Agricultural Sprayer Academy kicks off

What is the relationship between the choice of caps, drift reduction and implementation on the effect of the product? These topics were discussed during the first meeting of the Agricultural Sprayer Academy (ASA). Participants came from Groningen to Zeeland and from Flevoland to Limburg to thoroughly explore the theme of spraying techniques and caps.

The kick-off of the ASA was Tuesday 20 November at the Aeres Tech in Ede. The theory on caps and spraying techniques was provided by Jan van de Zande, researcher at Wageningen University and Research (WUR). He has been in research for 29 years and has experienced many developments in the field of spraying techniques.

Drift reduction
An important aspect during his presentation was about realizing drift reduction, by means of the right nozzle choice. In addition, the choice must be able to meet the desired driving speed, in relation to the application rate in liters per hectare. Van de Zande said that certain nozzles may have a maximum spray pressure of, for example, 1 bar, in order to comply with the prescribed reduction of drift.

If the desired driving speed or application rate per hectare does not match the properties of this cap, then another cap should be chosen. However, it is important not to compromise on the effectiveness of the spraying.

Driving speed and boom height also influence the effectiveness of the spraying. Because there is more or less drift development, there is a direct relationship between these 2 factors on the deposition on the crop and the effectiveness of the spraying.

The driving speed in particular came back regularly in the presentation, because the students experienced that large numbers of hectares sometimes have to be sprayed in a very short time (due to changing weather conditions). This may explain why the booms are getting wider. "Due to the widening of the boom, there is no need to increase the driving speed. As a result, the effectiveness remains the same and the capacity of the version is increased," says van de Zande.

Practice
After a refresher on the essential parts on the sprayer in the workshop, the trainees got an idea of ​​how nozzles work under pressure differences (in bar). This showed that many nozzles do not meet the 95% drift reduction at 3 bar. It was also emphasized that manufacturers are sometimes forced to list drift reduction measures on the label, so that the application requires an adjustment in the pressure and cap.

The last part consisted of a simulation tree, in which releases from various caps were measured. A comparison was made of how the release can deviate if there is 'accidentally' another cap (you can't see the clogged cap, but gives a lower release), what the influence of a side cap is and what the consequences are of wind conditions on the distribution. and deposition. To get an idea of ​​the coverage, we tested how the cap deposition changed with increasing or decreasing pressure and the differences in boom height.

Critical
The participants of the first meeting stated that the information is a good 'eye opener' to determine the situation of the machine in the yard. In addition, there were participants who would once again take a critical look at their own spray nozzle use. Awareness of the effectiveness and correct delivery were also an important point of attention, according to the participants.

All in all, the course provided good tools for better application of crop protection. It is necessary for both the farmer and the environment to limit the total emission of resources. This could help ensure resource conservation in the future.

Continuation of the ASA
The next meeting is about communication. During that course day, the focus is mainly on how and with which conversation techniques you can best communicate with your immediate environment about the use and application of crop protection.

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