ISHS Acta Horticulturae 372: Symposium on Engineering as a Tool to reduce Pesticide Consumption and Operator Hazards in Horticulture
VOLUNTARY TESTING OF PLANT PROTECTION EQUIPMENT IN NORTHERN ITALY |
| Authors: | G. Pergher, R. Gubiani, P. Gasparinetti, D. Del Cont Bernard |
| Keywords: | Sprayers, Safety, Vineyards, Pesticide losses, Deposits |
| Abstract:
Since 1989, about 200 orchard and vineyard sprayers have been tested by the "Progettonatura" Plant Protection Equipment Control Service. The test equipment and procedures are described; sprayer state of repair and maintenance, uniformity of vertical spray distribution and operator safety data are presented. After optimum setting by the Control Service, a number of sprayers were checked in the field by the University of Udine; deposits on the leaves were assessed using a fluorescent tracer. Results show that further improvements of the standard test procedure should include a better assessment of the reference vertical distribution patterns, as a function of the crop, training system and growth stage. | |
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