Spray Strategies For Optimal Small Grain Head Coverage

By Nathan Kleczewski Ph.D

Optimal coverage is essential in suppressing fungal diseases in any crop.  It is particularly important when the target is diseases that attack grain heads, such as Fusarium head blight and Stagonospora glume blotch.  Growers may choose to use an aerial applicator, or ground rig.  Configurations of the rigs, nozzle types, operating pressures can vary from applicator to applicator.  Has there been any work on application strategies that optimize coverage of small grain heads?  The answer: Yes.

North Dakota State University conducted excellent research on strategies that optimize spray coverage for ground rigs, planes, and even air assist nozzles.  Click on the links below to view these publications.  Although these studies were conducted in the West, they are applicable to us in the mid-Atlantic.

GroundApplicationFHB2013

AerialapplicationFHB2013

AirassistFHBreport2014

Source:udel.edu