The inspection of soil-disinfection equipment in Belgium.

Abstract

In Belgium, the mandatory inspection of field and orchard sprayers was already started up in 1995. At that time, there were only inspection protocols available for those two types of sprayers. From 2008 on, two new inspection protocols were developed: one for greenhouse sprayers and one for soil-disinfection machines. Those inspection protocols were added to the Belgian legislation and implemented since 2011. The inspection protocol for greenhouse sprayers was mainly based on the two existing protocols (field and orchard sprayers) as the working principle of those machines was similar.
Soil disinfection machines used on Belgian territory needed another approach because of the differences in pressurising and application technique compared to classical spraying machines. Soil disinfection machines use a closed tank containing the vaporous disinfectant. The tank is pressurised by a compressor or a diving cylinder. As concerns the injector side of those machines there are different possibilities. Some are using a manifold with restrictor plates or a small tap per injector, others use narrow tubes towards the injectors, and sometimes nozzles are used.
As one can see, there are no standard inspection methods available for those types of machines. Neither a standard spray pattern measurement, nor a separate pressure and nozzle testing is possible on most of those machines. On top there are some important safety aspects that need special attention due to the hazardous products used.
The Belgian inspection protocol was almost completely developed in-house and makes it possible to inspect soil-disinfection machines in an accurate, safe and economical way.