Brazil Embrapa develops electrostatic sprayer that reduces use of agrochemicals

The Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa) through its Natural Environment unit has developed three types of technologies that enhance the electrostatic spraying. Among the innovations are the Universal Drop Electrification System, electrostatic pneumatic system and the electrostatic coastal sprayer.

The goal, according to Embrapa, is to raise the level of control of plagues and diseases reducing the use of agrochemicals. The technologies include diverse application possibilities, according to the need and size of each crop.

Embrapa researcher Aldemir Chaim, responsible for the direction of research, highlights the low cost of the equipment, which would bring an increase of up to 40% in efficiency and savings of the spraying. “The technologies are capable of modernizing and cheapen the treatments in our major crops,” says Chaim.

According to the experts, the universal system of drop electrification allows to transform a common hydraulic sprayer in an electrostatic. This conversion is possible through the use of nozzles developed for research that have certain flow characteristics, which enable more adequate drop emissions to the electrostatic system.

According to Chaim, “the major characteristic of this new system is that the electrostatic nozzle is capable of making the same job that the hydraulic does, but adds the capacity of generating electrostatic charge, making the drops also deposit on the lower parts of the leaves”.

Transported air induction system – The differential of this equipment is that the drops are charged with more efficiency for the plant interior that sprays the product (compressed air), attempting to reach the most hidden regions, such as branches, leaves and stem, clarifies Chaim. It has aroused the interest of several companies to diffuse and enhance the technology. The B&D agricultural equipment company, which makes and sell the pneumatic sprayer nozzle, does efficiency tests for the control of the whitefly on vegetables and obtained satisfactory results of plague control, aligned with the reduction of up to 90% of the spray volume applied per area.