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Automated Greenhouse Spray System for Increased Safety and Flexibility
Author(s) -
Rowe D. E.,
Malone S.,
Yates Q. L.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2000.4041176x
Subject(s) - greenhouse , hazardous waste , mist , environmental science , waste management , pesticide , environmental engineering , engineering , biology , ecology , physics , meteorology , horticulture
Under EPA's Workers Protection Standard Act of 1992, persons applying pesticide in a greenhouse are usually required to wear protective clothing and a face mask and to breath filtered air. The impervious clothing is usually uncomfortable and may be a health risk via overheating and potential for dehydration. The objective of this research was to devise an automated greenhouse spray system to eliminate hand application. Using off‐the‐shelf components, pesticides are applied at a predetermined time through mist nozzles suspended in greenhouse bays. The automated spray system reduces pesticide exposure to the applicator and others and thus reduces potential liability for the employer, facilitates better control on application rates, is more repeatable than hand application, reduces costs of hazardous waste disposal, and reduces disruption of other greenhouse operations.