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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #271477
Title: Verification of a variable rate sprayer for nursery liner applications

Author
item Jeon, Hongyoung
item Zhu, Heping
item Derksen, Richard
item OZKAN, ERDAL - The Ohio State University
item Krause, Charles

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/22/2011
Publication Date: 8/24/2011
Citation: Jeon, H., Zhu, H., Derksen, R.C., Ozkan, E., Krause, C.R. 2011. Verification of a variable rate sprayer for nursery liner applications. ASABE Annual International Meeting, 8/7-10/11, Louisville, Kentucky. Paper No. 1110497.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An experimental variable-rate sprayer designed for liner applications was tested by comparing its spray deposit and coverage, and droplet density inside canopies of six nursery liner varieties with constant-rate applications. Spray samplers, including water sensitive papers (WSP) and nylon screens, were mounted inside tree canopies to collect spray deposit and coverage from variable- and constant-rate (555 and 1,110 L/ha) applications. Models for estimating spray volume saving of the sprayer compared to a constant-rate and Tree-Row-Volume (TRV) based rate applications were developed for various liner canopy sizes and tree spacing. The accuracy of the model was validated with the field test data. For the liner trees tested, the variable-rate sprayer delivered 151 to 359 L/ha application rates while the conventional constant-rate application required 1,110 L/ha. Due to substantially lower spray output, the variable-rate application had relatively lower but sufficient spray deposit, coverage, and droplet density than the constant-rate applications. Also, the variable-rate application had significantly less variations in spray deposit within the canopies of different size trees. Therefore, the newly developed variable-rate sprayer would bring great reductions in pesticide use and safeguard the environment for the nursery liner production.