Areawide Pest Management Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: AERIAL APPLICATION RESEARCH FOR EFFICIENT CROP PRODUCTION

Location: Areawide Pest Management Research

Title: Low-volume sprayer rodeos

Authors

Submitted to: Florida Grower
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: December 15, 2009
Publication Date: December 20, 2009
Citation: Hoffmann, W.C., Fritz, B.K., Martin, D.E. 2009. Low-volume sprayer rodeos. Florida Grower. p. 12-13.

Interpretive Summary: Citrus greening is a disease that threatens the survival and economic viability of the Florida citrus industry due to the disease's ability to kill an infected tree. An insect called the Asian citrus psyllid is a carrier of the bacteria that causes citrus greening; therefore, citrus growers are using several insecticides and sprayers to find the most effective method to control the insect. Studies involving numerous citrus sprayers and active ingredients were conducted to determine the droplet size generated by the different sprayers and to adjust the sprayers to meet a droplet size requirement that is on many insecticide labels. In the sprayer tests, reductions in engine speed or increases in flowrate were required to increase droplet sizes to meet the product label-required droplet size. As the equipment tested here represents the most typical application equipment used in Florida for psyllid control, these results will provide applicators, growers, and extension agents with general guidelines to insure that spray systems are operated in a manner that complies with label restrictions.

Technical Abstract: Citrus producers have found that many pesticides, when applied properly, are very effective at suppressing or eliminating citrus psyllids, which are a vector of citrus greening. Due to threat that greening, several pesticides have been granted special local needs registration for use in the State of Florida if the product is sprayed with a volume median diameter of 90 microns or greater. A number of studies involving numerous citrus sprayers and active ingredients were conducted to determine the droplet size generated by the different sprayers and how to adjust the sprayers to meet the 90 micron requirement. In the sprayer tests, it was found that reductions in engine speed or increases in flowrate were required to increase droplet sizes to meet the product label required droplet size. As the equipment tested here represent the most typical application equipment used in Florida for psyllid control, these results will provide applicators, growers, and extension agents with general guidelines to insure that spray systems are operated in a manner that complies to label restrictions.

   

 
Project Team
Hoffmann, Wesley - Clint
Fritz, Bradley - Brad
Martin, Daniel - Dan
Lan, Yubin
Westbrook, John
Yang, Chenghai
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)
  Crop Production (305)
 
Related Projects
   FIELD COLLECTIONS OF HELIOTHIS VIRESCENS AND HELICOVERPA ZEA FOR MONITORING BT RESISTANCE
   DEPLOYED WARFIGHTER PROTECTION RESEARCH PROGRAM (FY2012)
   Aerial Imaging of Seasonal Cotton Root Rot Progression in Flutriafol-Treated and Nontreated Cotton Fields in South and Central Texas
 
 
Last Modified: 05/26/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House