title: Effect of spray application technique on spray deposition in greenhouse strawberries and tomatoes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasingly, Flemish greenhouse growers are using spray booms instead of spray guns to apply plant protection products. Although the advantages of spray booms are well known, growers still have many questions concerning nozzle choice and settings. Spray deposition using a vertical spray boom in tomatoes and strawberries was compared with reference spray equipment. Five different settings of nozzle type, size and pressure were tested with the spray boom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, the standard vertical spray boom performed better than the reference spray equipment in strawberries (spray gun) and in tomatoes (air-assisted sprayer). Nozzle type and settings significantly affected spray deposition and crop penetration. Highest overall deposits in strawberries were achieved using air-inclusion or extended-range nozzles. In tomatoes, the extended-range nozzles and the twin air-inclusion nozzles performed best. Using smaller-size extended-range nozzles above the recommended pressure range resulted in lower deposits, especially inside the crop canopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a vertical spray boom is a promising technique for applying plant protection products in a safe and efficient way in tomatoes and strawberries, and nozzle choice and setting should be carefully considered.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Technology and Food Sciences Unit, Agricultural Engineering, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 115, bus 1, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Braekman
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foque
authors.forename: Winy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Messens
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Van Labeke
authors.forename: Jan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nuyttens
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D031985:Fragaria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals