Investigation and Improvement of Targeted Barrier Application for Cutworm Control in Vineyards

Abstract

<abstract><title><italic>Abstract.</italic></title> Measurement of spray flight time using a high-speed camera is an important tool to improve automated machine pest management. A spray flight time model for specific targeted cutworm barrier application was established, upon which an advance targeted spray algorithm was developed and validated. Coverage distributions of the barrier with different spray yaw angles were analyzed, and spray yaw angles of 0° and 15° were compared in field tests. The results showed that the developed advance targeted spray algorithm could effectively solve targeted spray lag and achieve similar levels as a commercial barrier application. The wrap angle at 15° spray yaw angle reached 211.6°, which was much better than the wrap angle at 0° spray yaw angle (171.6°). A modified multi-nozzle array controlled by the advance targeted spray algorithm with a spray yaw angle of 15° could apply higher coverage percentages (45.0% and 43.9%) at both ends of a target’s semi-circumference than an array with a spray yaw angle of 0° (31.0% and 27.6%) and maintained similar coverage on the middle overlapped sprayed area (79.2% at a spray yaw angle of 0° and 77.9% at 15°). Better coverage distribution of the barrier was achieved at a spray yaw angle of 15° as compared to 0°.