Determination of spray drift and buffer zones in 3D crops using the ISO standard and new LiDAR methodologies

Spray drift generated in the application of plant protection products in tree crops (3D crops) is a major source of environmental contamination, with repercussions for human health and the environment. Spray drift contamination acquires greater relevance in the EU Southern Zone due to the crops structure and the weather conditions. Hence, there is a need to evaluate spray drift when treating the most representative 3D crops in this area. For this purpose, 4 spray drift tests, measuring airborne and sedimenting spray drift in accordance with ISO 22866:2005, were carried out for 4 different crops (peach, citrus, apple and grape) in orchards of the EU Southern Zone, using an air-blast sprayer equipped with standard (STN) and spray drift reduction (DRN) nozzle types. A further 3 tests were carried out to test a new methodology for the evaluation of spray drift in real field conditions using a LiDAR system, in which the spray drift generated by different sprayer and nozzle types was contrasted. The airborne spray drift potential reduction (DPRV) values, obtained following the ISO 22866:2005, were higher than those for sedimenting spray drift potential reduction (DPRH) (63.82%-94.42% vs. 39.75%-69.28%, respectively). For each crop and nozzle type combination, a sedimenting spray drift model was also developed and used to determine buffer zone width. The highest buffer width reduction (STN vs DRN) was obtained in peach (˃75%), while in grape, citrus and apple only 50% was reached. These results can be used as the starting point to determine buffer zone width in the countries of the EU Southern Zone depending on different environmental threshold values. Tests carried out using LiDAR system demonstrated high capacity and efficiency of this system and this newly defined methodology, allowing sprayer and nozzle types in real field conditions to be differentiated and classified.This work was partly funded by the Secretaria d'Universitats i Recerca del Departament d'Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under grants 2017 SGR 646, AGL2007-66093-C04-03, AGL2010-22304-04-C03-03, and AGL2013-48297-C2-2-R. The authors also wish to thank Mr. Antonio Checa (Randex Iberica, S.L.) for giving us free Albuz nozzles for the spray tests. Universitat de Lleida is also thanked for Mr. X. Torrent's pre-doctoral fellowship

Effects of operational variables on agrochemical spray application quality and drift

La pulverización con plaguicidas es la forma más difundida de control de plagas pero su uso es complejo, desde el punto de vista agronómico. Se realizó un ensayo a campo con el objeto de evaluar la incidencia de tres técnicas de aplicación de agroquímicos; en todas ellas se utilizó una pastilla abanico plano aire inducido, empleando distintas tasas de aplicación, velocidades de avance y distanciamientos entre pastillas quedando definidas tres técnicas: T1 (57 l ha-1, 18 km h-1 y 0,35 m), T2 (28,7 l ha-1, 18 km h-1 y 0,70 m) y T3 (57 l ha-1, 9 km h-1 y 0,70 m). Para evaluar las técnicas se colocaron tarjetas hidrosensibles sobre el suelo y en columnas verticales, determinando la calidad de aplicación, la deriva de sedimentación y la exoderiva acumulada. Las tres técnicas fueron similares en calidad de aplicación alcanzando T1 una mayor cobertura. Para el factor exoderiva, T2 alcanzó diferencias significativas con respecto a las otras dos técnicas, por lo que altas velocidades de avance y distanciamientos entre picos y bajas tasas de aplicación aumentan la exoderiva. No hubo diferencias en deriva de sedimentación. Las variables operativas inciden sobre los riesgos ambientales independientemente del tamaño de gota producido.Pesticide spraying is the most widespread form of pest control. Spraying is a complex process, from the agronomic and environmental point of view. A field trial was carried out, to evaluate the effect of three agrochemical application techniques. In all of them, an air-induced flat fan was used, with different application rates, sprayer speeds and noozle spacing. Three techniques were defined: T1 (57 l ha-1, 18 km h-1 and 0,35 m), T2 (28,7 l ha-1, 18 km h-1 and 0,70 m) and T3 (57 l ha-1, 9 km h-1 and 0,70 m. To assess the techniques, water-sensitive cards were placed on the ground in vertical columns, to measure the quality of application, sedimenting spray drift and cumulative airborne spray drift. The three techniques were similar in application quality but T1 reached a greater coverage. Regarding the airborne drift factor, T2 presented significant differences with respect to the other two techniques, which leads to the conclusion that higher speeds, larger noozle space and lower application rates increase airborne drift. There were no differences in sedimenting drift. Operational variables affect environmental risks regardless of the drop size produced.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Sensors Application in Agriculture

Novel technologies are playing an important role in the development of crop and livestock farming and have the potential to be the key drivers of sustainable intensification of agricultural systems. In particular, new sensors are now available with reduced dimensions, reduced costs, and increased performances, which can be implemented and integrated in production systems, providing more data and eventually an increase in information. It is of great importance to support the digital transformation, precision agriculture, and smart farming, and to eventually allow a revolution in the way food is produced. In order to exploit these results, authoritative studies from the research world are still needed to support the development and implementation of new solutions and best practices. This Special Issue is aimed at bringing together recent developments related to novel sensors and their proved or potential applications in agriculture

Determination of spray drift and buffer zones in 3D crops using the ISO standard and new LiDAR methodologies

Spray drift generated in the application of plant protection products in tree crops (3D crops) is a major source of environmental contamination, with repercussions for human health and the environment. Spray drift contamination acquires greater relevance in the EU Southern Zone due to the crops structure and the weather conditions. Hence, there is a need to evaluate spray drift when treating the most representative 3D crops in this area. For this purpose, 4 spray drift tests, measuring airborne and sedimenting spray drift in accordance with ISO 22866:2005, were carried out for 4 different crops (peach, citrus, apple and grape) in orchards of the EU Southern Zone, using an air-blast sprayer equipped with standard (STN) and spray drift reduction (DRN) nozzle types. A further 3 tests were carried out to test a new methodology for the evaluation of spray drift in real field conditions using a LiDAR system, in which the spray drift generated by different sprayer and nozzle types was contrasted. The airborne spray drift potential reduction (DPRV) values, obtained following the ISO 22866:2005, were higher than those for sedimenting spray drift potential reduction (DPRH) (63.82%–94.42% vs. 39.75%–69.28%, respectively). For each crop and nozzle type combination, a sedimenting spray drift model was also developed and used to determine buffer zone width. The highest buffer width reduction (STN vs DRN) was obtained in peach (˃75%), while in grape, citrus and apple only 50% was reached. These results can be used as the starting point to determine buffer zone width in the countries of the EU Southern Zone depending on different environmental threshold values. Tests carried out using LiDAR system demonstrated high capacity and efficiency of this system and this newly defined methodology, allowing sprayer and nozzle types in real field conditions to be differentiated and classified.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Efecto de variables operativas sobre la calidad de aplicación y la deriva en la pulverización de agroquímicos

Pesticide spraying is the most widespread form of pest control. Spraying is a complex process, from the agronomic and environmental point of view. A field trial was carried out, to evaluate the effect of three agrochemical application techniques. In all of them, an air-induced flat fan was used, with different application rates, sprayer speeds and noozle spacing. Three techniques were defined: T1 (57 l ha-1, 18 km h-1 and 0,35 m), T2 (28,7 l ha-1, 18 km h-1 and 0,70 m) and T3 (57 l ha-1, 9 km h-1 and 0,70 m. To assess the techniques, water-sensitive cards were placed on the ground in vertical columns, to measure the quality of application, sedimenting spray drift and cumulative airborne spray drift. The three techniques were similar in application quality but T1 reached a greater coverage. Regarding the airborne drift factor, T2 presented significant differences with respect to the other two techniques, which leads to the conclusion that higher speeds, larger noozle space and lower application rates increase airborne drift. There were no differences in sedimenting drift. Operational variables affect environmental risks regardless of the drop size produced.  La pulverización con plaguicidas es la forma más difundida de control de plagas pero su uso es complejo, desde el punto de vista agronómico. Se realizó un ensayo a campo con el objeto de evaluar la incidencia de tres técnicas de aplicación de agroquímicos; en todas ellas se utilizó una pastilla abanico plano aire inducido, empleando distintas tasas de aplicación, velocidades de avance y distanciamientos entre pastillas quedando definidas tres técnicas: T1 (57 l ha-1, 18 km h-1 y 0,35 m), T2 (28,7 l ha-1, 18 km h-1 y 0,70 m) y T3 (57 l ha-1, 9 km h-1 y 0,70 m). Para evaluar las técnicas se colocaron tarjetas hidrosensibles sobre el suelo y en columnas verticales, determinando la calidad de aplicación, la deriva de sedimentación y la exoderiva acumulada. Las tres técnicas fueron similares en calidad de aplicación alcanzando T1 una mayor cobertura. Para el factor exoderiva, T2 alcanzó diferencias significativas con respecto a las otras dos técnicas, por lo que altas velocidades de avance y distanciamientos entre picos y bajas tasas de aplicación aumentan la exoderiva. No hubo diferencias en deriva de sedimentación. Las variables operativas inciden sobre los riesgos ambientales independientemente del tamaño de gota producido