Reservoir Units Optimization in Pneumatic Spray Delivery-Based Fixed Spray System for Large-Scale Commercial Adaptation

Ramesh K. Sahni, Rakesh Ranjan, Lav R. Khot (), Gwen-Alyn Hoheisel and Matthew J. Grieshop
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Ramesh K. Sahni: Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
Rakesh Ranjan: Freshwater Institute, The Conservation Fund, Shepherdstown, WV 25443, USA
Lav R. Khot: Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
Gwen-Alyn Hoheisel: Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
Matthew J. Grieshop: The Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-15

Abstract: A pneumatic spray delivery (PSD)-based solid set canopy delivery system (SSCDS) consists of in-line reservoirs and micro-emitter assemblies distributed throughout perennial crop canopies. The existing PSD-based SSCDS uses a large number of reservoirs, i.e., one unit per 3 m of linear spacing, which resulted in high installation and maintenance costs. These reservoirs also produces up to 25% post-spray chemical losses. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize the volumetric capacity and functionality of the existing reservoir for an efficient spray performance and the large-scale commercial adaptation of PSD-based SSCDS. Three reservoirs with volumetric capacities of 370 (1×), 740 (2×), and 1110 mL (3×) were developed to cover a spray span of 3.0, 6.1, and 9.1 m, respectively. Five system configurations with modified reservoirs and spray outlets were evaluated in the laboratory for pressure drop and spray uniformity. The three best system configurations were then field evaluated in a high-density apple orchard. These configurations had reservoirs with 1×, 2×, and 3× volumetric capacity and micro-emitters installed in a three-tier arrangement. Each replicate configuration was installed as a 77 m loop length encompassing 50 apple trees trained in a tall spindle architecture. A pair of water-sensitive paper (WSPs) samplers (25.4 × 25.4 mm) were placed on the abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces in the bottom, middle, and top third of the canopy to evaluate the spray coverage (%). The PSD-based SSCDS showed no significant difference at the 5% level in terms of coverage among the three reservoir treatments. Coverage was more evenly distributed among the top, middle, and bottom zones for the 2× and 3× as compared to the 1× reservoir treatment. Overall, compared to the 1× reservoirs, the 2× and 3× reservoirs could potentially reduce the system costs by USD 20,000 and USD 23,410 ha −1 , respectively, for tall spindle apple orchards and potentially reduce maintenance needs as well.

Keywords: fixed spray delivery; SSCDS; reservoir modification; spray uniformity; pressure drop; spray coverage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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