Dissertation
ASSESSING SPRAYER TECHNOLOGY AND GROWER EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON VITICULTURE
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005392
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/119425
Abstract
Assessing sprayer technology in eastern Washington winegrape (Vitis vinifera) vineyards on a field-scale level is important to understand how various sprayers function in regional management practices and climactic conditions. In Washington state, the growing season climate is characterized by general arid conditions, typically coupled with hot daytime high temperatures and large diurnal temperature changes. In addition, the region is known for extended periods with high winds. This creates complications when it comes to spraying approaches that are common in pest management programs. Airblast sprayers have been the industry standard given its flexibility for use in multiple perennial fruit crop systems; but this technology was originally designed for large trees and thus is not optimal for smaller, trellised systems such as vineyards. This has created opportunities to adopt newer commercially available technologies such as multi-axial fan, pneumatic, and electrostatic sprayers. But like the airblast sprayer, there is still a need to optimize these units for site-specific, maximum efficacy. Sprayer optimization, regardless of sprayer technology, needs to be achieved for appropriate deposition and reducing off-target drift instances. Regardless of sprayer technology assessed in-field, the highest canopy deposition was in canopy compared to the aerial and ground drift. Drift was highest in the row closest to spray application, indicating that drift is relatively low with all technologies that were optimized, and highest closer to the sprayer row. Evaluation of charged and uncharged electrostatic applications indicate that charge droplets may increase deposition, but the maturity of the leaf is much more influential in deposition amount. Additionally, a sprayer survey was circulated throughout the Pacific Northwest grape growing industry to gauge industry sprayer use. Finally, a series of educational tools, including an Extension Factsheet and an Extension Curriculum, were developed to bridge education and knowledge gaps on sprayer optimization for Washington State wine grape growers.
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Details
- Title
- ASSESSING SPRAYER TECHNOLOGY AND GROWER EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON VITICULTURE
- Creators
- Margaret McCoy
- Contributors
- Michelle M Moyer (Advisor)Lav R Khot (Committee Member)Lisa W DeVetter (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Horticulture
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 206
- Identifiers
- 99900591956601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation