Dropleg Spraying Seems to Suit Sprout Growing

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DropSpray system spraying seems to suit sprout growing
www.farmline.com
January 2002

SPRAY IT WHERE YOU WANT IT
Better quality sprouts lower down the stalk and faster spraying is reported by Lancashire-based Huntapac Produce since switching from conventional top spraying, to under-leaf spraying of the crop.

The switch was made last year when the company, a nationwide vegetable and salad growing and packing operation that is a leading supplier of fresh produce to the UK's leading supermarket chains, took delivery of a new 26m Chafer trailed sprayer fitted with the DropSpray system.

BELOW THE BELT
"We were attracted to the DropSpray system by the fact that it enables chemical to be placed exactly where it is required, right down to the base of the plant, for maximum effect," explains Duncan Griffiths, Huntapac's brassica production manager.

"Conversely, with conventional spraying techniques, only the top third or so of the plant is adequately protected which means that below that point, the plant is at risk.

"This was illustrated to good effect last year when we had an infestation of peach potato aphid. Because these tend to be active in the bottom third of the plant, it is almost impossible to control them with conventional spraying. However, the droplegs put the chemical exactly where it was required and the infestation was soon under control."

Although chemical application rates have not been changed since switching to the DropSpray system, its high accuracy has enabled spray rates to be significantly reduced, from 600 l/ha to 400 l/ha.

LOW-FILL
This means, for example, that to cover 20 ha, the sprayer's 3,000 litre tank would need to be replenished only 6.6 times compared with 10 times at the higher rate.

It is calculated that the improved work rate would enable the task to be completed in a single day, thereby taking maximum advantage of optimum spraying conditions - which in turn have an influence on crop quality - as indicated by the computerised disease forecasting modules that Huntapac uses.

"Indeed, from a quality point of view, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of better quality sprouts lower down the stalk," says Duncan Griffiths.

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