2004 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Environmental quality and protection of the food supply are in the forefront of public concern. Accurate placement of the desired amounts of agrochemicals is important to food producers and allied industries. Better application methods are needed to decrease the use of chemical pesticides and ensure accurate placement. Several different application techniques are being compared using biological and other qualitative measures of performance. An epi-fluorescence microscopic imaging system is helping provide information about the interaction between spray deposit coverage and management of crop pests. Collaboration with other pest management specialists and industry leaders is helping define application needs of nursery, fruit, and vegetable producers. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Publications and presentation of results and technology transfer to customers will occur as significant outcomes arise. Annual research review meetings will continue to be held with cooperating producers and industry organizations. Meetings with EPA personal, formulators, and commodity groups will be held to evaluate impact of research findings and explore new research needs. Application workshops will be held to demonstrate how producers can make more effective use of existing or new spray delivery equipment. 12-month milestones Objective 1: Conduct greenhouse sprayer evaluations treating poinsettias using three treatments representing commercial type of sprayers for low-volume to high-volume treatment. Evaluate efficacy and foliar deposits. Establish vegetable field trials including efficacy and deposit evaluations Objective 2: Compare off-target spray drift produced by tower sprayers in full canopy orchard. Monitor spray movement and foliar deposits in crabapple nursery study and compare with EPA standards to evaluate experimental technique and needs for label guidelines. Objective 3: Establish experiment to pump nematodes through different pump types. Identify nematode species most likely to survive passage through commercial pumps. Submit manuscript on pump impact on nematode viability. Objective 4: Develop software to automatically evaluate foliar deposits formed by sprays of fluorescent tracers. 24-month milestones. Objective 1: Measure droplet size spectra of greenhouse applicators. Evaluate fungicide delivery through greenhouse sprayers. Compare sprayer performance in vegetables optimized for plant spacing. Use scanning electron microscope to evaluate spray deposit structure. Submit manuscript on greenhouse sprayer evaluations. Objective 2: Study influence of canopy development on off-target spray movement. Submit manuscript on fate of spray delivered by low-drift and conventional nozzles in commercial crabapple nursery. Objective 3: Develop delivery system to treat harvested sod before shipping and compare treatment of root-zone and top grass area using insecticidal nematodes. Objective 4: Compare deposition patterns and drift using acoustic techniques to sense canopy. Evaluate use of imaging technique to sense moisture patterns on foliage for possible feedback control of delivery devices. Submit manuscript on imaging software. 36-month milestones. Objective 1: Study effect of various surfactants on efficacy when delivered through low-volume, small droplet, and high volume, large droplet equipment as well as prototype air-assist sprayer. Submit manuscript on vegetable sprayer evaluations. Objective 2: Study effect of drift adjuvants on drift produced by tower and conventional orchard sprayers. Compare with EPA standards and best management practices. Objective 3: Working with commercial lawn care firms, develop delivery system, including possible injection system, to treat residential lawns using insecticidal nematodes. Objective 4: Experiment with prototype photo-detector to sense canopy to which will control delivery of spray material. Submit manuscript on detector development. 48-month milestones. Objective 1: Work with commercial applicators to evaluate use patterns of ultra-low, low-, and high-volume greenhouse sprayers. Evaluate venting patterns to minimize spray impact on spray distribution but to quickly clear room for safe re-entry. Objective 2: Use neutral-buoyancy droplets to study airflow patterns produced by internal fans and possibilities for operating them to improve pesticide distribution produced by whole-room fogging devices. Objective 3: Use high-speed imaging to assess nematode distribution patterns from commercial nozzle tips. Objective 4: Experiment using imaging techniques to detect conditions that enhance disease development and presence of disease spores. Submit manuscript on influence of using acoustic sensors to control spray delivery. 60-month milestones. Objective 1: Study use of air-assisted delivery matched with various droplet sizes to maximize canopy penetration and underleaf coverage. Submit manuscript on use of internal vans and venting systems. Objective 2: Experiment with prototype system to control air flow used to aid in delivery of spray to tree canopies which will adjust volume depending on canopy density. Objective 3: Optimize commercial-type of field sprayer to maximize efficacious delivery of nematodes for managing greenhouse and field insect pests. Submit manuscript on delivery systems for sod harvesters and commercial lawn applicators. Objective 4: Use imaging techniques to control spray operation for site specific treatment depending on canopy volume and foliar conditions. Submit manuscript on sensor development for controlling sprayer operation. 3.Milestones: A. List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2004. How many milestones did you fully or substantially meet in FY 2004 and indicate which ones were not fully or substantially met, briefly explain why not, and your plans to do so. The milestones that were scheduled to be met in FY 2004 include: Objective 1: Conduct greenhouse sprayer evaluations treating poinsettias using three treatments representing commercial type of sprayers for low-volume to high-volume treatment. Evaluate efficacy and foliar deposits. Establish vegetable field trials including efficacy and deposit evaluations Completed portion of greenhouse sprayer evaluations in cooperation with Ohio State University. Continuing research in this area based on new findings. Vegetable field trials established in central and northern Ohio. Objective 2: Compare off-target spray drift produced by tower sprayers in full canopy orchard. Monitor spray movement and foliar deposits in crabapple nursery study and compare with EPA standards to evaluate experimental technique and needs for label guidelines. Initiated studies to measure orchard spray drift. Weather conditions significantly limited the number of experiments at research field site. Studies will continue using newly approved engineering guidelines (ASAE) for assessing off-target spray movement. Objective 3: Establish experiment to pump nematodes through different pump types. Identify nematode species most likely to survive passage through commercial pumps. Submit manuscript on pump impact on nematode viability. Pump study completed. Data analysis and manuscript preparation underway. Objective 4: Develop software to automatically evaluate foliar deposits formed by sprays of fluorescent tracers. Imaging software has been developed and is being tested to evaluate deposits on different plant species. Manuscripts submitted for publication. B. List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2005, 2006, and 2007). What do you expect to accomplish year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? In FY 2005, we will accomplish the fillowing milestones: Objective 1: Measure droplet size spectra of greenhouse applicators. Evaluate fungicide delivery through greenhouse sprayers. Compare sprayer performance in vegetables optimized for plant spacing. Use scanning electron microscope to evaluate spray deposit structure. Submit manuscript on greenhouse sprayer evaluations. This research will aid producers in helping select equipment that will provide more efficacious pest management programs and increase the efficiency of applications. Objective 2: Study influence of canopy development on off-target spray movement. Submit manuscript on fate of spray delivered by low-drift and conventional nozzles in commercial crabapple nursery. This research will help educators and producers develop best management strategies for mitigating spray drift as tree canopies mature during a growing season. Objective 3: Develop delivery system to treat harvested sod before shipping and compare treatment of root-zone and top grass area using insecticidal nematodes. This research could improve sod and lawn health while reducing reliance on traditional pest management chemicals. Objective 4: Compare deposition patterns and drift using acoustic techniques to sense canopy. Evaluate use of imaging technique to sense moisture patterns on foliage for possible feedback control of delivery devices. Submit manuscript on imaging software. This research will help demonstrate how matching spray delivery with the tree canopy shape will reduce off-target spray movement and will help increase efficiency for evaluating foliar spray coverage. In FY 2006, we will accomplish the following milestones: Objective 1: Study effect of various surfactants on efficacy when delivered through low-volume, small droplet, and high volume, large droplet equipment as well as prototype air-assist sprayer. Submit manuscript on vegetable sprayer evaluations. The impact of this research will be a better understanding of how physical properties of spray mixtures could be changed to enchance efficacy and application efficiency. Objective 2: Study effect of drift adjuvants on drift produced by tower and conventional orchard sprayers. Compare with EPA standards and best management practices This research will help define how producers can change spray mixtures to reduce off-target spray movement in tree spraying operations. Objective 3: Working with commercial lawn care firms, develop delivery system, including possible injection system, to treat residential lawns using insecticidal nematodes. This research could demonstrate how use of beneficial organisms such as nematodes in turf pest management programs could become more commercially viable for pest management companies and consumers. Objective 4: Experiment with prototype photo-detector to sense canopy to which will control delivery of spray material. Submit manuscript on detector development. This research could produce an automated means for sensing spray coverage, leading to a means for changing sprayer operation to match changing conditions in the field. In FY 2007, we will accomplish the following milestones: Objective 1: Work with commercial applicators to evaluate use patterns of ultra-low, low-, and high-volume greenhouse sprayers. Evaluate venting patterns to minimize spray impact on spray distribution but to quickly clear room for safe re-entry. This research could lead to the development of safer methods for delivering pesticides in closed production areas such as greenhouses. Objective 2: Use neutral-buoyancy droplets to study airflow patterns produced by internal fans and possibilities for operating them to improve pesticide distribution produced by whole-room fogging devices. This research could lead to improvements in the management of the environment of a greenhouse which could lead to improved plant quality and improved delivery of pest management materials. Objective 3: Use high-speed imaging to assess nematode distribution patterns from commercial nozzle tips. No evidence is available to demonstrate how biological pest control agents such as nematodes are distributed in spray patterns produced by popular agricultural spray nozzles. This research will aid producers and manufactures by demonstrating how to produce more uniform and more effective delivery of entomopathogenic nematodes. Objective 4: Experiment using imaging techniques to detect conditions that enhance disease development and presence of disease spores. Submit manuscript on influence of using acoustic sensors to control spray delivery. The impact of this research will be to develop new techniques that will improve early detection of conditions that promote plant disease development and will aid in better disease management models that will produce more and healthier fruit and plants. 4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single Most Significant Accomplishment during FY2004 year: Significant efforts have been made in production and formulation technologies for biopesticides such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) but there are few guidelines available on how to apply these to full size fields and landscape. Laboratory trials and computer simulations were conducted to evaluate flow conditions through common types of agricultural nozzles and make recommendations on sprayer components that do not pose a significant risk to biopesticide viability. Computer simulations and laboratory observations support the conclusion that extensional flow conditions, such as those observed in flat fan nozzles, are potential more harmful to EPN than nozzles with high rotation flow components such as cone nozzles. This research demonstrates practical measures producers, educators, and equipment manufactures can take to increase viability of EPN delivered through conventional equipment and increase the efficacy of such applications. B. Other significant accomplishments: Profitability in vegetable production has been threatened by limitations on the available pest management tools by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). Field trials have been conducted on commercial operations to evaluate methodologies for applying pest management materials that will improve efficacy of these materials. Air-assist spraying, electrostatic charged spraying and large droplet applications have shown to be effective in different pest management situations. In these insect and disease management trials, these application methodologies compared favorably with the traditional small droplet application. These results demonstrate to vegetable growers new options they can include in their pest management programs to improve pesticide efficacy, reduce pesticide usage, and improve food quality and safety. C. Significant Accomplishments/Activities that Support Special Target Populations: None. D. Progress Report. Delivery of biological pest control organisms. Studies are underway to evaluate the viability of nematodes through other components of agricultural sprayers such as delivery pumps and complete production sprayers. Repeated circulations through agricultural pumps increase the risk of mechanical damage and thermal damage. The thermal characteristics of a commercial size sprayer are also being investigated to determine the potential risk of nematodes to long-periods in a spray tank. Greenhouse spray delivery. In cooperation with Ohio State University, field trials are underway to investigate the effect of spray volume and sprayer type on control of greenhouse whitefly on a mature poinsettia canopy. Preliminary trials indicated that spray volume has a significant influence on efficacy and is independent of sprayer atomization technique. The efficacy trials can be used to establish guidelines for pest management practices that reduce overall chemical input while also reducing risk to worker safety associated with traditional application guidelines. Spray movement. Field experiments have been conducted to establish information on the potential for spray movement in orchards and shade tree nurseries. Preliminary investigates indicated that the level of canopy develop has a significant affect on downwind spray movement. These results will be used to establish guidelines for best management practices for mitigating spray drift when using conventional, axial fan sprayers. Vegetable pest management practices. Field experiments have been established to evaluate the influence of different application methodologies on the vegetable pest management practices. This is part of a multi-disciplinary, multi-year effort along with producer collaboration to evaluate the effect that air-assisted delivery, droplet size, and electrostatic charging will have on pest management. The results will be used to optimize production practices and to develop best production strategies for vegetable crops. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. These accomplishments meet the goals prescribed in the Agroengineering, Agrochemical, and Related Technologies component in the National Action Plan for the Crop Production National Program. Specifically these accomplishments address the need to optimize application of crop production materials and mitigated adverse effects on worker safety and health and the environment while maintain a bountiful and safe food supply. Greenhouse experiments were conducted using three different forms of greenhouse application equipment to delivery insecticides to flowering ornamental plants. Results showed that producers must not only consider droplet size when making decisions on how crops will be treated but also spray volume and the concentration of active ingredient in the spray droplets. High volume applications provided good control but those applications made with smaller droplets were more efficacious. Multi-disciplinary field studies have been able to shown fruit, vegetable, and ornamental industries, methods for improving placement of pesticides with new application designs as well as through minor modifications to existing equipment with minimal expense compared to purchasing new machines. Bench-top laboratory experiments have been conducted to determine the feasibility of extracting leaf surface moisture information from a plant canopy. The research produced a relatively low-cost system that could indicate the presences of excess moisture on a leaf surface following a sprayer treatment or a meteorological phenomenon. Field experiences have been conducted to evaluate means for keeping more spray material within tree canopies using tower-type of spraying concepts. The tower sprayer has been shown to better be able to deliver more material to specific target zones within tree canopies and to reduce the amount of material moving over the top of a tree canopy and away from a treatment area. These results show fruit growers and nursery tree stock producers that nozzles and the air flow characteristics can significantly affect the performance of tower sprayers. Laboratory experiments and computer simulations have been conducted to determine the stresses that EPN would be subjected to when delivered through typical commercial delivery systems. Nematode viability was dependent on the size and host-seeking behavior of the nematodes as well as type of agricultural nozzle they were delivered through. This research demonstrates to equipment manufacturers, nematode suppliers, and pest management specialist methods of insuring the highest possible viability of nematodes delivered through typical agricultural sprayers and will make them a more viable pest control option where conventional chemical options are limited or ineffective. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Several invited meetings with extension educators, commercial applicators, and growers have been used as opportunities to transfer information about application technology research. Research information on new, low-drift nozzles and the ability of different spraying techniques to treat the bottom of leaves and to provide better canopy penetration were disseminated through industry publications and at statewide producer meetings. Spray drift mitigation demonstrations and discussions were made at a state wide field day for Ohio fruit producers. Presentations were also made at international meetings of colleagues working on application related issues. Many of the ideas and equipment evaluated in these research projects are currently available to growers and custom applicators. One constraint to adoption of this technology is the lack of pest management or efficacy research that includes use of this technology. Label language regarding Best Management Practices and Drift Mitigation may limit the flexibility that producers have to utilize new application technology to its fullest advantage. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. Gordon, R. Shopping for sprayers. 2004. American Vegetable Grower Magazine. 52(5):14-15. Kruase, C.R., Zhu, H., Zondag, R., Shipitalo, M., Williams, K.A., Brazee, R.D., Derksen, R.C., Reding, M., Demaline, T. 2004. Determination of water quality, water use efficiency and water runoff in pot-in-pot nurseries. Ornamental Plants: Annual Reports Reviews, 2003. The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Special Circular. 193:78-83. Review Publications Derksen, R.C., Krause, C.R., Fox, R.D., Brazee, R.D., Zondag, R. 2004. Spray Delivery by Air Curtain and Axial Fan Orchard Sprayers to Nursery Trees. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 22(1):17-22. Ebert, T.A., Derksen, R.C., Downer, R.A., Krause, C.R. 2003. Comparing Greenhouse Sprayers: The Dose-Transfer Process. Journal of Pesticide Science. 60:507-513. Ebert, T.A., Derksen, R.C. 2004. A Geometric Model of Mortality and Crop Protection for Insects Feeding on Discrete Taxicant Deposits. Journal of Economic Entomology. 97(2):155-162. Fife, J.P., Derksen, R.C., Ozkan, H.E., Grewal, P.S., Chalmers, J.J., Krause, C.R. 2004. Evaluation of a Contraction Flow Field on Hydrodynamic Damage to Emtopathogenic Nematodes - A Biological Pest Control Agent. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 86(1):96-107. FOX, R.D., DERKSEN, R.C. AIRFLOW MEASUREMENTS. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AGRICULTURAL FOOD AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING. 2003. DOI: 10.1081/E-EAFE 120006879. p. 21-24. Fox, R.D., Derksen, R.C., Zhu, H., Downer, R.A., Brazee, R.D. 2004. Collection Efficiency of Airborne Spray with Nylon Screen. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 20(2): 147-152. Krause, C.R., Zhu, H., Derksen, R.C., Brazee, R.D., Fox, R.D., Horst, L., Zondag, R.H. 2004. Detection and Quantification of Nursery Spray Penetration and Off-Target Loss with Electron Beam and Conductivity Analysis. Transactions of the ASAE. 47(2):375-384. Brazee, R.D., Williams, K.A., Lohnes, D., Derksen, R.C., Zhu, H., Zondag, R., Krause, C.R. 2004. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service research weather station network in northern Ohio nurseries. Extension Publications. 193:190-193.