Crop Protection - Spraying
• In modern canola production, crop protection is of paramount importance no matter the tillage practices. The less intensive the tillage strategy, the more important chemical control of weeds is to crop health.
• Canola is a poor competitor with weeds in first stages of development or when cool soil temperatures cause slow germination and growth. But canola competes more effectively in warm soils when germination and growth are rapid.
• Once weeds have rooted, farmers can expect up to 1% yield loss for each additional day where weeds are allowed to compete with canola for resources.
• Management practices such as thorough seedbed preparation, adequate soil fertility, well-adapted crop variety, and use of good quality seed all contribute to a healthy canola crop that is able to compete effectively with weeds.
• Weed control should be carried out with pre-sowing, pre-emergence and on-top spraying. Weeds or/and pests can damage the yield up to the 100%, if not controlled or controlled too late.
• Pest and insects are a serious threat for canola crops from a very early stage (seedling) all the way to ripening.
• Pest control can be performed by top spraying on high plants. Pests include Armyworm, Caterpillars, Flea beetle, Root maggots, Aphid, Blister beetle.
• When spraying is needed, timeliness is more crucial than in other operations. Weeds and pests need to be controlled as soon as possible.
• Productivity and reliability are important factors affecting the result of spraying operations.
• Cost of chemicals and the negative effect of imprecise treatments emphasize the importance of utilizing precise application systems.
• Uniformity of droplet size promotes consistent crop coverage, more effective pest control, and helps to Control Application Drift.
• Application Drift can happen when particle size is too small for conditions.
• Adjustments of pressure and volume should be varied depending on the target and current weather conditions Example: Weeds vs fungi vs insects.