Application Uniformity of In-Canopy Sprinklers

Simply lowering spray heads from above the crop to within the crop canopy does not make a LEPA system and does not reduce energy costs unless time of operation is reduced. Operating sprinkler devices within the crop canopy distorts the sprinkler devices designed wetted diameter. This results in poor uniformity regardless of nozzle height, and even at a nozzle spacing of 5 feet. A smaller wetted diameter means higher application rates and the increased potential for field runoff. The gains made through improved sprinkler devices and reduced operating pressure can be quickly erased by runoff losses.