| Researcher(s) |
Svetlana Micic |
|---|---|
| Year(s) | 2016 |
| Contributor | Department of Agriculture and Food WA |
| Trial location(s) |
Mount Barker, WA
|
To determine the spread pattern from aerially applied baits.
Previous research has shown good snail control comes from snails being able to come across baits and feed on them. The more even the bait distribution, the more likely the snails will come across a bait, feed on it and die.
It is becoming more common to apply baits aerially, but there have been no previous studies on the distribution of baits applied from aircraft.
In this study, we found the distribution of baits varied depending on the distance from the flight path of the plane and that bait application swath widths of the plane needed to be 15 metres rather than 30 metres. This trial highlighted that better calibration techniques are needed for aerially applied bait applications.
| Lead research organisation |
Department of Agriculture and Food WA |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation | N/A |
| Trial funding source | GRDC DAW00251 |
| Related program | N/A |
| Acknowledgments |
The research undertaken as part of this project is made possible by the significant contributions of growers through both trial cooperation and the support of the GRDC’s Regional Cropping Solutions Network, as well as the farmer groups South East Premium Wheat Association and Stirling to Coast Farmers, the authors would like to thank them for their continued support. |
| Other trial partners | Not specified |
| Crop type | Oilseed: Canola |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Experimental |
| Trial design | Unknown |
| Sow date | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | Not specified |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | Not specified |
| Insecticide |
Trays of 0.19 square metre were placed at 1 metre intervals for 100 metres. Trays were placed perpendicular to the flight path of the plane. The weight and number of baits in each tray was counted after a single pass of the plane. The plane applied a metaldehyde bait at registered rates at 30 metre swath widths. Each bait had an average weight of 0.035 grams (based on an average of 100 bait weight) and was about 5 millimetres long. The spread pattern was determined using moving averages of four trays. |
SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to
construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol
16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.
