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The European Green Deal strategy pursues the reduction of pesticide use by 50%. Spray application techniques are one of the key points to accomplish this objective. In bush and tree crops, the proper adjustment of the sprayer is an option to reduce pesticide losses. On these crops, vertical spray distribution is a relevant aspect to optimize spray distribution on the canopy while reducing losses to the environment. Vertical patternators are a suitable technique to assess liquid distribution. In this study the vertical spray distribution of three type of nozzles (ATI8003, IDK 9003 and 652-30), at three distances (1, 2.5 and 5 m) from both sides of the sprayer were assessed. A vertical patternator of 3.5 m high, fitted with 30 collectors was used. Results show a different contour of the liquid profile between nozzles, distance to target and side of the sprayer, as uniformity values ranged from 70% in best cases to 19% to worst case. In spite of influence of sprayer side, results of symmetry are classified good or very good., Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i Benestar, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::4 - Educació de Qualitat, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::6 - Aigua Neta i Sanejament, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::17 - Aliança per a Aconseguir els Objetius, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::2 - Fam zero, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::8 - Treball Decent i Creixement Econòmic, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats Sostenibles, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i Infraestructura, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al Clima, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::15 - Vida d'Ecosistemes Terrestres, Postprint (updated version)

Apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) is one of the most endemic diseases that affect apple production worldwide. An accurate management of Plant Protection Products (PPP) together with the use of the latest technologies is one of the objectives of the EU Horizon 2020 OPTIMA project, as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) system. Optimal dose adjustment of PPP in orchards requires an accurate identification of canopy characteristics and a precise sprayer adjustment to distribute the adequate amount of active ingredient and liquid proportionally to the canopy variations. Furthermore, the possibility to use available tools and knowledge to consider the potential variability inside the parcel will lead into a reduction of the amount of PPP, which is a shared objective with the EU Farm to Fork strategy. Within the OPTIMA project a smart orchard sprayer has been developed. The system incorporates 6 ultrasonic sensors (three per side) for canopy characterization. A dedicated program developed using python allows the system to calculate canopy width and canopy density along the row. This information, together with the georeferenced location of the sprayer and the actual forward speed is used to activate the six-solenoid proportional motor-valves controlling the six different spray sections. Information about working pressure and consequently the nozzle flow rate is recorded every 1 s in order to generate the actual application map. The system is based on the adaptation of the Tree Row Volume (TRV) method established by European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO, 2021) with additional information concerning canopy density. The system is linked with development of EDS (Early Detection System) and DSS (Decision Support System) within the OPTIMA project and the aim at the end of the project will be to link all the three technological developments to achieve a holistic smart sprayer., PROJECTE HORIZON 2020-OPTIMA, Postprint (published version)

Copper plant protection products have been severely restricted in the EU according to soil and groundwater contamination due to the traditional use as a fungicide, especially in vineyards. This limitation, together with the dependence on copper use for mildew control, places winegrowers in a great disadvantage, especially in organic production. Therefore, EURECAT together with the UPC, have developed a new copper product, more efficient in terms of deposition, in order to reduce the amount of active ingredient necessary for good disease control. Preliminary trials have been carried out by the UPC, in order to select the best formulation and to compare it with a conventional copper-based product in terms of deposition using filter paper as a collector in an artificial vineyard. The obtained results show that deposition of different developed products is statistically different from the control product, even doubling the amount of copper deposited in the collectors, which would be a promising solution to solve the problem outlined above., The presented research is part of the COPPEREPLACE project (INTERREG SUDOE, Ref. SOE4/ P1/E100) in the frame of the activity 3.3 in the GT3., Postprint (published version)