ASABE Technical Library - Abstract
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The Pros and Cons of Volume and Rate Reduction in Orchard Spraying
Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org
Citation: Paper number 021022, 2002 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.9301) @2002Authors: Jane A.S. Barber, Andrew J Landers
Keywords: Volume, Pesticide application, Orchards, Mode of action, Insect behaviour, Tree size
For many years researchers have tried to define the ideal carrier volume for pesticide
application in orchards. With the multitude of work that has been done there must be some form of
agreement on the subject. An analytical literature review was conducted which considered the
differences in equipment, orchard, pest and pesticide used to attempt to reveal a consensus.
Chemical mode of action and dose applied were the most important parameters considered, a direct
relationship could be seen over and above all the other parameters. The effects of volume applied
were variable due to their dependence on other influencing parameters, such as tree size sprayer
type and dose rate. Improved control was achieved with lower volume rates but not necessarily by
the use of specialised low volume sprayers, this implies that it is the effect of concentration rather
than the distribution of pesticide within the canopy.