Location: Application Technology Research
Project Number: 5082-30500-002-012-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2025
End Date: Jul 31, 2026
Objective:
Evaluate pesticide efficacy equivalency in specialty crops between the sprayer retrofitted with ARS developed variable rate spray control system coupled with stereo vision systems and a conventional sprayer, and a long term durability study of the system over years.
Approach:
A used orchard sprayer will be converted to a variable rate sprayer by furnishing a USDA ARS developed spray controller with commercial-grade stereo vision systems. The variable rate sprayer will be tested for its performance in specialty crop fields for spray coverages and other functions. Finally, the sprayer will be tested in specialty crop field for pesticide efficacy equivalency compared to a conventional sprayer throughout a growing season as a preliminary experiment. Rather than evaluating the efficacy after one application, the holistic view of the pesticide efficacy of a yearlong pesticide program will be evaluated. During the season, user feedback will be collected to improve the spray controller and software functionalities in addition to new features if necessary. In addition, economic analysis will be carried out to understand the economic advantages and disadvantages of the system e.g., pesticide and labor savings, sprayer downtime, sprayer refilling time. The experience will be shared with specialty crop growers to demonstrate the benefits and limitations of new development. Similar studies will be repeated with same/different specialty crops for multiyear pesticide efficacy studies to understand the influences and economics of the new sprayer.