Evaluating a filtering and recirculating system to reduce dust drift in simulated sowing of dressed seed and abraded dust particle characteristics.
BACKGROUND
The pneumatic precision drills used in maize sowing can release dust owing to abrasion of dressed seed; the drift of dust containing insecticide active ingredients is harmful to honey bees. Therefore, we developed a device for drills that uses partial recirculation and filtration of the air by means of an antipollen and an electrostatic filter.


RESULTS
Tests were carried out by simulating the sowing of seed treated with imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin and fipronil. Dust released by the drill in different configurations was analysed to assess its mass and active ingredient concentration, size distribution and particle number concentration. In general, particles with a diameter smaller than 2.5 and 10 µm represent about 40 and 75% of the total dust mass respectively. The finest size fraction (<1 µm) contains a higher content of active ingredient. The prototype equipped with both antipollen and electrostatic filters always showed a reduction in dust emission greater than 90% in terms of both total mass and active ingredient amount, with a greater efficiency in the reduction in particles below 4 µm.


CONCLUSIONS
This study presents an engineering solution addressing dust losses during sowing, contributes to the description of abrasion dust fractions and provides suggestions for further development of the prototype. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, CREA-ING Unità di Ricerca per l'Ingegneria Agraria [Agricultural Engineering Research Unit], Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
Marcello
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2718-7907
M
Biocca
Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, CREA-ING Unità di Ricerca per l'Ingegneria Agraria [Agricultural Engineering Research Unit], Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
Daniele
D
Pochi
Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, CREA-ING Unità di Ricerca per l'Ingegneria Agraria [Agricultural Engineering Research Unit], Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
Roberto
R
Fanigliulo
Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, CREA-ING Unità di Ricerca per l'Ingegneria Agraria [Agricultural Engineering Research Unit], Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
Pietro
P
Gallo
Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, CREA-PAV Centro di Ricerca per la Patologia Vegetale [Plant Pathology Research Centre], Rome, Italy.
Patrizio
P
Pulcini
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR-IIA [Institute for Atmospheric Pollution Research], Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
Francesca
F
Marcovecchio
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR-IIA [Institute for Atmospheric Pollution Research], Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
Cinzia
C
Perrino
D061808:Air Filters; D000069599:Crop Production / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis; D000073943:Neonicotinoids / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D011058:Pollen; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000032:analysis; D012639:Seeds; D003313:Zea mays
D004391:Dust; D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D011720:Pyrazoles; C082360:fipronil
air-borne particles; dust drift; honey bee; neonicotinoids; pesticides; seed coating