Orchard Spraying Objectives: 1. Apply pesticides to control insects, mites, fungal and bacterial diseases & weeds 2. Apply mineral nutrients to foliage & fruit (calcium, boron, zinc, nitrogen) 3.

Apply plant bio-regulators for: Flower & fruit thinning Control suckers Promote lateral branching Improve fruit shape Alter ripening Control pre-harvest fruit drop History: Before 1950s, applied with handgun nozzles During 1950s, cairblast d sprayer invented shears water going through the nozzles with high speed air small droplets carried into air Orchard sprayer requirements: 1. Tank to hold spray material 2. Agitation system to keep spray mixture in suspension 3.

Power system to propel the spray 4. Hoses & nozzles to carry spray mixture from tank & deliver to target area (trees) Orchard air-blast sprayer: Properties: 1. High speed, fan-driven air stream disperses spray 2.

Series of nozzles ejects very small droplets into air 3. Delivers either high volume (100-1000 gallons/acre), dilute sprays or low volume (10- 100 gal/A), concentrated sprays Two Approaches to Spray Delivery Lighter less soil compaction Less time refilling tank more acres/day Better in wind Better for pesticides because it reduces chemical used More effective for applying plant bio-regulators & nutrients Better for small trees & high- density plantings Better wetting ... more. less.