Development of power tiller operated intra canopy sprayer for cotton and pigeon pea crops

Abstract

Proper spraying with appropriate efficacy has been major concern in chemical application due to growing concerns about environmental and health hazards associated with chemical pesticide application. Most of the spraying system developed in India spray from top of the plant resulting in poor spray penetration in crop canopy and overall low efficacy of spraying operation. A five-nozzle boom system was developed considering the canopy requirement of tall crops such as cotton and pigeonpea. Laboratory evaluation of the system indicated that HCN 80250 hydraulic nozzle in combination with 125 mm air sleeve gives a proper droplet size distribution to get more than 90% droplets within 300 micron range and about 13-16% percentage area covered on front and back of leaves in entire canopy. A power tiller operated spraying system consisting of similar boom and air assistance system was developed and evaluated under field condition. The effective field capacity was 0.146 ha/h in pigeon pea crop at forward speed of 1.31 km/h. The percentage area covered by the droplets on the front and back side of the leaves was almost equal viz. 17.5-18%. The mean droplet size varied from 120 to 124 microns with more than 90% droplets was less than 300-micron size.