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Spatial and temporal distribution of trunk‐injected imidacloprid in apple tree canopies
Author(s) -
Aćimović Srđan G,
VanWoerkom Anthony H,
Reeb Pablo D,
Vandervoort Christine,
Garavaglia Thomas,
Cregg Bert M,
Wise John C
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.3747
Subject(s) - imidacloprid , trunk , crown (dentistry) , pesticide , canopy , spatial distribution , environmental science , tree (set theory) , tree canopy , toxicology , agronomy , mathematics , biology , botany , materials science , statistics , composite material , mathematical analysis
BACKGROUND Pesticide use in orchards creates drift‐driven pesticide losses which contaminate the environment. Trunk injection of pesticides as a target‐precise delivery system could greatly reduce pesticide losses. However, pesticide efficiency after trunk injection is associated with the underinvestigated spatial and temporal distribution of the pesticide within the tree crown. This study quantified the spatial and temporal distribution of trunk‐injected imidacloprid within apple crowns after trunk injection using one, two, four or eight injection ports per tree. RESULTS The spatial uniformity of imidacloprid distribution in apple crowns significantly increased with more injection ports. Four ports allowed uniform spatial distribution of imidacloprid in the crown. Uniform and non‐uniform spatial distributions were established early and lasted throughout the experiment. The temporal distribution of imidacloprid was significantly non‐uniform. Upper and lower crown positions did not significantly differ in compound concentration. Crown concentration patterns indicated that imidacloprid transport in the trunk occurred through radial diffusion and vertical uptake with a spiral pattern. CONCLUSION By showing where and when a trunk‐injected compound is distributed in the apple tree canopy, this study addresses a key knowledge gap in terms of explaining the efficiency of the compound in the crown. These findings allow the improvement of target‐precise pesticide delivery for more sustainable tree‐based agriculture. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry