Implementation of Best Management Practices can strongly reduce losses of
Plant Protection Products to water.
Manfred Roettele
Outline
About TOPPSLegal frameSignificance of entry routesPoint sourcesRunoff / erosionSpray driftOutlook
TOPPS projects landscapeTOPPS projects are running now for 9 years
Mitigation ofPoint sources
MitigationDiffuse sources
Bridge + EOS
AIM
PROWADIS
Oct 2005 End 2014Dec 2010Jan 2014
Train Operators Promote best Practices & Sustainability
15 EU countries
Nov 2005 Oct 2008 Dec 2010 May 2011
Point sources
TOPPS – outreach - EU
TOPPS – point sources BMPs / Materials developed europe wide (23 countries)
TOPPS – EOSEnvironmantally optimized sprayersExpert information tool.
TOPPS-prowadis7 countries Common EU BMPs + materials developed
TOPPS water protection (plans)Intensify dissemination and expand TOPPS prowadis to more countries
Water is a key resource to keep clean byreducing entry from contamination sources
• Fertilzers and pesticides• Human and animal waste• Plastics and heavy metals• Other manmade and natural chemicals
Most losses of PPPs to water can be prevented by using a framework of Best Management Practice (BMP)
Legal framework to protect water in EU
Water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such …
(Excerpt from the recitals to the European Water Framework Directive).
Water Framework Directive
• Ground water• Surface water• Marine water
Regulation ofPlant Protection
Products• Access to Market• Hazard reduction• Risk assessment
Directive on Sustainable Use
of Pesticides• Focus on use phase• Education & training• Risk reduction
Threshold values for PPPs in drinking water and the protection of aquatic organisms are extremly low
For example, spilling just 1 g of active incredient into water exceeds the drinking water threshold of 0,1 µg/L, unless mixed in a ditch:
•1 m wide•30 cm deep•33 km long
Which sources of pesticide get into surface water & by how much?
Spray drift
Point sources
Run-off
Drainage
> 50 %Point
Sources
5 % Drift30 %
Run-off
The transfer of diffuse sources (uses on crops) to water can be reduced
Point source releases mostly occur around farmyards from poor handling
Most point source releases of PPPs can be prevented!
How are point sources measured ?
Waiste water of village farms in community sewage plant.
Measurement point 1 measures PPP pollution from farmyards (point sources).
Measurement point 2 measures PPP pollution from the field (diffuse sources).
Village with farms
Sewage plant
Water catchment area
Farming area
Measurement 1point sources
Measurement 2diffuse sources
Frede et al. 2006, TOPPS-Forum; Univ Giessen
Not many countries have generated results on point source significance
Avoid PPP losses from point sourcesAwareness of key risks helps focus on prevention
Key Risks
• Sprayer cleaning
• Mixing and loading
• Remnant management
• Empty container disposal
• Transport to the field
• Farm pesticide storage
• Transport to the farm
higher
lower
BMPs• Inside the spray equipment
– Technically challenge to empty completely
– Technical improvements:
• Reduce the residual volume
• Make cleaning more user friendly(Continuous cleaning)
• Outside the spray equipment– As much as possible in the field
– On a biological active area
BMPs for cleaning sprayersClean sprayer in the field as much as possibleIf spills or diluted spray liquids occur on the farmyard contain themPay attention that contaminated liquid cannot reach surface water
3 rinsing steps in the field
BMPsUse induction hoppersAvoid spills / contain themImprove water metering
(Tank scales often not sufficiently precise or difficult to read)
Calibrate sprayer forcorrect spray volume / ha
BMPs for mixing & loading
Key factors influencing runoff
What we cannot directly influenceWeatherSoil characteristicsForm of the landscape
What we can influenceField sizesCrops grownCultivation practicesLand managementPPP - application
Reduce PPP losses from diffuse sources Runoff / Erosion
Diagnosis of runoff risk determins mitigation measures3 Situations to be distinguished
Runoff due to infiltration restriction (intensity: spring/summer)
Runoff due to soil saturation(volume: winter)
Concentrated Runoff /Erosion
Runoff risk and mitigation is field-specificRisk – diagnosis of fields in catchment necessary
• Generalization is difficult • Diagnosis / mapping of risk areas
in the field is basis for mitigation
• Toolbox of mitigation measures allows flexibel implementation • Field data on efficacy of measures
reflect variability of situations
• Synergistic effects from combining measures are known from field experience/observations
Example: Pilot catchment in BE
Runoff risk due to infiltration restriction Runoff risk due to saturation excess
For each runoff type, different measures need to be implemented!
TOPPS prowadis runoff Risk maps
1. Prevent runoff at source
In the field mitigation measures
Increase water infiltration• reduce tillage• break soil compaction• more organic matter• stabilize soil aggregates
Slow down water flow• rough seedbed / bunds• cover soil with materials• manage tramlines• work across the slope• use infield buffers
Utilize the water• grow intermediary crops
2. Prevent runoff reaching surface waterOut of the field mitigation measures
Increase water infiltration and capture soil particles
• implement vegetative buffers grass buffers grass + hedges• optimize crop rotation and use variety of crops as buffer (row crops + broadcast crops)• built fascines to disperse the water• optimize field size • organise crop rotation also in the landscape• Build bunds• build terraces
3. Keep runoff water in the catchment
In catchment mitigation measures Build retention structures
• Develop natural wetlands (Water infiltration, water evaporation, PPP - degradation)
• Use vegetated ditch to collect
runoff water (outlet control)
• Develop artificial wetlands
Best Management Practice reduce the risk of PPP transfer to water through runoff / erosion
Step 1Risk diagnosis
TOPPS - dashboards
Step 2Select effective measures
TOPPS Mitigation measures toolbox
MitigationEffect %
Measures (I) (II) (III)
Step 3Implement BMPs
Diagnosis + Measures
from to
Reduce PPP losses from diffuse sourcesSpray drift
Key factors
• Wind speed • Wind direction• Temparature• Air humidity• Proximity to water • Proximity sensitive area • Crop treated• Adjacent vegetation• Droplet size• Application technique• Adjustment of sprayers
indirect influence
direct influence
Be aware of the external conditions when spraying close to
sensitive areas
TemperatureAir humidity
Proximity to sensitive areas
Wind speedWind direction
If possible post pone spraying when wind blows
towards sensitive area and wind speed is > 3 to 5 m/s
Spray when temparature is < 25 degrees and air humidity is > 40 %
Plan thoroughly your application if you need to spray in the zone of awarenessRespect distance regulationsSelect optimal time of the day
Avoid droplets < 100 micronNozzles are classified in some countries (in % drift reduction, up to 99%)Distance regulations are linked to the use of antidrift technologies according to local regulations
Air induction nozzles allow to reduce the amount of fine droplets other dispersion
techniques are less flexible
• Droplets below 100 micron cause the main drift risk
• Small droplets are lost by wind, thermic turbulence and may evaporate at low air humidity
• Coarse droplet spectra have shown comparable biological activity
Key recommendations to manage spray drift in field applications
Droplet sizereduce amount of fine dropletsBoom heightthe lower the better < = 50cmDriving speedkeep speed along sensitive areas < 8 km/hSprayer with air support(bare soil !)
Direct measures
Reduce fine droplets
Optimize sprayer adjustment- air support- liquid volume
Select best spray scenario
Select drift reducing sprayer
Key parameters to manage spray drift in orchard / vine applications
Indirect measures
• Hedgerows catch spray drift
• Hailnets reduce spray drift by about 50%
• Consider buffer strips / untreated zones
Use nozzles with low amount of fine droplets
Comparable efficacy for most PPP
Air induction nozzles
(hardly visible)
Standard hollow cone nozzles
Key recommendation to manage drift in orchard / vineUSE COARSE DROPLETS
Air injector nozzles
Orchard / vine sprayers transport the droplets into the canopy with the help of air.
• AIR direction / height need to be adjusted by
windshields
• Windshields need to be adjusted according to unsymetric air volume and speed
• AIR volume can be adjusted by PTO speed at the tractor or gear box at the sprayer
General observation:Often applications are done with to much air volume. More technical adjustment possibilities would be beneficial
Key recommendations to manage drift in orchard / vine
ADJUST AIR DIRECTION, AIR VOLUME AND AIR SPEED
Axialfan sprayer – most common
Key recommendations to manage drift in orchard / vine
ADJUST LIQUID OUTPUT TO CHANGING CANOPY
Big challenge is the correct adjustment of the spray output to the crop canopy
• spray volume need to cover and
penetrate the shape and structure of the canopy
• nozzles with different spray output need to be arranged to fit
the canopy
• Several adjustments needed during the season as canopy develops
The images shared by courtesy of Health and Safety Executive – UK. Walklate et al .2003.
Key recommendations to manage spray drift in orchard / vineSPRAY SCENARIO: spray border rows from outside in
• if wind blows towards a sensitive area, spray border rows from outside
in
• modify airsupport to balance the drift
risk
Spray scenarios can be used if later spraying cannot be postponed or sudden change of wind direction occurs
Border rows: one sided spray from outside in
Key recommendations to manage drift in orchard / vine
VARIOUS SPRAYERS ARE ABLE TO REDUCE DRIFT
Axialfan sprayer with installation• distance to target more equal•Air directed to canopy
Tangential- fan sprayer
• distance to target more equal•Air directed parallel to canopy
Tunnel sprayer
• drift is collected by shields• Special training of crop is necessary / cannot operate everywherePictures: Ipach DLZ-Rheinpfalz
Measurement of drift reduction concentrates on complete sprayer and its configuration – a challenge
Understand more about drift risks and drift reductionwww.TOPPS-drift.org
Field crops / Orchards / Vine – 8 languages Education and awareness
TOPPS water protection extension to more countries including HUNGARY
Review point source BMPs and intensify dissemination activities
Develop BMPs to reduce diffuse sources (spray drift and runoff / erosion)
Disseminate the BMPs to offer rather complete recommendation to protect water. Involve stakeholders to support dissemination and to help the BMPs implementation
TOPPS water protection includes14 countries and will involve about 20 local partners
• New partners will be trained on current tools and BMP measures• Adapt BMPs to their local situation• Disseminate BMPs to local advicers, farmers and stakeholders
Proposed Country Scope
Old Countries:BE, DE, (DK), ES, FR, IT, PL
New (extension) Countries, GR, HU, NL, PT, RO, SK
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TOPPS water protection extension to more countries including SLOVAKIA