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DropSpray : UK experience in vegetables

Dropleg system magnifying glass Dropleg system

Switching from conventional top spraying to under-leaf spraying of carrots and swedes, has not only increased a Somerset grower’s saleable yield by between 6 and 7 percent, but also reduced the chemical bill.

This is the fourth year that vegetable grower and packer KS Coles, of Chelston, Wellington, has used the spray system – the air-assisted version of Benest Technologies’ DropSpray Application Distribution System mounted on a Knight sprayer – on its 445 ha of Swedes and 28 ha of carrots.

The company, which also grows peas, French beans, broad beans and cereals on more than 1,000 ha within a radius of 105km, says it was initially attracted to the dropleg system by the fact that it enables chemical to be placed exactly where it is required – at the base of the plant – for maximum effect.

“In this respect, it has enabled us to effectively control one of our biggest problems, cabbage root fly,” says Paul Coles who farms in partnership with his parents, Ken and Christine.   

“Moreover, because the droplegs float beneath the crop canopy, there is no expensive leaf absorption of chemical and drift is considerably reduced,” he adds.

In addition to improving crop quality, and therefore saleable yield, the system’s pinpoint spray accuracy has also enabled application rates to be reduced, thereby saving money and improving work rates. 

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