Efficacy evaluation of a new spray-recovery sprayer for orchards

A new concept (patent pending) for spraying pesticides to orchard trees, bu shes, and vines has been evaluated regarding pesticide efficacy in an apple orchard. Central to the concept is the discharge of air and spray droplets from a vertical structure supported on the far side of the plants by an ov er-the-row structure. Air and spray are propelled towards the sprayer The v ertical air outlet is similar to the sleeves on air-assisted boom sprayers. It is designed such that the air is ejected in an almost horizontal air bl anket but with a 10 degrees angle towards the ground surface for drift cont rol. Pneumatic or hydraulic spray nozzles, either outside or inside the air sleeve, can be used On the sprayer side, an air-droplet separator is insta lled to catch the droplets that were not collected by the plants. The colle cted spray can be recirculated into the liquid circuit of the sprayer The o rientation of the air and liquid outlets in the horizontal plane can be cha nged from the tractor seat to compensate for travel speed and wind. The fir st implementation of the concept adapted to Quebec apple orchards is presen ted, and results on fungicide and insecticide efficacy and on the level of recirculation achieved over a growing season are discussed. Pesticide effic acy is as good with the spray-recovery sprayer as it is with a conventional sprayer, and pesticide savings on the order of 15% over the growing season and potential for good drift control are clear benefits of the concept.