Advanced techniques for reducing spray losses in agrochemical application system

• Main Authors: Hassen, Nasir Salim, Che Sidik, Nor Azwadi, Md. Sheriff, Jamaluddin
• Format: Article
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/51735/; http://www.lifesciencesite.com
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Spray losses are the most important problem that faces spray application technology. Lost agrochemicals cause damage the plants near to the field, pollution of ecosystem, reducing spray efficiency and farming cost. Sprays are lost due to spray the wide gaps between plants and also spray drift to non targeted areas with air flow. Reducing of spray losses has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers who are interested in developing spray technologies. Two main techniques are used to reduce spray losses are: Variable Rate Technologies (VRTs) and Drift Reducing Technologies (DRTs). These techniques are unique means in that they reduce spray losses according to requirements of field conditions. VRT is a good tool to spray according to the plant volume using sensor-controlled precision spraying systems. DRT has an important role in reducing the effect of cross wind by increasing of the droplet size using drift reduction nozzles when there is need to spray at high heights above the field. These two techniques offer great research opportunities. This paper presents principles, and potential spraying applications for VRT and DRT. The objectives of this review are to display and discuss the performance of VRT and DRT in reducing spray losses to provide a good background on the challenges and problems that are being faced by these technologies. In addition, perspectives and some appropriate solutions are suggested