Survey on vineyards treatment and pesticide remnant management in Sicilian vine-growing farms

Some aspects of plant protection treatments can affect strongly the environmental pollution, mainly of soils and subsurface waters. The internal-external washing water and the residues of mixture after treatments represent a source of diffuse and localized pollution. A survey of 21 wine-growing farms was carried out in order to assess the main aspects related to phytosanitary treatments. The most widespread sprayers are conventional atomizers, with hydraulic pulverization, and about 57% of them are equipped with washing tank and with an easy system to empty the main tank. But only in 33% of cases it is possible to recover the final mixture. The average number of treatments per year is about 14: 62% of farms with 12–18 and the remaining with 4–10. With regards to the residual mixture, 60% of farms produce from 5 to 50 litres and this mixture is sprayed in the same or in other vineyards, or spilled on the ground. The internal cleaning of the sprayer is carried out with the washing system (only 3 farms out of 21), with the washing system and external water (only 3 farms out of 21), or using external water (15 farms out of 21). About the frequency of cleaning, the answers are not very reassuring, as well as those regarding the place where the mixture is drained. The external cleaning is carried out in the same place of the farm in the majority of cases (86%) and only one farm is equipped with a lined biobed, designed to treat pesticide solutions.