Variable-Rate Spraying for Sustainable Citrus and Grape Production

This chapter introduces intelligent sprayers as the most promising strategy to protect specialty crops from threatening pests while achieving the economical sustainability for farmers together with the respect for the environment. The proposed intelligent sprayers feature variable rating according to precise sprayer positioning by actuating computer-driven pulse width modulation (PWM) solenoid valves. In addition, the system brings further flexibility by actuating four nozzle sectors independently, and the necessary stability by implementing a pressure-based control system. Two use cases for fruit (citrus and grapes) production spraying explain the challenges faced over the developing phase of two sprayers from 2020 to 2024, and the actual results measured by the onboard sensors during treatments in commercial groves.