Discussions in recent decades about dosage models for applying plant protection products in orchards have failed to reach a compromise solution. Furthermore, canopies are spatially variable, and a uniform dose may not be adequate for the entire orchard. Spraying at an adequate volume application rate on a site-specific basis would help reduce the amount of agrochemicals used in the framework of precision horticulture and precision fructiculture. An orchard sprayer prototype running a variable-rate algorithm to adapt the volume application rate to the canopy volume in orchards on a real-time and continuous basis was designed, implemented, and validated. An equivalent prototype was designed for vineyards and described in a companion paper (‘Variable rate sprayer. Part 2 – Vineyard prototype: Design, implementation and validation’). The orchard prototype was divided into three parts: the canopy characterization system (using a LiDAR sensor), the controller executing a variable-rate algorithm, and the actuators. The controller determines the intended flow rate by using an application coefficient (required liquid volume per unit canopy volume) to convert canopy volume into a flow rate. The sprayed flow rates are adjusted via electromagnetic variable-rate valves. The goal of the prototype was to keep the actual application coefficients as close as possible to the objective. Strong relationships were observed between the intended and the sprayed flow rates (R2 = 0.935) and between the canopy cross-sectional areas and the sprayed flow rates (R2 = 0.926). In addition, when spraying in variable-rate mode, the prototype achieved significantly closer application coefficient values to the objective than those obtained in conventional spraying application mode.This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and by the European Union through the FEDER funds and is part of research projects Pulvexact (AGL2002-04260-C04-02), Optidosa (AGL2007-66093-C04-03), and Safespray (AGL2010-22304-C04-03)

A prototype of an electronic control system based on ultrasonic sensors and proportional solenoid valves for a proportional application to the canopy width of tree crops was mounted on an air-assisted sprayer. The sprayer flow rate adjustment was based on the relationship between the actual tree width measured by the ultrasonic sensors and the maximum tree width of the orchard. The prototype was tested in olive, pear and apple orchards to assess the system performance in different crop geometries. The spray deposit distribution was measured in comparison with conventional air-assisted applications. Metal tracers were used so that spray deposits for each treatment could be measured on the same samples, reducing sampling variability. Liquid savings of 70%, 28% and 39% in comparison to a conventional application were recorded in the olive, pear and apple orchard respectively, which resulted in lower spray deposits on the canopy but a higher ratio between the total spray deposit and the liquid sprayer output (i.e. better application efficiency). A reduction of the maximum tree width parameter in the control algorithm in the apple orchard reduced spray savings but increased spray deposition, with spray savings mainly in the middle level of the outside canopy, compared to conventional air-assisted applications.This research was supported by the Spanish National Research and Development Programme, AGF1998-0348-C03-02 Research Project

In this work, a LIDAR-based 3D Dynamic Measurement System is presented and evaluated for the geometric characterization of tree crops. Using this measurement system, trees were scanned from two opposing sides to obtain two three-dimensional point clouds. After registration of the point clouds, a simple and easily obtainable parameter is the number of impacts received by the scanned vegetation. The work in this study is based on the hypothesis of the existence of a linear relationship between the number of impacts of the LIDAR sensor laser beam on the vegetation and the tree leaf area. Tests performed under laboratory conditions using an ornamental tree and, subsequently, in a pear tree orchard demonstrate the correct operation of the measurement system presented in this paper. The results from both the laboratory and field tests confirm the initial hypothesis and the 3D Dynamic Measurement System is validated in field operation. This opens the door to new lines of research centred on the geometric characterization of tree crops in the field of agriculture and, more specifically, in precision fruit growing.

Electronic canopy characterization is an important issue in tree crop management. Ultrasonic and optical sensors are the most used for this purpose. The objective of this work was to assess the performance of an ultrasonic sensor under laboratory and field conditions in order to provide reliable estimations of distance measurements to apple tree canopies. To this purpose, a methodology has been designed to analyze sensor performance in relation to foliage ranging and to interferences with adjacent sensors when working simultaneously. Results show that the average error in distance measurement using the ultrasonic sensor in laboratory conditions is ±0.53 cm. However, the increase of variability in field conditions reduces the accuracy of this kind of sensors when estimating distances to canopies. The average error in such situations is ±5.11 cm. When analyzing interferences of adjacent sensors 30 cm apart, the average error is ±17.46 cm. When sensors are separated 60 cm, the average error is ±9.29 cm. The ultrasonic sensor tested has been proven to be suitable to estimate distances to the canopy in field conditions when sensors are 60 cm apart or more and could, therefore, be used in a system to estimate structural canopy parameters in precision horticulture.