application technique compared to classical spraying machines. Soil disinfection machines use a closed tank containing the vaporous disinfectant. The tank is pressurised by a compressor or a diving cylinder. As concerns the injector side of those machines there are different possibilities. Some are using a manifold with restrictor plates or a small tap per injector, others use narrow tubes towards the injectors, and sometimes nozzles are used. As one can see, there are no standard inspection methods available for those types of machines. Neither a standard spray pattern measurement, nor a separate pressure and nozzle testing is possible on most of those machines. On top there are some important safety aspects that need special attention due to the hazardous products used. The Belgian inspection protocol was almost completely developed in-house and makes it possible to inspect soil-disinfection machines in an accurate, safe and economical way