Check and set up of used boom sprayers in Lombardy

The pesticide treatments to the crops has got a remarkable importance in order to assure a high productivity and a suitable quality level of the foods obtained. The pesticides distribution, included those used against the weeds, leads to great risks for the environment, the operators directly involved in spraying operations and for the final consumers (in relation to the presence of residues into fruits and vegetables). To avoid, or at least to limit, the described risks, the spraying machines have to be continuously maintained to the best efficiency level. Nevertheless, often the spraying machines show a remarkable obsolescense and a very poor maintenance. Moreover, the farmers are not properly using the machines (for example they travel at a speed too high) and are applying the pesticides in an excessive and so dangerous concentration (fig. 1). The control and the adjustment of the spraying machines, should undoubtedly improve the situation. The Italian law no. 578, 5th Nov 1996, , in its sub-section no. 4 set up a program to check the efficiency and the level of maintenance of the spraying machines. The basic goal was to decrease the use of the pesticides, and consequently the residues in the foods and the pollution risks of the environment. At the same time a cost reduction of the treatments should be obtained, to assure also a better level of the health of the consumer and of the farmers. A detailed methodology to verify the different parts and to check the work of the spraying machines was thenprovided, with the aim to maintain this category of machinery to the best achievable efficiency level. The used sprayers check and setting up have been already activated in several italian regions from time. Also in Lombardy this activity is at present fully running, thanks to the 17 accredited test Centres. The experimental activity started in 1997; the full service was running from 2002. Till now, more than 4000 checks have been carried out, representing half of the estimated sprayers fleet running in Lombardy: a pointing out of the situation in therefore possible, in order to have a look on the machines condition and therefore to get an idea on the spraying operations quality. Through a dedicated software, the test results are introduced in a specific report: the document includes the technical characteristics of the sprayer and the coupled tractor, the wear condition of the main components and their performance. By collecting and managing the data (already loaded in an electronic format), several features of the sprayers (and the coupled tractors) were examined, such as: machine type, amount of sprayed surface, users characteristics, treated crops, etc., in order to highlight possible criticisms potentially dangerous for the environment. The sprayers condition is rather poor: old machines, with no or bad maintenance have been frequently found. On the sprayer booms, nozzles, manometers and booms mechanical integrity showed the most critical conditions; viceversa, on the vineyard and orchrd sprayers, pumps, pipes and distribution valves were the components needing the most frequent repairing. The check, the careful general maintenance and the setting up of the machines are the key to improve the spraying quality, with remarkable benefits on the environment, the operator’s health and the food safety.