📋 Case Study

Precision Vineyard Spray Optimization in Napa Valley

Inconsistent canopy penetration causing fungicide under-application in dense zones and drift in open rows

🏗️ Project Overview

120-hectare premium Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard deploying variable-rate air-assisted sprayers

🎯 Challenge

Inconsistent canopy penetration causing fungicide under-application in dense zones and drift in open rows

🔧 Design Approach

Hybrid venturi + air-induction nozzles with real-time canopy density mapping via LiDAR; dynamic pressure modulation per row zone

📐 Design Diagram

AI-generated project design illustration

📐 Key Calculations

Canopy Penetration Index (CPI)

(VMD × Pressure^0.3) / TravelSpeed

Result: 1.82

Target CPI > 1.7 for full coverage

Drift Risk Score

PercentFineDroplets × WindSpeed × BoomHeight

Result: 34.7

Below EPA threshold of 40

📊 Results

22% reduction in fungicide use, 94% spray deposition uniformity (CV < 8%), zero off-target drift incidents over 3 seasons

💡 Lessons Learned

• •LiDAR-guided pressure zoning outperforms fixed-rate systems
• •Venturi nozzles require tighter filter specs than hydraulic types

✅ Key Takeaways

• 1LiDAR-guided pressure zoning outperforms fixed-rate systems
• 2Venturi nozzles require tighter filter specs than hydraulic types