INIA Chile: Sprayer adjustments reduce agrochemical use by up to 40%

Sprayer adjustments can save 40% on agrochemicals, improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact. 

The project, which received a US$173 million investment from the FIA, promotes sustainable agricultural practices and the development of a digital platform to customize pesticide applications in citrus crops.

The citrus sector is a key sector, covering approximately 24,000 hectares and representing 85% of national exports.

Five manufacturers of agricultural spraying equipment with advanced technologies met at the citrus orchard of SFC Comercial, a fruit export company, for a practical demonstration.

The activity, led by Patricio Abarca, a researcher at INIA, and Emilio Gil, a professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and an expert in the inspection and regulation of agricultural sprayers, demonstrated how adjusting key parameters, such as nozzles, pressure, and speed, can, in some cases, reduce pesticide use by up to 40% without compromising application effectiveness and efficiency.

During the event, hydrosensitive papers were used to evaluate the coverage and quality of spraying on trees, demonstrating that simple adjustments can improve coverage and minimize environmental impact. ″Less drift, less pollution, and lower costs for the farmer,″ Gil emphasized, also stressing the importance of technical training to maximize the machines' potential.

Gil emphasized the need to implement European-like regulations in Chile to regulate and optimize the use of pesticides, while highlighting the challenge of generational change in agriculture. ″We need young people to see this sector as a field of innovation, with cutting-edge technology and real opportunities,″ he said in conclusion.

The activity was part of the project "Interactive platform for the development of improvements in pest control in citrus crops through hydropneumatic spraying," supported by the Foundation for Agrarian Innovation (FIA) and Frutas de Chile through its Citrus Committee.

The initiative sought to optimize the use of pesticides in citrus crops by improving their effectiveness in pest control. It included the development of a digital platform, which will be hosted on the Chilean Citrus Committee's "MIP Citrus" website. This tool will allow the operating parameters of sprayers to be adjusted, taking into account factors such as vegetation volume, atmospheric conditions, and water quality, among others.

The technology will allow for input and response to key variables such as plant species and mixture dosage per 1,000 m³ of vegetation, crop size and application volume, crop characteristics (leaf density, plant size, and pest type), and necessary technical adjustments (number of nozzles, working pressure, and forward speed). It will also incorporate recommendations based on atmospheric conditions and water characteristics (hardness, salinity, and pH), as well as critical factors that affect the effectiveness of pest and disease control from the O'Higgins region to the north of the country.

This approach is inspired by the success of the DosaCitric and CitrusVol platforms, developed in Spain by the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA), respectively. For more than a decade, these platforms have proven effective in reducing pesticide use, increasing pest control effectiveness, and reducing costs and risks associated with the misuse of these products.

This initiative benefits producers and members of the Chilean Citrus Committee, primarily from the Coquimbo region to the O'Higgins region.

The program is also designed to benefit advisors, technicians, and farmers not affiliated with the Committee, promoting sustainable and efficient agricultural practices throughout the citrus sector.

The project includes training sessions, field trials, and the creation of sprayer regulation and inspection manuals.

With a total investment of $173 million, this initiative represents an important step forward in the search for new knowledge and is aligned with current climate and environmental challenges.