New Technology for the Application of Crop Protection Products Using Ground Application? Robert E. Wolf Extension Specialist Agrichemical Technology Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept. Kansas State University Drift Educators Workshop Kansas City, MO October, 2000

New Technology for the Spray Industry

Changes in the Application Industry! l Historically application is an inefficient process l Cost per acre for crop protection has increased l Application rates have changed (< an ounce/acre) l More pest specific products (foliar) l Biotechnology and GMO’s l More sophisticated equipment (electronics) $$$ l Environmental impact (water and air)-DRIFT!!! l Variable rates l Site-specific

What’s new in nozzle technology? l Nozzles designed to reduce drift l Improved drop size control

Turbo Flood Nozzle: Turbulence chamber Large, drift resistant droplets Uniform spray distribution Pre-orifice design

Turbo Flat-fan: l Turbulence chamber as in the Turbo Flood l Tapered edge, wide angle flat pattern l Designed to work in flat-fan nozzle holder l Uniform spray distribution l Wide pressure range l Large, drift resistant droplets l 50% overlap l Plastic with superior wear characteristics

Combo-Jet Nozzles/Add-a-Body: l Nozzles designed for convenience and safety l ER Series – Extended Range l DR Series – Insert for Drift Reduction l Tip insert a part of the cap w/screen l Add-a-body allows applicators to use a combination of orifice sizes

Air-Assist Sprayers: Where a curtain of high speed air is used to assist with particle movement after leaving the nozzle.

Air Assist Spraying: l Process using pneumatic energy to aid in the atomization, transportation, penetration, and deposition of spray products. l Air stream becomes the carrier. l Potential for reduced rates of carrier and active ingredients

Air-Assist Nozzles: Where air is injected or drawn into the nozzle cavity and exits with the fluid.

By-Fluid Nozzle - Spraying Systems: l Inject air into the fluid - by a second pump l Lo-pressure (8-9 psi) l Designed to maintain drop size consistency l Electronic controller will sense changes in pressure and maintain droplet size

Bi-Fluid Nozzle: AgJet 2000: l Special design to combine air and water l Controller used to automatically control spray quality/droplet size l Regulates air pressure relative to the spray pressure

Air/Induction – Venturi Nozzle: l Greenleaf – TurboDrop l Air intake venturi section l Mixing Chamber - air and spray solution blended l Pattern tip forms large air- bubble drops l Exit tip flow 2X venturi orifice l Better Penetration? l Reduced run-off? l Improved coverage? l Adequate efficacy? l Reduced drift?

Several Venturi Nozzles:

Spray Characteristics are Important to Understand: Demonstrates Turbo Flat vs TurboDrop-5 MPH Wind

Spray Coupe with ESP Electrostatic Spraying

Coverage: l High intensity electrostatic field. l Accelerated droplet speed toward the plants. l Increased topside and underside leaf coverage. l More efficient use of chemicals.

Synchro Nozzles: l Blended Pulse Technology l Independent Flow Control (1-10X) l Independent Drop Size Control l Independent Band Width Control (Fan Nozzles) l Separate boom section controls l GPS - program management control

Computer Contolled Nozzles: l Escaped Chemical Savings l Low Speed Overspray Savings l Improved Speed Productivity l Reduced Tendering l Decreased Drift Risk l Flexible Rate Selection l Fewer Wind Shutdowns l Fewer Tip Changes l More droplet size specific

Sharp Shooter/Synchro Controller: l Pulse generator –On/Off –Select volume % l Valve Driver –Power from battery l Nozzle valve –Creates spray pulse

Hoods l Broadcast spray hoods l Individual row hoods

Weed Sensing Sprayer: l Optical sensors to detect weeds. l Turns on sprayer as needed. l Used with site-specific agricultural practices. l GPS/GIS technology used to develop application maps for future reference. l Pesticides Savings

Managing Crop Nitrogen Inputs: l N-Sensor l Operates on-the-go l Measures light reflectance from the crop l Calculates Nitrogen deficiencies l Translates to an application system to apply the required amount of ‘N’ where needed

Dual Boom Sprayer: l System to reduce amount of pesticides used and to reduce the potential for drift. l Two parallel hydraulic spray systems l Course spraying water straight down l Fine spraying AI into the water spray cloud and faces the direction of travel. l Coarse and fine combine to improve the targeting of the fine nozzles l Patented mounting bracket to adapt to most spray rigs l Retrofit kits for 20 nozzle sprayer - $2200

The Influence of Precision Agriculture !

Parallel Guidance Systems: l Light Bar l Follow parallel track, A-B line l Straight l Curves l Circles

Remote Controlled Helicopters Spraying and Video Scouting:

Remote Sensing Imaging: l Low altitude or Satellite l Near real-time l Developing maps of pest problems l Variable rate applications l Spot spraying

Smart Sprayers: l Computer guided vision systems on sprayers l Real-time l ID weeds, insects, diseases l Determine where, what, and when to spray