In Agriculture, threats from pests, whether animal or plant in nature, have increasingly prompted farmers to use pesticides, distributed via agricultural sprayer or spraying machines. In fact, it is estimated that about 25 percent of crops are lost each year due to attacks by these pathogens.
These risks have led, over the years, to analysis through the study of pesticides of new solutions to protect crops and investments. The increasing use of these phytosanitary solutions has led Italian legislation, through DL 65/2003, to regulate their use.
However, the use and purchase of pesticides, and the consequent use of these machines, requires a license, regulated by DL 150/12 (art. 24 c. 1), under penalty of a fine.
Distribution on the fields of the fields is done through the use of special agricultural spraying machinery, namely the sprayer. This tool takes advantage of a reservoir that mixes water and plant protection substance in varying parts, depending on the farmer’s need.
Distribution is then carried out through a pump and fan according to the needs of the farmer and his land. In fact, the choice of this important tool varies according to important factors, which if poorly analyzed can lead to a wrong purchase and a yield that does not meet the needs of the farmer.
Among the most important factors are:
Size of the land
Type of crops
Distance between trees
Air humidity
tractor power
It is precisely because of these factors that every farmer must carefully choose which machine to rely on in order to get the best possible yield for his crop.
The categories of atomizers on the market
There are two major macro categories with regard to atomizers:
Carried atomizers
Trailed sprayers
The mounted sprayer connects to the tractor via a three-point hitch and consists of a tank, with a capacity ranging from 200 to 800 liters depending on need. The indispensable factor for the proper distribution of the crop protection agent is the fan apparatus, which can be of the type:
axial (which can range from a diameter of 500 to 1000 mm):
centrifugal
Added to the fan apparatus is the choice of the pump unit, which can be distinguished in turn into:
aluminum
brass
The trailed sprayer differs in having larger tank capacities (500 to 3000 liters), fan apparatuses, which in turn differ in:
axial (which can range from a diameter of 500 to 1000 mm):
centrifugal
Added to the fan apparatus is the choice of pump unit, which can be distinguished in turn into:
aluminum
brass
As well as the connection to the tractor, which is made through an eye, or hook, properly attached to the sprayer frame.
Which agricultural sprayer to choose according to your tractor
There are different types of spraying equipment on the market, and the agricultural sprayer is also a tool that has a wide range of products on the market, according to a wide variety of requirements.
The choice of sprayer is related to the power of the tractor. Generally speaking, we tend to follow the parameters in the following outline:
For tractors up to 45 horsepower, carried sprayers of 200 to 400 liters with 500 to 700 mm axial fan apparatus or trailed sprayers of 500 liters are suggested
For 50- to 70-horsepower tractors, trailed sprayers of 400 to 500 liters with axial fan apparatus of 500 to 800 mm, or centrifugal, depending on crop types, or trailed sprayers of 600 to 1000 liters are suggested
For tractors of 75 to 120 horsepower, trailed sprayers of 500 to 800 liters with axial fan apparatus of 700 to 1000 mm, or centrifugal, depending on crop types, or trailed sprayers of 1000 to 2000 liters are suggested
For tractors greater than 120 horsepower, 3000-liter trailed sprayers with 1000-mm fan apparatus, or very high-performance centrifugal
Which fan apparatus to choose according to your crops
The choice of ventilator apparatus is critical to an optimal result. As previously seen, the choice depends on the type of crop to be sprayed.
It is indicatively recommended to follow the scheme below:
For low stem crops(3-5 meters): fan apparatuses 500 to 700 mm
For medium-stemmed crops (5-6 meter): 800 mm fan apparatuses
For medium-trunked crops (7-8 meters): 900 mm fan apparatuses
For tall crops (9-12 meters): 1000 mm fan apparatuses
For crops over 12 meters(poplars, hazelnuts, chestnuts, etc.): fan apparatus with centrifugal impeller and cannon head
For greenhouses, field crops (where possible): fan apparatus with impeller and long-range centrifuge
The performance and absorptions of fan apparatuses can vary greatly for the same size depending on the supplier and/or upstream design. For these reasons, the spraying results obtained could vary greatly.
No less important is to be able to obtain a customized machine that can help the farmer reduce drift, reducing waste of the chemical that often misses the target or hits it suboptimally with consequent economic benefits in the management of the enterprise.
Customization of operating machinery also helps the farmer to avoid contaminating any Bio food production areas, whether owned by him or convicini, also can help avoid contaminating urban areas in the vicinity of the growing grounds.
