title: Spray distribution evaluation of different settings of a hand-held-trolley sprayer used in greenhouse tomato crops.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hand-held-trolley sprayers have recently been promoted to improve spray application techniques in greenhouses in south-eastern Spain. However, certain aspects remain to be improved. A modified hand-held-trolley sprayer was evaluated under two different canopy conditions (high and low canopy density) and with several sprayer settings (nozzle type, air assistance and spray volume). In this study, the deposition, coverage and uniformity of distribution of the spray on the canopy have been assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The deposition on leaves was significantly higher when flat-fan nozzles and air assistance were used at both high and low spray volumes. No differences were detected between the reference system at a high spray volume and the modified trolley at a low spray volume. Flat-fan nozzles with air assistance increased penetrability into the canopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Air assistance and flat-fan nozzles allow volume rates to be reduced while maintaining or improving spray quality distribution. The working parameters of hand-held sprayers must be considered to reduce environmental risk and increase the efficacy of the spraying process. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agro Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Castelldefels, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llop
authors.affiliation: Department of Agro Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Castelldefels, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Department of Agro Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Castelldefels, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallart
authors.affiliation: Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Contador
authors.affiliation: Department of Agro Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Castelldefels, Spain.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ercilla
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D007306:Insecticides; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides
keywords: air assistance; coverage; deposition; greenhouse; hand-held trolley; nozzle type