Variable rate dosing in precision viticulture: Use of electronic devices to improve application efficiency

• Published in: Crop protection Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 239 - 248
• Main Authors: Llorens, J., Gil, E., Llop, J., Escolà, A.
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2010; [Amsterdam]: Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agricultura; air-assisted sprayers; application methods; application rate; automation; canopy; Canopy volume; controllers; Crop-adapted spraying; cultivars; developmental stages; Enginyeria agroalimentària; fruit crops; grapes; nozzles; precision agriculture; Precision farming; Precision viticulture; sensors; spatial variation; spray deposition; Ultrasonic sensor; ultrasonography; Variable rate application; Vine row volume (VRV); Vineyard; Vineyards; Vinya-Teledetecció; Viticultura; viticulture; Vitis vinifera; volume; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC; Crop-adapted spraying; Ultrasonic sensor; Variable rate application; Vine row volume (VRV); Vineyard; Canopy volume; Precision viticulture
• ISSN: 0261-2194; 1873-6904
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2009.12.022

Two different spray application methods were compared in three vine varieties at different crop stages. A conventional spray application with a constant volume rate per unit ground area (l ha −1) was compared with a variable rate application method designed to compensate electronically for measured variations in canopy dimensions. An air-blast sprayer with individual multi-nozzle spouts was fitted with three ultrasonic sensors and three electro valves on one side, in order to modify the emitted flow rate of the nozzles according to the variability of canopy dimensions in real time. The purpose of this prototype was to precisely apply the required amount of spray liquid and avoid over dosing. On average, a 58% saving in application volume was achieved with the variable rate method, obtaining similar or even better leaf deposits.