DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A GREENHOUSE PESTICIDE SPRAYER

Abstract

Conditions inside the gr eenhouse are different from open field. So, the conventional sprayers, such as the self-propelled or tractor mounted boom sprayers, are not suitable for the greenhouse conditions, due to their big sizes. A disc sprayer (ultra low volume) was developed, and its performance was investigated and compared to a conventional disc sprayer and different pesticide applicator types, motorized knapsack sprayer and Hydraulic sprayer (gun). The experiments were carried out at El-Gemmieza Research Station during 2007/2008 season. The results showed that the proper unit to execute the spraying operation under greenhouse conditions is the disc sprayer after development. It has given the lowest values of volume median diameter VMD (65μm), percent of plant damage (1.26%) and highest values of number of droplets/cm (295) and fungicide efficiency (86.33%) INTRODUCTION here are over 20.000 plastic tunnels in Egypt of about 500m each. These greenhouses became very important and widely spread all over Egypt. Therefore, mechanization system should be applied inside these greenhouses. El-Aidy (1991) reported that in Egypt, plastic tunnel greenhouses are used increasingly as a newly developed technique for vegetable or ornamental production (about 1.000ha in 1991). Kepner et al. (1982) mentioned that the degree of atomization depends upon the characteristics and operating conditions of the atomizing device and upon characteristics of liquid being atomized. * Senior Res., Agric. Eng. Res. Inst.(ARC), Giza. T Agricultural engineering and variables of the present epoch: 1466-1477 FARM MACHINERY AND POWER