Seven questions about spraying

Spraying is an important step in the production cycle. If carried out incorrectly, it can result in wasted inputs and compromise crop productivity. Lucas Zanetti (in the photo), product marketing manager Massey Ferguson, clarifies the main doubts about the application of agricultural pesticides and explains how to carry out the operation correctly in favor of efficiency, productivity and sustainability in production:

• Right time for spraying: the application must be preventive and have a previously defined target (pest, weed or disease). It is also essential to pay attention to the correct window, as each type of target has a specific period for control and exceeding it can affect productivity.

• Spraying failures: the correct use of spray tips, depending on the target and the product to be applied, prevents the drops from being dispersed by wind or temperature. For example, in the case of systemic pesticides that act directly on the plant's physiology, tips can be used that provide slightly larger drops, reducing the risk of drift - when the product does not reach the desired target. As for contact products, the recommended tips are tips that provide smaller drops to provide a larger coverage area, and here, care must be taken with drift. Furthermore, it is necessary to prepare the syrup correctly, following the sequence of placement and mixing inside the tank; carry out maintenance and calibration of the equipment.

• Suitable conditions for application: It is important to check the weather conditions before spraying, considering the wind between 2 km/h and 10 km/h, the relative humidity above 55% and the temperature below 30°C.

• Spraying in hard-to-reach areas: Technologies embedded in sprayers, such as transmission and reducer capabilities, facilitate entry into difficult-to-reach areas. Airplanes or drones can also be used in these applications. The important thing is that the operation is carried out to prevent pests and diseases from spreading to the rest of the crop, damaging productivity.

• Night spraying: Although it is an option due to generally more favorable climatic conditions, you need to be careful with dew and high humidity at night, which can wash away the newly applied product on the plants. Technologies built into the sprayers, such as LED headlights, contribute to better visibility and operator safety during night spraying and prevent losses.

• Using autopilot: Increasingly present in spraying, this technology replaces light bars to demarcate areas already applied, avoiding overlaps and errors in the operation, resulting in efficiency, reduced use of inputs and increased sustainability.

• Choice of sprayer: It is essential to consider the type of area in which it will be used. If the terrain has an irregular topography, it is necessary to choose equipment with good traction capacity and appropriate technology to reach these areas. It is also important to check the size of the machine. Both inadequate sizing and the inability to enter the field at the right time, due to traction and topography, can cause delays. Studies have shown significant productivity losses due to late applications, reaching up to seven bags per hectare.