Joan Ramon Rosell Polo

Optimizing pesticide spray application in tree crops

New instruments of chemical dose adjustment for spray application in tree orchards (deciduous fruits, vineyards and citrus) has been developed in a three year cooperative project (PULVEXACT) involving four R+D Spanish institutes and universities (Agriculture, Livestok and Fisheries Department of the Regional Government of Catalonia, University of Lleida, Catalunya Polytechnic University and Valencia Polytechnic University). A decision scheme (DOSA) for farmers and crop protection advisers on the basis of tree crop characteristics (crop, variety, training system, development stage, tree and row spacing, height, depth, geometry, LAI, ...) and providing the optimal volume rates has been implemented to run in PCs. Additionally for measuring canopy size and leaf density variability, an electronic measurement system for detecting plants geometry and other shape parameters, by means of a terrestrial laser scanner (LIDAR) and ultrasonic sensors (US), has been implemented. A considerable computational and experimental effort has been carried out in order to analyze the electronic data and to transform it on structural information parameters to be used as valuable information for sprayer control. Finally the US system has been successfully used on dynamic regulation in real-time of spray flux providing an optimized pesticide application method. All this work will make possible a dose adjustment to match the real needs for chemical control of pests and diseases in the above-mentioned crops and therefore a significant reduction of the environmental impact of spray applications and a cut back of farming costs.