- Program Themes
- Engagement Opportunities
- Training Modules
- Employment
- Handbooks
- Faculty & Staff
- For Students
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Open search box
Specialty tree crops such as fruits, nuts, and ornamentals currently rely on regular applications of pesticides due to intense pressure from pests and diseases to produce marketable varieties. Many of the pesticide application technologies used today are based on air-assisted sprayers, also known as air-blast sprayers, which were first developed in the 1950s. Air-blast pesticide sprayers are versatile, reliable, and can be modified to fit numerous types of crops, all of which are reasons for their continued popularity. Despite their popularity, air-blast sprayers have long had a reputation for inefficient application characteristics. Losses to the ground of 30-50% of spray and off-target drift from 10-20% are not uncommon for air-blast sprayers. Our program is part of a multi-state, multi-agency, collaboration to improve spray application precision and efficiencies to create healthier more effective pest control options.
At Oregon State University our project is led by Robin Rosetta (Nursery IPM), Jay Pscheidt (Plant Pathology), Lloyd Nackley (Nursery Production), Brent Warneke (Crop Production), and Brian Hill (IPM). Recent projects have investigated application comparisons between a USDA-designed laser guided air-assisted spray system and a conventional air-assisted spray system. The laser-guided sprayer can reduce the volume of materials applied by up to 70% with comparable control of insects and plant diseases to conventional sprayers. We design experiments that measure whether or not enough material is being applied to plants to control pests and also quantify off-target material deposition (e.g., drift).
The Oregon Intelligent Spray Systems team conducts applied research on management of insect and plant disease problems in Oregon specialty crops using the Intelligent Spray System. The current focus of the team is on optimization of spray coverage in nursery liners and hazelnut orchards, as well as management of grape powdery mildew. This gallery displays photos of the Intelligent Spray System and related photos.
Jay Pscheidt is a plant pathologist and Extension researcher who works with the Oregon Wine Research Institute, based at Oregon State University. Part of his research focuses on evaluating an Intelligent sprayer that is run by a computer and sensors to determine when to spray, a savings in pesticide, water and time.
Demonstration of the Intelligent Spray System as it travels through a vineyard. Shown are Intelligent mode, conventional mode, and slow motion intelligent mode. Viewers can see how the sprayer output changes going from conventional mode to intelligent mode. Note how when the sprayer is in Intelligent Mode it applies less pesticide when the canopy is diffuse, and how nozzles shut off when there are gaps in the plant canopy.
Sensor Sprayers for Specialty Crop Production PDF
An PNW extension document outlining different types of sprayers that use sensors to modulate spray output.
An extensive resource on both boom and specialty crop spraying that includes topics such as sprayer calibration, spray optimization, drift management and sprayer component info.