248-6 Development and Evaluation of a Laser-Guided Air-Assisted Sprayer in Nursery Production.
See more from this Division: ASA Section: Agronomic Production Systems
See more from this Session: Novel Approaches on Site-Specific Integrated Pest Management
Abstract:
Field efficacy trials in 2013 and 2014 demonstrated that the laser-guided variable-rate sprayer had comparable insect control and comparable or lower disease infection rates than the conventional air-assisted sprayers. Comparing insecticide applications applied with the laser-guided sprayer and either a conventional tower air-assisted sprayer or conventional radial air-blast sprayer showed no significant differences in the survival rates of aphids on crabapples, potato leafhoppers on red maple, total number of pear sawflies on cherry trees, presence of rusts on 3-year old flowering pears, and lower powdery mildew infections on Norway maple trees.
Compared with the radial air-blast sprayer, the intelligent sprayer reduced chemical costs for pear rust by 59% and by 32% for pear sawfly control on cherry. Chemical costs for scab control on crabapple with the intelligent sprayer were 62% lower than those with the tower sprayer and 70% lower for powdery mildew control on Amelanchier.
The intelligent sprayer reduced the volume of pesticide applied use by 43% to 80% with comparable insect control and equal or better disease control.
See more from this Division: ASA Section: Agronomic Production Systems
See more from this Session: Novel Approaches on Site-Specific Integrated Pest Management