Comparative research on centrifugal-low volume spray and conventional spray in fields

To explore the applicability of boom sprayer equipped with centrifugal nozzle in the fields, a new boom based on the technology of centrifugal nozzle and low-volume spray was developed. The mixed compound preparation of three agents (5% hexaconazole SC, 40% omethoate EC and 50% pymetrozine WG) with red tracer was used as the spray solution.Through comparative field experiment on the performances of the 4 types of sprayers, namely, knapsack sprayer with hydraulic nozzle (KSH), boom sprayer with hydraulic nozzle (BSH), knapsack sprayer with centrifugal nozzle (KSC) and boom sprayer with centrifugal nozzle (BSC), the dominant factors affecting the spraying quality, including the droplets deposition distribution uniformity, canopy penetrability, the work efficiency and the effect of biological control, were analyzed. The results showed that compared to other conventional sprayers (KDH, BSH and KSC), BSC was as good as KDH and BSH in the deposition uniformity, but better than KSC. Compared with the conventional spray, centrifugal technology could effectively improve canopy penetration by up to 2.9 times. Compared with KDH, BSH and KSC, the work efficiency of BSC was increased by 0.5, 5.6 and 18.6 times, respectively. Compared with the control group, the control efficacy of these sprayers was significant, but there was no significant difference among them. This study has provided a reference for the technology of centrifugal atomization and low-volume sprayused in boom sparyer.