Guobin Wang1, Yubin Lan1,2,3, Haixia Qi1, Pengchao Chen1, Andrew Hewitt4, Yuxing Han1. 1. National Center for International Collaboration Research on Precision Agricultural Aviation Pesticides Spraying Technology (NPAAC), College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China. 2. Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA. 3. Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Beaumont, Texas, USA. 4. Centre for pesticide application and safety, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a recently developed aerial spraying technology. However, the effect of spray volume variation on deposition and pesticide control efficacy is unknown. The effect of three UAV spray volumes (9.0, 16.8 and 28.1 L ha-1 ) using three different nozzle sizes on droplet deposition and wheat aphid and powdery mildew control efficacy was assessed. An electric air-pressure knapsack (EAP) sprayer was used as a comparison. RESULTS: Different spray volumes significantly influenced the deposition and control efficacy of the UAV and EAP. For the UAV, a low spray volume of 9.0 L ha-1 with a fine nozzle (nozzle LU120-01) resulted in lower deposition and control efficacy. Optimal control efficacy was achieved with coarser nozzles (nozzles LU120-02, -03) at > 16.8 L ha-1 volume with systemic insecticide, and at 28.1 L ha-1 with contact insecticide and fungicide. For EAP, a high spray volume led to run-off, and a spray volume of 225 L ha-1 achieved better deposition and control efficacy. CONCLUSION: The UAV had comparable deposition and efficacy control to the EAP at a higher spray volume (> 16.8 L ha-1 ) with coarse nozzles, but exhibited inferior deposition and efficacy control at a lower spray volume (<9.0 L ha-1 ) with fine nozzles.
BACKGROUND: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a recently developed aerial spraying technology. However, the effect of spray volume variation on deposition and pesticide control efficacy is unknown. The effect of three UAV spray volumes (9.0, 16.8 and 28.1 L ha-1 ) using three different nozzle sizes on droplet deposition and wheat aphid and powdery mildew control efficacy was assessed. An electric air-pressure knapsack (EAP) sprayer was used as a comparison. RESULTS: Different spray volumes significantly influenced the deposition and control efficacy of the UAV and EAP. For the UAV, a low spray volume of 9.0 L ha-1 with a fine nozzle (nozzle LU120-01) resulted in lower deposition and control efficacy. Optimal control efficacy was achieved with coarser nozzles (nozzles LU120-02, -03) at > 16.8 L ha-1 volume with systemic insecticide, and at 28.1 L ha-1 with contact insecticide and fungicide. For EAP, a high spray volume led to run-off, and a spray volume of 225 L ha-1 achieved better deposition and control efficacy. CONCLUSION: The UAV had comparable deposition and efficacy control to the EAP at a higher spray volume (> 16.8 L ha-1 ) with coarse nozzles, but exhibited inferior deposition and efficacy control at a lower spray volume (<9.0 L ha-1 ) with fine nozzles.
Authors: E Viridiana Vazquez-Carmona; Juan Irving Vasquez-Gomez; Juan Carlos Herrera-Lozada; Mayra Antonio-Cruz Journal: Comput Ind Eng Date: 2022-03-28 Impact factor: 7.180