How to grow healthier kiwis with Martignani sprayers?

Treatment of kiwifruit with electrostatic foggers at low volume.

Kiwi could be defined as an exotic fruit and has several varieties with different shapes and colors. In Italy, the two main varieties are Green Kiwi and Yellow/Gold Kiwi and both are known for their many health benefits (source of potassium, antioxidant …).

Kiwi thrives mainly in temperate climates. The plant is cold hardy, but extreme temperatures can damage the fruit. The ideal climate includes winter temperatures no lower than -15°C and summer temperatures between 20°C and 30°C.

Treatments, with Martignani sprayers can be made at low volume, even at 100 or 200 liters/hectare.”

Main diseases of kiwi

Kiwifruit cultivation can be threatened by several diseases of fungal, bacterial and viral origin, which can affect production and fruit quality. Here are the main diseases to be aware of and manage.

Kiwi bacteremia (Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae – PSA)

It is the most feared disease for growing kiwifruit, caused by a bacterium that spreads rapidly through wounds and natural plant openings.

Symptoms: brown spots on leaves, gummy exudates on branches, necrosis of flowers and desiccation of shoots.
Prevention and control:
- Avoid water stagnation and pruning in wet conditions.
- Remove and destroy infected parts.
- Preventive treatments with cupric in autumn and spring.
- Use of more resistant cultivars.

Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea)

Fungus that affects flowers, fruits and branches, particularly in high humidity conditions.

Symptoms: soft, grayish rot on fruit, necrosis of flowers and buds.
Prevention and control:
- Reduce moisture in canopies by appropriate pruning.
- Avoid injury to the fruit during harvest.
- Treatments with specific fungicides during critical periods.

Armillaria (Armillaria mellea)

A wood fungus that causes root rot and plant collapse.

Symptoms: reduced growth, yellowing of leaves, presence of white mycelium on roots.
Prevention and control:
- Remove infected plants and disinfect the soil.
- Avoid cultivation on soils with rotting wood residues.

Stem cancer (Phomopsis sp.)

Fungal disease that attacks trunk and branches, causing necrosis and tissue death.

Symptoms: dark, sunken lesions on stem and branches, discharge of gummy exudates.
Prevention and control:
- Remove infected parts with targeted pruning.
- Disinfect pruning tools.
- Treatments with cupric fungicides in the preventive stage.

Good agronomic practices are essential to protect kiwifruit from these diseases. Prevention is always the best way to achieve healthy fruit and abundant yields.

From this point of view, it is also necessary to use a phytoregulator ( which can be used only where production specifications allow it). This is a product that stimulates cell multiplication and distension. These types of products are able to increase the size of kiwifruit evenly while preserving quality characteristics.

Martignani Nebulizers: Kiwi treatment

Saving water, product, diesel fuel and time

Why are Martignani foggers the best allies in kiwi treatments?

Martignani, since 1958, has been a leader in the field of treatments with electrostatic charge and low volume. This technology reduces water and product use by treating ONLY AND EXCLUSIVELY where it is needed to avoid buildup, residue or drift.

To prevent kiwi diseases, the use of copper in preventive treatments is very effective, especially in autumn and spring, especially against bacterial blight, which is also the most dangerous. These treatments, with Martignani sprayers can be carried out at low volume, even at 100 or 200 liters/hectare, in comparison with the 1000/1200 liters/hectare of conventional sprayers. With all the guarantees of protection for both plant and operators.

One of the Martignani sprayers best suited for treatments on kiwifruit is the Whirlwind with outlet gib-dor, which allows targeted and regular distribution of hormone products.

Treatments at 100 lt/hectare compared to 1000 lt/hectare of conventional sprayers (water savings of a 90%)”

Kiwi treatment: What do our customers say?

We are in Cittanova, Calabria, at the Fratelli Martino Farm, to talk to one of the owners Mr. Antonino Martino, who welcomes us to the picturesque setting of his kiwi and ancient olive tree plantation (about 60 hectares in all).

In this company, treatments have been carried out for years with two Martignani Whirlwind nebulizers, one of which has the special gib-dor configuration.

We asked our customer some information about the types of treatments he makes and he explained that “having three different varieties of kiwifruit and treating all three once a week from May to July, sprayer works 3 days a week.” He then explains that ” We treat at 100 liters/hectare with a speed of about 6.8 km/h. In fact, we treat 10 hectares in 3 to 4 hours.”

On this topic, many professionals in the field advise “to give a lot of water and wet well to protect kiwifruit,” but Martignani’s foggers manage to provide kiwi protection even at Low Volume. Our customer acknowledges that “a few years ago, in the early days of using Martignani sprayers, I had some doubts about the low quantities of water. They always told me to give 1,000 liters/hectare but then slowly I made reductions and now I give the same amount of product in 100 liters.” He then adds that “I get along very well because I can get the results saving time, labor, water and diesel fuel. It’s all to be gained.”

In addition, Mr. Martino explains that “there is only one type of treatment where I give more water. When I distribute caustic soda against mealybug, I work at 500 liters/hectare “, which are still less than the 1000/1200 liters/hectare that conventional sprayers work with.

Regarding diseases and difficulties in kiwi cultivation, our customer says that each kiwi variety has its own difficulties but that they are very concerned about botrytis on the flower because “if you don’t treat well you risk losing all the flowers.” And then he reports that “with Martignani sprayers I have always done well because having the turbine, rather than the propeller fan, the distribution of the product is uniform over the whole plant. The air is moved symmetrically by the turbine, and even when there is wind, the treatment is done well.”

From Reggio Calabria to Romagna

We move from Reggio Calabria to the heart of Romagna to talk with Gabrielle Ragazzini, of AZ. AGR. RAGAZZINI S.S. and SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA RAGAZZINI GABRIELE E C., with about 70 hectares of fruit including 25 of kiwifruit in the Reda- Faenza (Ravenna) area.

Gabriele and his family have been Martignani customers for many years, and to date they work with a Turbo 2, 1500-liter electrostatic mist sprayer and a Whirlwind Carried by 400 liters.

As for kiwifruit they carry out about 15 to 20 treatments per season and the main problems they have to consider are, as in the previous case, Asian fruit bug and bacterial blight. “Against the main adversities of kiwi I use 200lt of water per hectare at 7 km/h with 30% less product than the label doses,” Gabriele explains.

Our customer confirms the choice of Martignani and assures considerable savings in both time and water or product, “I choose Martignani because it offers better dye coverage and product distribution and saves me so much time and money.” From this point of view, “I recommend everyone to approach this type of machine.”