Sustainable Clouds

It is 1958. Eleven years have passed since BMB manufactured and marketed the world’s first sprayers for crop protection through pesticide treatments and foliar fertilization in Wadenoijen, the Netherlands. In Sant’Agata sul Santerno, in the Romagna region, a young engineer named Claudio Martignani wondered how this technological innovation could be reconciled with health and the environment, aiming for the sustainable use of crop protection products. That year, his company introduced the low-volume application technique to Italy with the first pneumatic sprayers: an innovation that won awards at the most prestigious international competitions and became a model for other manufacturers as well. In 1981, Martignani introduced—for the first time in Europe—a groundbreaking innovation: electrostatic charge-activated micro-droplet sprayers, which enabled the Romagna-based company to establish itself among the top Italian fruit and wine producers and in 70 other countries around the world. This technology has been refined over the years, enabling a reduction in pesticide use of at least 40% and between 80% and 90% in water use, as well as a 40% reduction in fuel consumption and a 60–70% reduction in labor time. This is made possible by the low volume and micro-droplet technology combined with an electrostatic charge, which ensures uniform and precise coverage without waste or drift onto the ground. An important effect of the electrostatic charge is the absence of unwanted chemical residues on crops, since the polarized microdroplets—which repel one another because they carry the same charge—are attracted to the vegetation, which carries the opposite charge, depositing with great uniformity, without the slightest accumulation of active ingredient. This has enabled Martignani to gain significant traction even among organic and biodynamic farms, to which it offers optimal and uniform spraying of natural products (such as classic Bordeaux mixture), organic and microbiological products (such as Bacillus thuringiensis), polysulfides in original liquid formulations, with the addition of a low volume of dilution water.

Let’s take a look at two practical applications of these products.

ORGANIC PEARS FROM ROMAGNA

Among pear growers, there is widespread concern about the damage caused by Alternaria. One of the varieties most affected by this disease is the Abate Fetél, and the main weapon for combating it is fungicides. It is important to take preventive action by stopping the germination of spores.

The organic alternative for combating this disease is being tested by the Biologica Ecoter farm in Sant’Alberto di Ravenna, which uses the Martignani Whirlwind M612 Turbo 2 sprayer with a Gibdor outlet for ground application.

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, he applies soil treatments made from lactic acid bacteria and other herbs. “It wouldn’t be possible to use a conventional sprayer,” explains Fabiano Cornacchia of Ecoter, “for these organic treatments, because the higher pressure would kill the microorganisms we use to combat Alternaria fungus.”

This innovative, organic system also distributes lactobacilli that are effective in treating apple scab and, in peach trees, in treating molioniosis.

Martignani sprayers, which operate at a low working pressure (just 1.5 bar), allow for soil treatments with lactic acid bacteria to prevent diseases without the need for chemicals.

APPLE FROM TRENTINO

From Romagna, we move to Mezzocorona, in the province of Trento, to the Pellegrini organic farm, which has been using Martignani products since 1985. The family-run farm consists of 9 hectares of vineyards. It uses Martignani Turbo 1 sprayers (for the vineyards) and Sudtirol sprayers (for the orchards). The farm applies treatments using natural, non-synthetic products to protect fruit from diseases, particularly apple scab.

“I grew up on bread, milk, and Martignani,” Corrado Pellegrini jokes. “My father always used it, and we continue to do so because it’s the only machine that works at low volume. Plus, in terms of work speed and efficiency, it’s the only one that meets our needs.”

Water conservation is also important: the Pellegrini farm uses 140 liters per hectare of water for treatments in the apple orchard (120 liters per hectare in the vineyard), compared to the 1,000 liters per hectare used by many farms that employ conventional sprayers. “Everyone recommends using high volumes,” adds Corrado Pellegrini, “convinced that this results in better coverage, but that’s not the case. We’ve been applying treatments for years, and thanks to the low volume of the Martignani sprayers, we save water, time, and money. Furthermore, since we have to refill the tanks less often, we as producers and operators are also less exposed.”

Ecofuturo Magazine, July 2021

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