tractor spraying

Published in 1999, this report forms part of the work associated with the Integrated Farming systems (IFS) project (1992-1998).

The aim of the study was to determine whether there is any difference between the riskiness of IFS and conventional systems in terms of spring spraying opportunities and its effects on production and the environment..

Herbicides were chosen as the 'role model'. The study looks at spraying opportunities and requirements at IFS sites (Hampshire, Cambridgeshire x 2, Herefordshire, Yorkshire and Midlothian. It seeks to apply the rotations to 2 different sized farms of 200 and 350 hectares and finally looks at the risk implications of each situation.

 

Chapter 2 - Methodology - A single spray period is defined as a continuous 5 hour period. The study concentrates on January to March. The Ecomac data set, weather, field operations, spray machinery, spray time available.

chapter 3 - IFS results, uses real data from the trials, the number  of applications per site, mode of action, environmental impacts, product choice.

Chapter 4 - machinery

Chapter 5 discussion - weather effects, effect on farming types, IFS vs conventional, rotational effects, environmental issues

 

 

Full report 4.46 MB

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