Influence of Canopy Geometry in Spray Deposition and IPM

Abstract

Growers can do much with what they already have on the farm. Although airblast sprayers are not very easy to adjust, there are operations that can be accomplished to improve delivery to the arrays of tree canopies and geometries. The problem is making growers aware of the need to do so and the potential that exists for their operation by: 1) matching sprayer delivery/canopy geometry for each block; 2) developing a block-by-block crop protection strategy (the variation in cultivar susceptibility/tolerance to various pests is under-used by most growers); 3) improving grower appreciation for information management and knowledge of production/price relationships and crop losses on their farm to optimize pesticide management in their orchard. Keeping pesticides on target, i.e., defining that target, and making appropriate adjustments in spray delivery protocols, is going to be a very important issue for the tree fruit grower in the 1990s. Faced with increasing spray costs and regulations, management strategies that address these issues will clearly pay dividends for the grower who is willing to invest the management expertise to solve these problems.