Determination of the tree row volume in stone‐fruit orchards as a tool for adapting the spray dosage

Abstract

The tree row volume model is a method for adapting dosage and spray volumes to tree crops. The method can potentially facilitate the comparison of field efficacy trials and can contribute to fanners’effective and rational use of plant protection products. It has been developed and applied in pome fruit but not yet in stone fruit. Stone‐fruit orchards vary considerably in tree size, tree shape and distance between tree rows. Based on 700 detailed measurements of stone‐fruit trees in south‐eastern France, in southern Germany and in Switzerland, a multiple linear regression was computed that allows the calculation of tree row volume from the height and maximum width of the tree crown, and the distance between tree rows. Seasonal increases of tree row volumes in stone‐fruit orchards were most pronounced in May and June, and the increase was usually greater in young orchards than in older ones.

Thirteen decades of antimicrobial copper compounds applied in agriculture. A review

“…In perennial crops, it is common to use predetermined copper rates and spray volumes, which are indiscriminately applied to orchards of different ages and sizes leading to a waste of resources, such as water, energy, and chemicals and to environmental pollution. However, use of copper on these crops should be based on the volume of the tree canopy or the tree-rowvolume to be treated per hectare (Sutton and Unrath 1984;Sutton and Unrath 1988;Rüegg and Viret 1999;Pergher and Petris 2008;Sanchez-Hermosilla et al 2013;da Silva Scapin et al 2015). For instance, in Brazil, use of tree-row-volumebased copper rates for control of citrus canker has allowed for the copper rates to be downsized to less than one third of former rates without affecting quality of disease control (da Silva Scapin et al 2015;Behlau et al 2017).…”

Variable-rate Spray Technology Optimizes Pesticide Application by Adjusting for Seasonal Shifts in Deciduous Perennial Crops

“…For example, producers commonly reduce the canopy density to improve light and air infiltration, promote fruit ripening, and reduce disease pressure (Austin et al, 2011). While tree row volume is an established method for adjusting the volume of pesticide to match plant canopy growth (Gil and Escol a, 2009;R€ uegg and Viret, 1999;da Silva Scapin et al, 2015), in practice, pesticide volumes are usually based on the two-dimensional field area (e.g., gallons per acre) and predicated on historical use patterns, as opposed to being modified based on three-dimensional changes in the plant canopy. A spray rate that does not adapt to match the canopy volume and density increases the likelihood of overspraying when the canopy is sparsely developed and underspraying when the canopy is at its fullest.…”

Design of a Decision Support Method to Determine Volume Rate for Vineyard Spraying

“…There is an important difference between pesticide application on field crops, in which the working width is clearly defined by the boom size, and in orchard crops in which this working width is defined by the distance between rows and the number of rows sprayed simultaneously. This normal practice seems to be in contradiction with the theory known as Crop Adapted Spraying (Rüegg and Viret, 1999) that keeps constant the quantity of product per unit canopy volume. Dose recommendation is established according to equation 5:…”