Sprayers inspections and its importance in Portugal – economic and environmental issues

Abstract

The non-existence of relevant data capable of a global appreciation of sprayers in Portugal is one of the key issues for the preparation of this study and to improve the good agricultural practices at the plant protection. Nowadays the pesticides application in agriculture is one of the most used agricultural practices by farmers to optimize plant health, which are still the major cause of disruptions in agroecosystems sustainability and biodiversity. The effectiveness of pesticides application depends on several factors among which the farmer can control, the application equipment, his know-how, the biological target, the choice of the pesticide and the choice of the best moment to perform the pesticide application. Thus the best maintenance application equipment and calibration for one specific purpose will maximize the effectiveness of pesticides application. This study is based on statistical analysis of periodic evaluations carried out by sprayer inspections in Portugal in the past four years, using nozzles pressure tests, flow rate tests and visual evaluation of the sprayer. The correct approach to the application equipment for pesticides is getting more attention internationally and in Portugal too. This growing concern became visible when the sprayer inspections started to be available to all Portuguese farmers. In those inspections was found that farmers and technicians knowledge about sprayers is very heterogeneous. It is still common the use of inappropriate equipment for pesticides application, equipment in poor condition, the use of inappropriate solutions for a specific purpose and the unknown basic rules for making pesticides application. In conclusion, maintenance and sprayers calibration are still a critical process in crops treatment that we must succeed to improve to better pesticides application.