2005 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Environmental quality and protection of the food supply are in the forefront of public concern. Accurate placement of the desired amounts of agrochemicals is important to food producers and allied industries. Better application methods are needed to decrease the use of chemical pesticides and ensure accurate placement. Several different application techniques are being compared using biological and other qualitative measures of performance. An epi-fluorescence microscopic imaging system is helping provide information about the interaction between spray deposit coverage and management of crop pests. Collaboration with other pest management specialists and industry leaders is helping define application needs of nursery, fruit, and vegetable producers. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Publications and presentation of results and technology transfer to customers will occur as significant outcomes arise. Annual research review meetings will continue to be held with cooperating producers and industry organizations. Meetings with EPA personal, formulators, and commodity groups will be held to evaluate impact of research findings and explore new research needs. Application workshops will be held to demonstrate how producers can make more effective use of existing or new spray delivery equipment. 12-month milestones Objective 1: Conduct greenhouse sprayer evaluations treating poinsettias using three treatments representing commercial type of sprayers for low-volume to high-volume treatment. Evaluate efficacy and foliar deposits. Establish vegetable field trials including efficacy and deposit evaluations Objective 2: Compare off-target spray drift produced by tower sprayers in full canopy orchard. Monitor spray movement and foliar deposits in crabapple nursery study and compare with EPA standards to evaluate experimental technique and needs for label guidelines. Objective 3: Establish experiment to pump insecticidal nematodes through different pump types. Identify insecticidal nematode species most likely to survive passage through commercial pumps. Submit manuscript on pump impact on insecticidal nematode viability. Objective 4: Develop software to automatically evaluate foliar deposits formed by sprays of fluorescent tracers 24-month milestones Objective 1: Measure droplet size spectra of greenhouse applicators. Evaluate fungicide delivery through greenhouse sprayers. Compare sprayer performance in vegetables optimized for plant spacing. Use scanning electron microscope to evaluate spray deposit structure. Submit manuscript on greenhouse sprayer evaluations. Objective 2: Study influence of canopy development on off-target spray movement. Submit manuscript on fate of spray delivered by low-drift and conventional nozzles in commercial crabapple nursery. Objective 3: Develop delivery system to treat harvested sod before shipping and compare treatment of root-zone and top grass area using insecticidal nematodes. Objective 4: Compare deposition patterns and drift using acoustic techniques to sense canopy. Evaluate use of imaging technique to sense moisture patterns on foliage for possible feedback control of delivery devices. Submit manuscript on imaging software. 36-month milestones Objective 1: Study effect of various surfactants on efficacy when delivered through low-volume, small droplet, and high volume, large droplet equipment as well as prototype air-assist sprayer. Submit manuscript on vegetable sprayer evaluations. Objective 2: Study effect of drift adjuvants on drift produced by tower and conventional orchard sprayers. Compare with EPA standards and best management practices Objective 3: Working with commercial lawn care firms, develop delivery system, including possible injection system, to treat residential lawns using insecticidal nematodes. Objective 4: Experiment with prototype photo-detector to sense canopy to which will control delivery of spray material. Submit manuscript on detector development. 48-month milestones Objective 1: Work with commercial applicators to evaluate use patterns of ultra-low, low-, and high-volume greenhouse sprayers. Evaluate venting patterns to minimize spray impact on spray distribution but to quickly clear room for safe re-entry. Objective 2: Use neutral-buoyancy droplets to study airflow patterns produced by internal fans and possibilities for operating them to improve pesticide distribution produced by whole-room fogging devices. Objective 3: Use high-speed imaging to assess insecticidal nematode distribution patterns from commercial nozzle tips. Objective 4: Experiment using imaging techniques to detect conditions that enhance disease development and presence of disease spores. Submit manuscript on influence of using acoustic sensors to control spray delivery. 60-month milestones Objective 1: Study use of air-assisted delivery matched with various droplet sizes to maximize canopy penetration and underleaf coverage. Submit manuscript on use of internal vans and venting systems. Objective 2: Experiment with prototype system to control air flow used to aid in delivery of spray to tree canopies which will adjust volume depending on canopy density. Objective 3: Optimize commercial-type of field sprayer to maximize efficacious delivery of insecticidal nematodes for managing greenhouse and field insect pests. Submit manuscript on delivery systems for sod harvesters and commercial lawn applicators. Objective 4: Use imaging techniques to control spray operation for site specific treatment depending on canopy volume and foliar conditions. Submit manuscript on sensor development for controlling sprayer operation. 4a.What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Positive developments for using biological alternatives in insect management programs. The number of sprayer components that are available in the marketplace make it impossible for producers of insecticidal nematodes to test the viability of their organisms through each component or device. Laboratory trials and computer simulations were conducted to evaluate flow conditions through common types of agricultural nozzles and make recommendations on sprayer components that do not pose a significant risk to biopesticide viability. Four different insecticidal nematode species were tested in the bench-top experiments including Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. megidis, Steinemema carposcapsae, and S. glaseri and an empirical model was calibrated for each of the insecticidal nematode species which was shown to be able to predict insecticidal nematode damage within 5% of actual observations. Spray equipment manufacturers and producers of biological agents can use this information to optimize equipment choices to achieve the greatest possible viability of the agents and enhance the success of pest management programs. 4b.List other significant accomplishments, if any. New tools for greenhouse and vegetable pest management. Profitability in greenhouse and vegetable production is threatened by limitations on the available pest management tools by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). Experiments were conducted on research farms and in greenhouses to evaluate methodologies for applying pest management materials that will improve efficacy of these materials. Air-assist spraying, electrostatic charged spraying and large droplet applications have shown to be effective in different pest management situations. Efficacy was directly related to spray volume in greenhouse experiments. In vegetable insect and disease management trials, new application methodologies compared favorably with the traditional small droplet application. The studies also found that lower rates of fungicides and insecticides could provide acceptable pest control. These results demonstrate to ornamental and vegetable growers new options they can include in their pest management programs to improve pesticide efficacy, reduce pesticide usage, and improve crop quality and safety. 4c.List any significant activities that support special target populations. none 4d.Progress report. Delivery of biological pest control organisms. Studies are underway to evaluate the viability of insecticidal nematodes as insect management tools through other components of agricultural sprayers for delivery to the root zone of nursery shrub and tree crops. Laboratory studies found that delivery through such equipment Greenhouse spray delivery Greenhouse field trials are underway to investigate the effect of spray volume on control of greenhouse whitefly on a mature poinsettia canopy. Preliminary trials indicated that spray volume has a significant influence on efficacy and is independent of sprayer atomization technique which can affect spray distribution on plant surfaces. The efficacy trials can be used to establish guidelines for pest management practices that reduce overall chemical input while also reducing risk to worker safety associated with traditional application guidelines. Spray movement Field experiments have been conducted to establish information on the potential for spray movement in orchards and shade tree nurseries. Preliminary investigates indicated that the level of canopy develop has a significant affect on downwind spray movement. These results will be used to establish guidelines for best management practices for mitigating spray drift when using conventional, axial fan sprayers. Vegetable and soybean pest management practices Field experiments have been established to evaluate the influence of different application methodologies on the vegetable and soybean pest management practices. This is part of a multi-disciplinary, multi-year effort along with producer collaboration to evaluate the influence that air-assisted delivery, droplet size, and electrostatic charging will have on insect and disease management. The results will be used to optimize production practices and to develop best production strategies managing diseases such as soybean rust for which there are currently no varieties exhibiting resistance. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. These accomplishments meet the goals prescribed in the Agroengineering, Agrochemical, and Related Technologies component in the National Action Plan for the Crop Production National Program. Specifically these accomplishments address the need to optimize application of crop production materials and mitigated adverse effects on worker safety and health and the environment while maintain a bountiful and safe food supply. In collaboration with Ohio State University, experiments were designed to determine if a Volumetric Water Content (VWC) sensor could be successfully used to decide when to irrigate a container grown crop. Results indicated dry matter production increased for the plants identified as VWC targets but water use efficiency (grams of dry matter produced divided by liters of water delivered) decreased. These findings will help nursery growers reduce costs associated with over-watering and associated risks to the environment and water supplies. Greenhouse experiments are demonstrating that producers must not only consider droplet size when making decisions on how crops will be treated but also spray volume and the concentration of active ingredient in the spray droplets. High volume applications provided good control but those applications made with smaller droplets provided better insect control. Multi-disciplinary field studies have been able to shown fruit, vegetable, and ornamental industries, methods for improving placement of pesticides with new application designs as well as through minor modifications to existing equipment with minimal expense compared to purchasing new machines. An over-bench, greenhouse, watering boom has been modified with sensors to study real-time foliar moisture sensing and spray delivery. This research could produce a relatively low-cost system that could indicate the presences of excess moisture on a leaf surface following a sprayer treatment and aid in delivering targeted sprays for prescription treatments. On-farm field experiments have been conducted to evaluate means for keeping more spray material within tree canopies using tower-type of spraying concepts. The tower sprayer has been shown to better be able to deliver more material to specific target zones within tree canopies and to reduce the amount of material moving over the top of a tree canopy and away from a treatment area. On-farm research results illustrate to fruit growers and nursery tree stock producers that nozzles and the air flow characteristics can significantly affect the performance of tower sprayers. Laboratory experiments and computer simulations have been conducted to determine the stresses that insecticidal nematodes would be subjected to when delivered through typical commercial delivery systems. Nematode viability was dependent on the size and host-seeking behavior of the nematodes as well as type of agricultural nozzle they were delivered through. This research demonstrates to equipment manufacturers, nematode suppliers, and pest management specialist methods of insuring the highest possible viability of insecticidal nematodes delivered through typical agricultural sprayers and will make them a more viable pest control option where conventional chemical options are limited or ineffective. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Several invited meetings with extension educators, commercial applicators, and growers have been used as opportunities to transfer information about application technology research. Research information on new, low-drift nozzles and the ability of different spraying techniques to treat the bottom of leaves and to provide better canopy penetration were disseminated through industry publications and at statewide producer meetings. Demonstrations of greenhouse application equipment and discussion of research findings were made at a national floriculture production conference. Presentations were also made at international meetings of colleagues working on spray drift related issues. Many of the ideas and equipment evaluated in these research projects are currently available to growers and custom applicators. One constraint to adoption of this technology is the lack of pest management or efficacy research that includes use of this technology. Label language regarding Best Management Practices and Drift Mitigation may limit the flexibility that producers have to utilize new application technology to its fullest advantage. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Derksen, R.C., Muzzi, D. 2005. Hit the bull’s eye: Know pest, plant canopy, and pesticide to boost sprayer efficiency in vegetables. The Grower Magazine. 38(4):22-24. Zhu, H., Fox, R.D., Ozkan, H.E., Derksen, R.C., Krause, C.R. 2004. An application computer program (DRIFTSIM) to predict dirft distances of water droplets from field sprayers. International Drift on Pesticide Application for Drift Management, October 27-29, 2004, Waikoloa, Hawaii. p. 317-323. Zhu, H., Derksen, R.C., Krause, C.R., Brazee, R.D., Ozkan, H.E. 2005. Spray deposition and off-target loss in nursery tree crops with conventional nozzle, air induction nozzle, and drift retardant. ASAE Annual International Meeting, July 17-21, 2005, Tampa, Florida. Paper No. 05-1007. Zhu, H., Zondag, R.H., Krause, C.R., Derksen, R.C., Demaline, T. 2005. Preliminary investigation of water and nutrient use, substrate temperature, and moisture in pop-in-pot production. Ornamental Plants: Annual Reports and Research Reviews, 2004. The Ohio State University, The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Special Circular 195. p. 135-144. Zhu, H., Guler, H., Derksen, R.C., Ozkan, H.E. 2005. Comparison of Airborne and Ground Spray Deposits with Hollow Cone Nozzle, Low Drift Nozzle and Drift Retardant. The International Conference of CIGR, September 27-29, 2005. Izmir-TURKEY. Hansen, R.C. and A.C. Clark. 2005. A study of lateral moisture migration in container mediums. Presented at the ASAE Annual International Meeting, July 17-20, 2005, Tampa, Florida. Paper No. 05-4057. Hansen, R.C. and J.C. Christman. 2005. Growth rates of container-grown poplar when using a volumetric water content sensor to decide when and how much to irrigate. Northeast Agricultural and Biological Engineering Conference, August 7-10, 2005, Lewes, Delaware. Paper No. 05-033. Review Publications Fife, J.P., Ozkan, H.E., Derksen, R.C., Grewal, P.S., Krause, C.R. 2005. Viability of a biological pest control agent through hydraulic nozzles. Transactions of the ASAE. 48(1):45-54. Ramalingam, N., Ling, P.P., Derksen, R.C. 2005. Background reflectance compensation and its effect on multispectral leaf surface moisture assessment. Transactions of the ASAE. 48(1):375-383. Derksen, R.C., Zhu, H., Krause, C.R., Ozkan, H.E., Fox, R.D., Brazee, R.D. 2004. Research to reduce potential damage from spray drift loss by the USDA-ARS Application Technology Research Unit. Proceedings of International Drift on Pesticide Application for Drift Management Meeting, October 27-29, 2005. Waikoloa, Hawaii. p. 414-421.