Crop protection and irrigation with S.O.PH.I.A. (video)

4-9-2026

During a visit by South Tyrol's association of agricultural school graduates to the Fondazione Edmund Mach research centre, participants were introduced to the stationary S.O.PH.I.A. overhead irrigation system.

The S.O.PH.I.A. system, developed by the Israeli company Netafim, allows plant protection products to be applied to the trees from above and can also be used for frost protection with water. The name S.O.PH.I.A. stands for Spray Overcanopy PHytosanitary Innovative Application.

Pipes fitted with special pulsating sprinklers are installed above the tree rows.

According to Netafim, one hectare can be treated with plant protection products in around 15 minutes. Because only the tree strip is wetted, the applied plant protection products are directed specifically at the trees. For frost protection, the system uses only about half as much water as a conventional overhead irrigation system.

The video clearly shows the pulsating action of the sprinklers in the S.O.PH.I.A. system.

Read more about the S.O.P.H.I.A. system in the October issue of European Fruit Magazine (EFM).