169405 20260225153354.0 doi 10.1016/j.compag.2026.111587 sideral 148318 ART-2026-148318 eng Vigo-Morancho, Alba Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-5569-0219 Air-assisted sprayer airflow interaction with traditional olive orchard canopies and its effect on spray distribution 2026 Air-assisted sprayers currently incorporate mechanisms that allow modification of airflow outlet characteristics, which is a key factor in product distribution quality. However, limited information exists on how airflow interacts with complex tree canopies, particularly in traditional olive orchards. The aim of this study was to model the behavior of airflow velocity generated by a previously laboratory characterized air assisted sprayer in a traditional olive orchard, as a function of air flow configuration (fan gearbox) and operational and canopy structural parameters. Five olive trees were selected, and a three-dimensional grid of 64 measurement points (4 depths × 4 sections × 4 heights) was defined, where airflow velocity (m s−1) was recorded with a vane probe anemometer under two sprayer configurations. Canopy characterization was carried out using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) measurements, from which both canopy volume (m3) and density based on the number of impacts (NI) at each sampling location were determined. In addition, manual defoliations of 0.008 m3 cubes were performed at 8 positions per canopy, allowing a correlation between impacts and leaf area density (LAD, m2 m−3) to be established (R2 = 0.61). Airflow within the canopy was characterized, and a model including sprayer gear setting, measurement depth, height, and categorized vegetation density (low or high density, LD or HD, respectively, based on the accumulated number of impacts across trees, NIa) explained 72% of the observed variability in air velocity inside the tree canopy. Spray performance was evaluated at the same sampling points using water-sensitive papers (WSP) and tracer collectors (manganese, Mn), allowing the effects of application parameters on coverage (%) and deposition (µg cm−2) to be quantified. These effects were largely consistent with those influencing air velocity, which was strongly correlated with both coverage and deposition. Notably, adequate coverage and deposition levels were predominantly associated with air velocities inside the canopy exceeding 2 m s−1, providing valuable insight for optimizing sprayer adjustment and operating conditions. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PDC2022-133395-C43 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2019-104289RB-C43 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by-nc-nd https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Videgain, María Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-3630-7931 Serreta, Alfredo Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-2864-0195 Boné, Antonio Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-8526-351X Vidal, Mariano Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-0373-8310 García-Ramos, Francisco Javier Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-0227-1934 5011 500 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural Area Ingeniería Agroforestal 5004 545 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica Área Ingeniería Mecánica 5002 305 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ingeniería Diseño Fabri. Área Expresión Gráfica en Ing. 246 (2026), 111587 [13 pp.] Comput. electron. agric. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 0168-1699 11809750 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/169405/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2406013 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/169405/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:169405 articulos driver 2026-02-25-14:58:45 ARTICLE