Spray performance simulation and experiment analysis of a greenhouse fixed-pipe twin-fluid cold fogger with different nozzle settings.

Background: High-efficient pesticide application equipment for protected cultivation is scarce. In response, a fixed-pipe twin-fluid clod fogger (FTCF) was proposed as a potential solution. To investigate the optimal nozzle layout and spray performance, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used to study the airflow distribution and spray deposition of a FTCF with different nozzle settings using the Euler-Lagrange approach.

Assessment of microbial biocontrol agent (BCA) viability to mechanical and thermal stress by simulating spray application conditions.

Background: In order to improve the biological control agent (BCA) efficacy, stress factors threatening the viability of microorganisms during spray application need to be determined. The effect of spray mixture temperature and exposure time on Trichoderma harzianum T 22 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 viability were tested. Concurrently the combined effect of mechanical and thermal stress effect on BCA viability were tested at two initial spray mixture temperatures (14 and 25 °C) by simulating a spray application using airblast sprayers featured by different tank capacity and a spray liquid circuit (without and with hydraulic agitation system).

Evaluationof compact air-induction flat fan nozzles for herbicide applications: Spray drift and biological efficacy.

Nozzles are the most critical component of a sprayer for pesticide applications. Recently, air-induction nozzles and twin flat-fan air-induction nozzles have started to be used for herbicide applications. In order to evaluate the potential of compact air-induction nozzles for herbicide spraying, this paper compares the effects of air-induction nozzles and standard flat-fan nozzles on spray atomization, deposition, drift, and weed control efficacy in maize and wheat.

Dust drift during mechanical and pneumatic wheat sowing and insights into the physicochemical characteristics of the abraded dust.

Background: During sowing, plant protection products (PPP)-laden dust particles can be abraded from coated seeds and emitted into the atmosphere. Drift of these particles is a very complex phenomenon and depends on many factors, including the physicochemical characteristics of the dust. Currently, the available data needed to obtain a better understanding of the phenomenon and to build a risk assessment tool remain very limited.

Boom sprayer optimizations for bed-grown carrots at different growth stages based on spray distribution and droplet characteristics.

Background: Pesticide losses and uneven spray distribution should be avoided as much as possible as they reduce the effectiveness of spraying and increase environmental contamination as well as costs. Within the H2020-project OPTIMA the goal is to develop a smart sprayer for bed-grown carrots, including optimizations such as air support and variable nozzle spacing. This paper focuses on selecting the most optimal nozzle types, spacing and height for spraying bed-grown crops, while taking into account different target zone widths depending on the growth stage, based on spray distribution and droplet characterization measurements.