Deposition Characteristics of Air-Assisted Sprayer Based on Canopy Volume and Leaf Area of Orchard Trees

Precision pesticide application mainly relies on canopy volume, resulting in varied application effectiveness across different density areas of orchard trees. This study examined pesticide application effectiveness based on the spray wind, canopy volume, and leaf area within the canopy, providing va...

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Main Authors: Chenchen Gu, Jiahui Sun, Si Li, Shuo Yang, Wei Zou, Changyuan Zhai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/220
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author Chenchen Gu
Jiahui Sun
Si Li
Shuo Yang
Wei Zou
Changyuan Zhai
author_facet Chenchen Gu
Jiahui Sun
Si Li
Shuo Yang
Wei Zou
Changyuan Zhai
author_sort Chenchen Gu
collection DOAJ
description Precision pesticide application mainly relies on canopy volume, resulting in varied application effectiveness across different density areas of orchard trees. This study examined pesticide application effectiveness based on the spray wind, canopy volume, and leaf area within the canopy, providing variable bases for precise regulation of spray wind and pesticide dosage. The study addresses the knowledge gap by utilizing laser detection and ranging (LiDAR) to measure the thickness and leaf area of orchard tree canopies. The spray experiments were conducted on canopies of different regions, using an air-assisted sprayer with varying fan speeds of 1381 r/min, 1502 r/min, and 1676 r/min. The deposition effects were analyzed using water-sensitive papers. The inlet air speed within the canopy did not increase proportionally when the spray fan speed increased, and it showed a significant variation in locations with sparse foliage. Furthermore, droplets exhibited abnormal median volume diameters of the canopy regions with lower wind loss rates and smaller leaf areas. The influences were in the order of canopy thickness, leaf area, and inlet air speed on the cumulative deposition of droplets on both sides of the water-sensitive papers, as well as the ratio of deposition between the two sides, from big to small, are inlet air speed, leaf area, and canopy thickness. The study provides a scientific foundation for air control in precision pesticide application in apple orchards and contributes to the rapid development of precision spraying technologies.
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id doaj-art-0b95fb61dc9f4277ae3f5d4be5ff9f27
institution Kabale University
issn 2223-7747
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Plants
spelling doaj-art-0b95fb61dc9f4277ae3f5d4be5ff9f272025-01-24T13:46:48ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114222010.3390/plants14020220Deposition Characteristics of Air-Assisted Sprayer Based on Canopy Volume and Leaf Area of Orchard TreesChenchen Gu0Jiahui Sun1Si Li2Shuo Yang3Wei Zou4Changyuan Zhai5Intelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaInformation Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaPrecision pesticide application mainly relies on canopy volume, resulting in varied application effectiveness across different density areas of orchard trees. This study examined pesticide application effectiveness based on the spray wind, canopy volume, and leaf area within the canopy, providing variable bases for precise regulation of spray wind and pesticide dosage. The study addresses the knowledge gap by utilizing laser detection and ranging (LiDAR) to measure the thickness and leaf area of orchard tree canopies. The spray experiments were conducted on canopies of different regions, using an air-assisted sprayer with varying fan speeds of 1381 r/min, 1502 r/min, and 1676 r/min. The deposition effects were analyzed using water-sensitive papers. The inlet air speed within the canopy did not increase proportionally when the spray fan speed increased, and it showed a significant variation in locations with sparse foliage. Furthermore, droplets exhibited abnormal median volume diameters of the canopy regions with lower wind loss rates and smaller leaf areas. The influences were in the order of canopy thickness, leaf area, and inlet air speed on the cumulative deposition of droplets on both sides of the water-sensitive papers, as well as the ratio of deposition between the two sides, from big to small, are inlet air speed, leaf area, and canopy thickness. The study provides a scientific foundation for air control in precision pesticide application in apple orchards and contributes to the rapid development of precision spraying technologies.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/220canopy volumeleaf areaair-assisted sprayingprecision applicationdeposition characteristics
spellingShingle Chenchen Gu
Jiahui Sun
Si Li
Shuo Yang
Wei Zou
Changyuan Zhai
Deposition Characteristics of Air-Assisted Sprayer Based on Canopy Volume and Leaf Area of Orchard Trees
Plants
canopy volume
leaf area
air-assisted spraying
precision application
deposition characteristics
title Deposition Characteristics of Air-Assisted Sprayer Based on Canopy Volume and Leaf Area of Orchard Trees
title_full Deposition Characteristics of Air-Assisted Sprayer Based on Canopy Volume and Leaf Area of Orchard Trees
title_fullStr Deposition Characteristics of Air-Assisted Sprayer Based on Canopy Volume and Leaf Area of Orchard Trees
title_full_unstemmed Deposition Characteristics of Air-Assisted Sprayer Based on Canopy Volume and Leaf Area of Orchard Trees
title_short Deposition Characteristics of Air-Assisted Sprayer Based on Canopy Volume and Leaf Area of Orchard Trees
title_sort deposition characteristics of air assisted sprayer based on canopy volume and leaf area of orchard trees
topic canopy volume
leaf area
air-assisted spraying
precision application
deposition characteristics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/220
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AT sili depositioncharacteristicsofairassistedsprayerbasedoncanopyvolumeandleafareaoforchardtrees
AT shuoyang depositioncharacteristicsofairassistedsprayerbasedoncanopyvolumeandleafareaoforchardtrees
AT weizou depositioncharacteristicsofairassistedsprayerbasedoncanopyvolumeandleafareaoforchardtrees
AT changyuanzhai depositioncharacteristicsofairassistedsprayerbasedoncanopyvolumeandleafareaoforchardtrees