A crop identification system (CIS) to optimise pesticide applications in orchards

In the ambit of the ISAFRUIT Project, a prototype sprayer able to adapt its spray and air distribution automatically, according to the characteristics of the target canopy, to the level of crop isease, or to environmental conditions, it is under development. In order to identify the characteristics of the target canopy, in terms of its size and density, a Crop Identification System (CIS), based on ultrasonic sensors, was studied and produced. The principles governing the functioning of the CIS system and the first experimental results obtained from spray deposition tests carried out in an apple orchard using a CIS-equipped prototype sprayer are described. The first results indicated that, by apting the application rate to the characteristics of the target, the CIS enabled the amount of spray deposited on the leaves to be maximised with respect to lower and higher volume rates.