Saving Essential Resources for Walnut Cultivation

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)

Over the past few years, walnut cultivation has specialized and thousands of hectares have been planted. The need emerged, for suitable sprayers that are efficient while saving both water and active principles. For products such as walnuts, the right sprayer is needed to save time, water, chemical products and therefore money at every treatment. You don’t just sell a tool – you need to know the characteristics of the grove and supply a suitable machine. Drop micronization, targeted spray, electrostatic charge and low volume – these are key concepts for sprayers that need to avoid drops and drifting.

When it comes to walnut plants, considerable heights need to be covered, so watering the first few meters well and then making do with the rest is not an option. To obtain a uniform result, we have adopted a few measures at Martignani – we use a turbine fan that creates a high-speed volume of air that micronizes water drops with active suspension. These are then transported by the airflow for uniform and complete coverage. We do not use membrane pumps, but rather turn ones with resistant gaskets, then we have a series of other specific characteristics.

The efficiency of Martignani sprayers has been noticed abroad as well, as California, South Africa, Australia and France are just some of the nations to where the equipment is regularly exported. In Italy, many companies located in the Veneto region, where hundreds of walnut groves are currently planted, have opted for this technology.

Agriculture 4.0 has entered the sprayer world. These devices help operators control all parameters remotely thanks to a Cloud platform that displays all data via smartphone, tablet or PC, including correct dose and treatment parameters; fluid-dynamic parameters; treatment mapping; consumption checks and adjustment; adjustments based on weather changes. Sprayers that adapt to the characteristics of walnut crops provide the best solutions while helping save as much as possible.