Evaluation of Deposition of Spray Nozzles for Control of Fusarium in Wheat

Abstract

Fusarium Head Blight caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe is a disease that can cause significant losses in yields of wheat and barley. In Uruguay, in recent years, the increasing of no-tillage area and consequently the increased volume of mulch on surface, has favored the survival of the fungus and therefore the development of the disease. Several authors recognize that the quality of deposition of sprayed on the spikes plays a major role in the effectiveness of treatments for disease control. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three types of nozzles for applying a fungicide spray deposition on wheat. The experiment was installed on a crop of the variety Chajá Klein, state Z 65. The design consisted of three plots of 10 x 50 m long, with 40 repetitions, each represented by a spike taken at random. The nozzles evaluated were: air induction flat-fan (AI 11002), flat-fan (XR 11002), twin flat-fan (TJ60 8002). The application was made with pyraclostrobin fungicide composed of 13.3% and 5% epoxiconazole (Opera ® trademark,) at a dose of 1 l ha^-1 plus the fluorescent tracer Blankophor ® BA 267% at 1%. The working speed was 8 km/h, pressure of 300 kPa and the application rate of 118.5 l ha^-1. The twin flat-fan nozzle TJ60 8002, fine droplet, had the higher deposition on the ears, the recovery of tracer was 55% higher than the other treatments.