Syngenta has launched what is claims is the UK’s first farm sprayer nozzle designed specifically to optimise droplet penetration in dense vegetable crops.
Extensive trials by the company’s application specialist, Tom Robinson, identified narrower nozzles, with a 65 degree fan, and generating high-impact droplet velocity could significantly improve spraying in carrots and cabbages, along with other dense hearted crops, such as lettuce.
Robinson reported that trials have shown Amistar Top to give high levels of Sclerotinia control in carrots, but added that to get the very best results operators need to get the spray down to the root crowns. “Our trials have shown carrot foliage is like Velcro in capturing droplets; the Syngenta Vegetable Nozzle high-impact design and pattern forces droplets into the crop and gives a far higher overall uptake of fungicide, compared to other commonly used nozzle patterns.”
The nozzle’s increased retention of Amistar Top spray on the carrot foliage will also give very effective control of Alternaria, he added.
Syngenta also recommends the Vegetable Nozzle for insecticide applications in mature cabbages and other hearted crops, where pests can be hidden deep in the plant leaves and difficult to hit with the spray.
Robinson also highlighted field trials where the Vegetable Nozzle had reportedly given significantly better results in spraying crops under fleece, compared to other available flat fan, air-induction or hollow-cone nozzles.
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