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Recent developments in the application machinery for insect pest management, with particular reference to small scale farmers in the tropics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

G. K. C. Nyirenda
Affiliation:
Makoka Research Station, Private Bag 3, Thondwe, Malawi
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Abstract

A diverse number of insects cause damage and loss to crops in the tropics. Timely and appropriate control measures are necessary if crop losses and hardship to both farmers and the population at large are to be avoided.

To many farmers one of the most effective control measures is often the application of insecticides. The efficiency of insect control with insecticides is largely influenced by a judicious choice of the insecticide and the application equipment. There is therefore a need for the development of appropriate and evaluation of new and existing spray application equipment. Developments of some spray equipments since the late 1960s and their efficacy in the field are discussed. The main advantages of ultra-low volume (ULV) over some electrostatic sprayers are the application of a wide range of insecticides and formulations and better penetration to lower plant parts. The main advantages of electrostatic sprayers are the application of insecticides at extremely low volumes and low energy requirements with some sprayers. The advantages of the hydraulic nozzle sprayers are the even deposition of spray over all plant parts, although logistically the system is inefficient compared to the other systems.

All systems contaminate spray operators during spraying but the exact level of contamination will depend on the concentration, droplet size and formulation of the insecticide.

Résumé

Un divers nombre d'insectes occasionne des dommages et pertes aux rećoltes dans les zones tropicales. Des mesures ponctuelles et appropriées de contrôle sont nécessaires si les pertes de récoltes et le problème que rencontrent les agriculteurs et la population en général doivent être évités.

La plupart des fermiers croient que l'une des mesures de contrôle les plus efficaces est souvent l'application d'insecticides. L'efficacité du contrôle des insectes avec des insecticides est largement influencée par un choix judicieux de l'insecticide et de l'utilisation de l'équipement. Il y a donc un besoin de développer une évaluation des équipments d'arrosage nouveaux et appropriés. Des développements de quelques équipements d'arrosage depuis les années '60 et leur efficacité sur le terrain sont discutés. Les avantages majeurs des ULV sur des arrosoirs électrostatiques sont l'application d'un choix considérable d'insecticides et des formulations et la pénétration meilleure aux parties inférieures des plantes. Les avantages majeurs des arrosoirs électrostatiques sont l'application des insecticides à des volumes extrêmement réduits et le fait que certains arrosoirs requièrent peu d'énergie. Les avantages des arrosoirs hydrauliques à lance sont le fait que l'arrosage couvre toutes les parties de la plante, bien que le système soit logistiquement inefficace par rapport aux autres systèmes.

Tous les systemes contaminent ceux qui manient les arrosoirs pendant l'arrosage mais le niveau de contamination dépendra de la concentration, du volume de la goutte et de la formulation de l'insecticide.

Type
Symposium VII: Conventional and Novel Pesticides in Tropical Pest Management
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1987

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