Spray Equipment Research Articles

Subjective Health Complaints in Women Famers Exposed to Pesticides in Agricultural Area

Pesticides are chemicals that are increasingly used particularly in agriculture to control plant pests. While pesticides offers benefits they also cause adverse effects on humans, especially if not handled properly. Women in agricultural areas exposed to pesticides are at risk of developing health problems related to pesticide exposure, which are often related to their involvement in agricultural activities such as spraying, mixing pesticides, washing spraying equipment and clothing. The research aims to analyse the risk factors for subjective health complaints due to pesticide exposure in female farmers. The observational study employed a cross-sectional approach. The study population comprised female farmers exposed to pesticides residing in Sekayu District, Musi Banyuasin South Sumatra, Indonesia. A sample size of 136 was obtained through Cluster Sampling. Primary data were collected through interviews and observations using questionnaires and checklists. Data were analysed using the Chi-Square Test. The results indicated that female farmers reported a range of subjective health complaints including fatigue, anxiety, headache, blurred vision, nausea, decreased appetite, muscle weakness, and muscle spasms. Several variables were associated with subjective health complaints including age (p=0.05), working period (p=0.002), number of types of pesticides (p=0.000), and storage method of pesticides (p=0.021). Female farmers should limit their exposure to pesticides through reducing the length of contact with pesticides, avoiding the mixing of different types of pesticides, and storing pesticides according to the storage instructions.

Advancements in Plant Protection Technologies and Mechanization in the Russian Federation

The paper highlights the achievements of domestic scientists, engineers and designers in pesticide application in agriculture. (Research purpose) The study provides a retrospective analysis of the evolution of plant protection technologies and mechanization tools in the Russian Federation. (Materials and methods) The research draws on a variety of sources, including publications in scientific journals, monographs, conference proceedings, archival photographs, and exhibits from the scientific and methodological office (museum) of the All-Russian Research Institute for Plant Protection. (Results and discussion) The paper details the development of domestic horse-drawn, mounted tractor, automobile field and portal garden sprayers in 1931-1941. In the 1960s, research focused on determining the optimal droplet size and phytocidal action radius for low-volume spraying of plant protection products. Aerosol technologies were developed. The paper highlights the contribution of Dr.Sc. V.F. Dunsky in establishing the theoretical foundations of fine-droplet and low-volume spraying physics and technology. It also emphasizes the development and enhancement of plant protection technologies by creating a comprehensive system of machines for agricultural mechanization. This progress was achieved under the scientific and methodological guidance of experts from the All-Russian Institute of Agricultural Mechanization. As the consumption rates of the working fluid decreased, rotary (disk) sprayers became essential for both ground and aerial spraying equipment. To enhance environmental safety, more eco-friendly sprayers were developed with systems for small droplet separation or forced sedimentation, and a method for electrically charging droplets was introduced. Modern approaches to the development of new plant protection technologies are based on the principles of precision farming. These approaches include differentiated crop treatment that considers the spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of harmful organisms within field areas. (Conclusions) Plant protection technologies and mechanization tools evolved and improved with the introduction of new chemical agents. Notably, spectrometry is used to create spectral image libraries of cultivated and weedy, healthy and diseased plants, facilitating the automatic decoding of data collected from field through neural networks (artificial intelligence). Additionally, unmanned aerial vehicles are utilized for the application of plant protection products.

Effectiveness of active ingredients in controlling fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) in modern apple orchards

This study investigated the effects of different registered active ingredients aiming to control fireblight Erwinia amylovora Burill Winslow, in modern apple bearing orchards. Five type active ingredients and combinations were assessed as regard their protective effect against fire blight on the apples. Copper oxiclorure provided an average efficacy E% 78.74-80.81 Better results were obtained with copper hydroxide E% 80.70-81.66. The mixture copper oxiclorure+hydroxide displayed a superior field efficacy ranging between 81.45 - 83.91. Aluminum fosetyl, applied during the flowering period and fruit set provided an average efficacy E% of 90.70 -81.26. The other mixture tested fluopyram+aluminum fosetyl offered an average efficacy E% in fireblight control, within 91.20 - 93.18 especially on growing shoots and fruits. However, in order to increase the bactericides efficacy in apple crop protection, it will be useful and opportune additional researches, on new active ingredients complementarity, water quality monitoring, spray equipment calibration, and improvement of applications quality.

Quantitative evaluation of sprayability and sag resistance of thin spray-on liners with low CO2 emissions for replacing shotcrete to seal coal mine roadway

Shotcrete used for gas sealing of coal mine roadway is easy to crack during micro-movement and the heavy use of shotcrete consumes a large amount of cement increasing CO2 emission. Thin spray-on liners (TSLs) with high elongation at break, less material consumables and low CO2 emissions can replace shotcrete as a sealing material. Improving the fluidity of TSLs paste to obtain excellent sprayability is a prerequisite for applications, however it also results in poor sag resistance of the TSLs. The quantitative evaluation of sprayability and sag resistance of TSLs paste is an important condition to measure whether the above contradiction is alleviated. In this paper, the dispersion degree (∆S), spray velocity (K) and sag rate (∆V) of TSLs paste with different cement-to-polymer mass ratio (C/P) were measured by using self-made spraying equipment for the first time. The relationships between ∆S and apparent viscosity, K and dynamic yield stress, and ∆V and static yield stress are established. The results showed that the ∆S, K and ∆V were key parameters for quantitative evaluation of sprayability and sag resistance of TSLs paste. The contradiction between sag resistance and sprayability of TSLs paste was alleviated when C/P was 1.5. The TSLs paste had the best sag resistance at the C/P1.5, meanwhile ∆V was reduced by 53.5% compared with the C/P was 0.75. Compared to the C/P1.75 with optimal sprayability, the K and ∆S were only reduced by 10.5% and 11.9% when the C/P was 1.5. The CO2 emissions of TSLs was 95% lower than that of shotcrete at the C/P1.5.

Effectiveness of hedges and nets in reducing the risk of drift and exposure of local residents during vineyard spraying: initial results

IFV and INRAE have used the EoleDrift test rig to measure the drift reduction performance of two types of plot modification (shrub hedges and windbreak nets). Whatever the sprayer used and the type of drift measured (airborne, sedimentary, exposure of mannequins), the reduction rates measured in the presence of physical barriers are relatively stable and high. By combining such barriers with efficient spraying equipment, reduction rates of over 95 % can be achieved.

Cutting-Edge Agricultural Technology for Farmer Self-Reliance: Support and Implementation of Efficient Spraying Equipment

Agriculture plays a crucial role in Indonesia's economy but faces various challenges such as climate change and low productivity. To address these issues, technological innovation is essential. Efficient modern agricultural sprayers are one key innovation that helps farmers apply pesticides and fertilizers more effectively. This study focuses on the support and implementation of efficient sprayers in Bana Village, Teriak District, Bengkayang Regency. Through lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and simulations, farmers are encouraged to understand and adopt this technology. The results show an increase in farmers' knowledge and skills in using the sprayers, as well as improved crop productivity and reduced chemical usage. The participatory approach in this study ensures practical and sustainable solutions, enhancing farmer self-reliance. It is hoped that the implementation of this technology will improve farmer welfare and support agricultural sustainability in Indonesia.

Perancangan alat Penyiram Jagung Portabel Semi-Otomatis dalam Mendukung Pertanian Jagung Modern

Corn farmers generally maintain corn plants by watering them with fertilizer or pesticides which is usually done with a device available on the market in the form of a tube connected by a hose to a spray stick to spray the solution onto the plants. Standard factory spray equipment on the market is difficult to use, ineffective and also inefficient. The use of a carrying sprayer is less effective in reaching corn plants that are almost the same as an adult's height, and human power still plays a very big role. The aim of this research is to make improvements to the design of spray equipment to correct the shortcomings of existing spray equipment. The French method used in this research is based on the effectiveness of this method in meeting data needs comprehensively when designing new products, it is very flexible and can be adapted to various types of products. This research succeeded in creating a design and prototype for a semi-automatic portable corn sprinkler. The state of the art from this research is that the design of this plant sprayer can be disassembled and installed to suit the size of the land and is very flexible, which is designed to support regional and national government programs for the welfare of corn farmers. The land area that can be watered by the new tool is wider, namely 200 m2 x 4 with a time of 2 hours; Meanwhile, the tools sold on the market are still manual and can only water an area of ​​200 m2 x 2 for 4 hours. Keywords: Corn plants ;Design ; Portable ; Sprayer

Influence of Plant Density and Fungicides on Downy Mildew (<i>Peronospora Destructor</i>) and Bulb Yield of Onion in Ethiopia

Onion is a popular vegetable crop, which has been produced for its daily uses and economic benefits. Downey mildew caused by the fungus <i>Peronospora</i> <i>destructor</i> is among the most important yield-reducing factor in onion production. The effect of three different levels of plant population and fungicide frequency with two different fungicides was studied on downy mildew severity and yield of onion. Nineteen treatment of this Experiment included two fungicides mancozeb + metalaxyl and copper hydrox-ide, three different spraying interval with (10 days, 15 days and 21 days) and three level of plant population (0.71, 0.95 and 1.2 million plants/ha). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications for two year at Fogera and for one year at Dera districts of South Gondar zone Ethiopia. Data on disease severity, bulb yield, bulb number and bulb size were recorded during the time of harvest. The price of bulb yield was assessed from the local market and the total price of the yield obtained from each treatment was computed on hectare basis. Input costs like seed, fungicides and labor were converted into hectare basis according to their frequencies used. Fungicides cost was estimated based on the price of the local market. Cost of the labor was in Birr per man-days; cost of spray and spray equipment to spray per hectare were also calculated. Based on the obtained data from the above mentioned parameters economic analysis was performed. The lowest disease severity was recorded in treatment were lowest level of plant population (0.71 million plant/hectare) spraying with fungicide mancozeb + metalaxyl within 15days interval. In this treatment bulb yield and bulb weight were the highest. The economic evaluation showed that the highest net benefit with acceptable marginal rate of return was obtained from T3 (0.71million plants/ha spraying with fungicide mancozeb + metalaxyl within 15days interval).

Evaluation of fungicidal control of garlic leaf blight using mobile spraying equipment

Evaluation of fungicidal control of garlic leaf blight using mobile spraying equipment

Labor-saving control of tomato gray mold using microbial pesticides with overhead spray equipment

Labor-saving control of tomato gray mold using microbial pesticides with overhead spray equipment

3D Porous Silver Nonwoven Mat Prepared with Cellulosic Templates and Spray Equipment for Supercapacitor Current Collectors

Supercapacitors are energy conversion devices with higher power density compared to batteries and higher energy density compared to common capacitors.[1] These particular properties have attracted considerable attention with regard to numerous applications in such diverse fields as power electronics, military equipment, and hybrid electric vehicles (i.e. HEVs, in order to help the stop and go function and to provide peak power for improved acceleration).[2] In addition, supercapacitors can play an important role in complementing the energy storage functions of batteries and fuel cells by providing back-up power supplies to protect against power disruptions.[3,4]Supercapacitors have four major components, namely, current collectors, electrodes, electrolytes and separators.[3] However, although electrodes have been actively studied, there are far fewer studies of current collectors than the other there components. Typical current collectors are nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), gold (Au), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag) and copper (Cu). Although Ag compared with the other materials offers many advantages including high current-carrying capability (i.e., lowest resistivity at 1.63 x 10-8 Ωm)[5] and good chemical and thermal stability,[6] Ag current collectors are rarely used in supercapacitors. In our previous study, which demonstrated the usefulness of a solution processed Ag current collector in supercapacitors, we used a 2-dimensional (2D) Ag plated polymer film as the current collectors.[7] In this study, we propose a method of enhancing the usefulness of a solution processed Ag current collector by making a 3-dimensional (3D) porous Ag nonwoven mat current collector from the cellulosic template in order to maximize the efficiency of the Ag current collector. This may have the result of maximizing the contact area between the electrode and the electrolyte, such as Ni foam.[8] This 3D porous Ag nonwoven mat would be also useful in such applications as the cathodes of alkaline fuel cells owing to its good chemical and thermal stability,[9] and might also be used in a variety of filtration applications where the antimicrobial and antibacterial properties of silver make silver membranes a very efficient filtration system.[10]In this study, we propose a simple method of making a 3D porous silver nonwoven mat as the current collector of supercapacitors, and investigate their super-capacitive properties using cyclic voltammetry in 1 M Na2SO4. For the purpose of comparison, the electrochemical properties of the 2D Ag plated current collector were also investigated. Cellulosic templates were used to make a 3D porous Ag nonwoven mat as the current collector of a supercapacitor with an Ag nanoparticle dispersed solution and simple spray equipment.

Experiment Evaluation on the Porosity of Plasma Coating from Ceramic Al2O3 – TiO2 Using the Metallography

Background: The objective of this paper is an experimental investigation of the metallographic porosity of plasma coating using standard materials from the ceramic system Al2O3-TiO2 on the substrate of steel SS400 at laboratory scale Lab at the Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering. Contribution: The main contribution of the research is the evaluation of the porosity of the coating under the influence of the main technological parameters since the porosity plays a significant role in the performance of the working surface using the built-in Image Pro-Analyzer software in the Axiovert 25 MAT microscope. Method: The spraying material is Al2O3-TiO2 powder. The input parameters are: spraying distance (Lp; current of plasma stream (Ip); powder feed flow (Gp and spraying rate (Vp). Results: The findings show that the average porosity of the Al2O3-TiO2 plasma coating is inversely decreasing in the increasing direction of the distance: spray in the range Lp = 100–200 mm, increase proportional to the increase of the current plasma flow rate in the range Ip = 400–600 A, provided that the powder feed flow Gp = 1.7 kg/h and the spraying rate Vp = 50 mm/min. Conclusion: The degree of influence of the three main technological parameters (Lp, Ip, and Gp) in the survey limit domain may be due to the selected Lp spray distance within the relatively wide recommended range of the plasma spraying equipment supplier. It is recommended to conduct the experimental planning of the L27 type to localize the optimum area.

Design and experimental evaluation of a variable pesticide application control system for the air-assisted rubber tree powder sprayer.

In order to address the issues of uneven pesticide deposition and low pesticide utilization in rubber gardens caused by the traditional diffuse plant protection spraying method, this study focuses on the air-assisted powder sprayer and proposes a variable pesticide application control system. A variable pesticide application decision-making model integrating the leaf area index (LAI) was designed based on powdery mildew control standards and individual rubber tree information. According to the target powder spraying accuracy requirements, a control model of the air velocity adjustment device was established and a fuzzy proportional-integral-differential (PID) air velocity control system was developed. The simulation results indicate that the wind speed control system exhibits a maximum overshoot of 2.18% and an average response time of 1.48 s. The field experiment conducted in a rubber plantation revealed that when the air-assisted powder sprayer operates in the variable powder spraying mode, the average response time of the control system is 2.5 s. The control accuracy of each executive mechanism exceeded 95.9%. The deposition coefficient of variation (CV) at different canopy heights was relatively consistent, with values of 35.38%, 36.26% and 36.90%. In comparison to the quantitative mode, the variable mode showed a significant 20.03% increase in the effective utilization rate of sulfur powder. These research findings provide valuable technical support for the advancement of mechanized variable powder spraying equipment in rubber tree cultivation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Study on plant protection unmanned aerial vehicle spraying technology based on the thrips population activity patterns during the cotton flowering period.

Over the years, thrips have transitioned from a minor nuisance to a major problem, significantly impacting the yield and quality of cotton. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for plant protection have emerged as an effective alternative to traditional pesticide spraying equipment. UAVs offer advantages such as avoiding crop damage and enhancing pesticide deposition on the plants and have become the primary choice for pesticide application in cotton fields. In this study, a 2-year field experiment found that the thrips population in a cotton field in Xinjiang, China, exhibited gradual growth during the early flowering phase, peaking in late July. The thrips population gradually shifted from the lower canopy to the upper canopy as the cotton flowers opened layer by layer. From 09:00 to 11:00 (GMT+8) and 19:00 to 21:00 (GMT+8), thrips mainly flew outside the flowers, while from 17:00 to 19:00 (GMT+8), they mostly inhabited the inner whorls of flowers. The insecticides 10% cyantraniliprole oil dispersion and 10% spinetoram suspension concentrate, sprayed by UAV, had the best control effect on thrips, with 80.51% and 79.22% control effect after 7 days of spraying, respectively. The optimal spraying time for 10% cyantraniliprole oil dispersion was 19:00 (GMT+8), and the control effect on thrips reached 91.16% at 7 days of spraying. During the cotton flowering period, thrips inhabited flowers in the evening and flew outside during the day. The best control effect on thrips was achieved with UAV-sprayed 10% cyantraniliprole oil dispersion at 19:00 (GMT+8).

Design and Development of Quadcopter for Agro-Chemical Spray in Agricultural Field

The advent of Agricultural Drones promises to revolutionize modern farming practices by employing autonomous drones for crop surveillance and pesticide application. Outfitting quadcopters with spraying mechanisms presents numerous advantages over traditional methods. Firstly, it facilitates precise and targeted application of agro-chemicals, thereby minimizing wastage and environmental pollution. Furthermore, quadcopters exhibit the capability to effortlessly navigate challenging terrains, accessing areas previously unreachable by conventional spraying equipment and ensuring comprehensive crop coverage. Additionally, their autonomous operation or remote human supervision enhances operational efficiency, resulting in reduced labor costs. This initiative explores the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into agricultural practices, specifically emphasizing their role in precisely spraying agro-chemicals. The project encompasses the entire development cycle, from design and development to the deployment of customized agricultural drones capable of autonomous flight and accurate pesticide distribution. The incorporation of quadcopters for precise agro-chemical spraying marks a significant advancement in agricultural technology, offering precision, efficiency, and sustainability. Ongoing research, development, and collaboration play a crucial role in realizing the transformative benefits of this innovative approach, ultimately enhancing agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship.

Laboratory sprayer for dsRNA application: Design and bioassay validation

The shortage of commercially available and reliable laboratory spraying equipment for testing different preparations can be a major obstacle to achieve field-comparable results in the laboratory conditions.RNA interference is natural biological process which, when used for plant protection, can be designed method combining sustainability and minimal environmental side effects. Spraying of dsRNA is a field-relevant method that should ensure consistency and repeatability if conducted in laboratory.We built a portable spray device for laboratory use and tested its suitability for dsRNA application. For that, we carried out bioassay on three plant species with different leaf surface textures. DsRNA were detected in all samples 3 days post-treatment indicating its suitability for dsRNA delivery.We built a portable spray device for laboratory use and tested its suitability for dsRNA application. For that, we carried out:•Bioassay on three plant species with different leaf surface textures.DsRNA were detected in all samples 3 days post-treatment indicating its suitability for dsRNA delivery.

Material system and tribological mechanism of plasma sprayed wear resistant coatings: Overview

Challenging environments in aviation, automotive, electric power, and various industrial sectors are increasing industry and technological demands, resulting in machine damage and energy loss from friction and wear between interacting surfaces. Addressing this issue requires the development of new and advanced materials, processing techniques, and surface modification methods to enhance performance and reduce friction and wear. Plasma spraying technology is essential for material surface reinforcement and modification because of its low cost and stability. This paper reviews and summarizes the research progress on plasma spraying wear-resistant coating material systems and tribological mechanisms, covering the working process and principles of plasma spraying equipment. It also details wear-resistant coating material systems, including iron-based, nickel-based, copper-based, other metal materials, oxides, and monoxide ceramic materials.Furthermore, it addresses the wear-resistant and friction-reduction mechanisms of wear-resistant coatings, aiming to summarize the tribological strengthening mechanism concerning wear resistance and friction reduction. Moreover, this paper covers aspects such as powder design, sealing treatment, laser remelting, and other methods for regulating the wear resistance of coatings, examining their influence on the wear resistance of coatings in material design, spraying process, and post-spraying treatment. Plasma spraying wear-resistant coatings should be used along with doping modification and other methods to study the new spraying materials; furthermore, the optimization of the spraying process and post-treatment methods should be investigated to prepare a wear-resistant coating that meets the performance of the actual working conditions. At the same time, ultrahigh temperature wear-resistant coatings and super lubricating coatings are also future research priorities. In addition, when comparing plasma transfer arc spraying technology and plasma enhanced high-speed arc spraying technology with plasma non-transfer arc spraying technology, the jet temperature is higher, and the cost is lower; however, since the process is still in its infancy, the follow-up should be strengthened in this area of technical research. This paper provides a theoretical basis and reference for researching plasma spraying wear-resistant coatings in various fields.

EvaSprayViti: A flexible test bench for comparative assessment of the 3D deposition efficiency of vineyard sprayers at multiple growth stages

The main approach to protect grapes against diseases involves the use of plant protection products. Understanding the quantitative amount and the distribution of these products on the vines is essential to assess the effectiveness of spray equipment and to evaluate the relationship between dosage and response when targeting pathogens. Improving the targeting of sprayers is an important lever to reduce the quantities of phytosanitary inputs applied, taking into account various cropping systems and training. For this purpose, a regularly distributed artificial canopy, adjustable in height and width was designed to mimic three grapevine growth stages for two of the most common trellised training systems encountered in France for ‘wide row vineyards’ (Royat cordon and Guyot, inter-row width 2.5 m). This artificial canopy was evaluated with the perspective of using it as a testing facility for classifying sprayers. Using a dye tracer, spray deposits were directly recovered after the rinsing of artificial leaves. A first series of experiments defined the most adapted sampling strategy in the canopy according to the crop stage, with the comparison of two contrasted sprayers. A second series of experiments compared the quantities of deposits obtained from both the artificial and a real vine, for several sprayers at a full growth stage and for one sprayer at three growth stages. Deposition patterns and mean deposits on both targets were found comparable, allowing a realistic perspective for the classification of spray application modalities using the artificial vine. A third series of experiments compared deposition at three crop stages on artificial and real vines for one type of sprayer. A fourth series of experiments on the artificial vineyard discriminated between three behaviour classes within 65 spraying modalities that combined sprayer types and sprayer settings (such as nozzle types). The discrimination was achieved using a PCA analysis that confirmed the soundness of the sampling strategy used. Overall, these results highlight the ability of the EvaSprayViti test facility to assess and rank the performance of vineyard sprayers.

A Future for Ultra-Low Volume Application of Biological and Selected Chemical Pesticides

A project to improve the yields of cotton in Rhodesia and Nyasaland involved a study on a key pest, the Red Bollworm (Diparopsis castanea), which included laboratory studies to determine the impact of certain insecticides, a change in spray equipment to minimise exposure of the operator to the spray and timing of sprays to control the first instar larvae.

A generic approach to estimate airborne concentrations of substances released by indoor spray processes using a deterministic 2-box model.

Sprays are used both in workplace and consumer settings. Although spraying has advantages, such as uniform distribution of substances on surfaces in a highly efficient manner, it is often associated with a high inhalation burden. For an adequate risk assessment, this exposure has to be reliably quantified. Exposure models of varying complexity are available, which are applicable to spray applications. However, a need for improvement has been identified. In this contribution, a simple 2-box approach is suggested for the assessment of the time-weighted averaged exposure concentration (TWA) using a minimum of input data. At the moment, the model is restricted to binary spray liquids composed of a non-volatile fraction and volatile solvents. The model output can be refined by introducing correction factors based on the classification and categorization of two key parameters, the droplet size class and the vapor pressure class of the solvent, or by using a data set of experimentally determined airborne release fractions related to the used spray equipment. A comparison of model results with measured data collected at real workplaces showed that this simple model based on readily available input parameters is very useful for screening purposes. The generic 2-box spray model without refinement overestimates the measurements of the considered scenarios in approximately 50% of the cases by more than a factor of 100. The generic 2-box model performs better for room spraying than for surface spraying, as the airborne fraction in the latter case is clearly overestimated. This conservatism of the prediction was significantly reduced when correction factors or experimentally determined airborne release fractions were used in addition to the generic input parameters. The resulting predictions still overestimate the exposure (ratio tool estimate to measured TWA > 10) or they are accurate (ratio 0.5-10). If the available information on boundary conditions (application type, equipment) does not justify the usage of airborne release fraction, room spraying should be used resulting in the highest exposure estimate. The model scope may be extended to (semi)volatile substances. However, acceptance may be compromised by the limited availability of measured data for this group of substances and thus may have limited potency to evaluate the model prediction.