66079 - Crop Protection Machines

Learning outcomes

The student at the end of the course reaches knowledge on the operation and the use of crop protection machines, with particular attention to the needs of orchards and vineyards. The student is able to choose and manage the sprayer suitable to the crop type and to perform the setting and calibration of the machine depending on the shape and the stage of the canopy, adjusting the spray distribution to the target.

Course contents

The student has been trained in the fundamentals of physics, agricultural engineering and mechanization and has good knowledge of field, orchard and vine crops together with plant pathology and entomology so as to understand the main principles of crop spraying and the application of methods alternative to pesticide distribution in crop protection.

Knowledge of the English language facilitates the student as some English texts are recommended.

The course consists of 6 teaching units.

1) Classification of sprayers. Orchards and vineyards sprayers. Spray distribution systems: air-assisted, pneumatic, rotary. Pumps, regulators, dosing systems. (4 hours)

2) Physics of liquid particles. Liquid drops generation. Drops classification and measurement. (2 hours)

3) Constant pressure spray application. Spray application proportional to forward speed. Systems for drift control. (2 hours)

4) Spray volumes and pesticides dosing spray mixtures. Setting and calibration of sprayers. (4 hours)

5) Sprayer checks and controls: rules for design, marketing and maintenance of new production sprayers and for the certification of in use machines. (4 hours)

6) Crop protection in organic farming. Specialized machines. (4 hours)

Readings/Bibliography

Copies of PowerPoint presentations with references to specific papers and publications are provided during the lectures.

Following texts are also recommended

Daniele Vannucci – Macchine per la difesa delle colture – Edagricole

Ajit K. Srivastava, Carroll E. Goering, Roger P. Rohrbach - Engineering Principles of agricultural machines 2nd Edition– ASABE St. Joseph, Michigan

Claude Culpin - Farm Machinery - Granada Publishing

Teaching methods

The course is structured on frontal lectures (22 hours) to explain the fundamentals of sprayers and the management of the crop treatment, the correct use of pesticides and the proper adjustment and maintenance of the machines.

Lectures are associated to lab exercises (8 hours) on sprayer performance evaluation, setting and calibration. Guided visits to manufacturing companies of sprayers and to organic farms specialised in crop protection alternative to pesticide application are also provided.

Assessment methods

The course is part of the Integrated Course Orchard Management and Crop Protection Machines

 The evaluation of the course takes into account the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in the to courses offered.

The assessment consists of an oral examination in which the student can use drawings and pictures proposed during the lectures. The oral examination is intended to assess the critical and methodological skills of the student, the organic vision of the subjects and the expression and specific language.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations, videos

Office hours

See the website of Valda Rondelli