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The Influence of Operator-Controlled Variables on Spray Drift from Field Crop Sprayers

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Transactions of the ASABE. 50(4): 1129-1140. (doi: 10.13031/2013.23622) @2007
Authors:   D. Nuyttens, M. De Schampheleire, K. Baetens, B. Sonck
Keywords:   Boom height, Driving speed, Field experiments, Meteorological conditions, Nozzle type and size, Reference spray, Spray application technique, Spray drift, Spray pressure
Spray drift can be defined as the quantity of plant protection product that is carried out of the sprayed area by the action of air currents during the application process. This continues to be a major problem in applying agricultural pesticides. The purpose of this research is to measure the amount of sedimenting drift from a horizontal boom sprayer for different (drift reducing) spray application techniques under field conditions and to compare the results with the results from a reference spray, taking into account variations in meteorological conditions during the field drift experiments. Field drift measurements were performed for several combinations of nozzle type (standard flat-fan, low-drift, air inclusion) and size (ISO 02, 03, 04, and 06), spray pressure (2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 bar), driving speed (4, 6, 8, and 10 km h-1), and spray boom height (0.3, 0.5, and 0.75 m ) according to ISO 22866 by sampling in a defined downwind area at 24 different positions using horizontal drift collectors. The reference spray was defined as a standard horizontal spray boom without air support, a spray boom height of 0.50 m, a nozzle distance of 0.50 m, ISO 110 03 standard flat-fan nozzles at 3.0 bar (1.2 L min-1), and a driving speed of 8 km h-1, resulting in an application rate of approximately 180 L ha-1. Nozzle type as well as spray pressure, driving speed, and spray boom height, have an important effect on the amount of spray drift. Larger nozzle sizes, lower spray pressures and driving speeds, and lower spray boom heights generally reduce spray drift. Concerning nozzle types, air inclusion nozzles have the highest drift reduction potential, followed by the low-drift nozzles and the standard flat-fan nozzles. Drift results are closely linked with droplet size characteristics of the sprays.

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Spray drift can be defined as the quantity of plant protection product that is carried out of the sprayed area by the action of air currents during the application process. This continues to be a major problem in applying agricultural pesticides. The purpose of this research is to measure the amount of sedimenting drift from a horizontal boom sprayer for different (drift reducing) spray application techniques under field conditions and to compare the results with the results from a reference spray, taking into account variations in meteorological conditions during the field drift experiments. Field drift measurements were performed for several combinations of nozzle type (standard flat-fan, low-drift, air inclusion) and size (ISO 02, 03, 04, and 06), spray pressure (2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 bar), driving speed (4, 6, 8, and 10 km h-1), and spray boom height (0.3, 0.5, and 0.75 m ) according to ISO 22866 by sampling in a defined downwind area at 24 different positions using horizontal drift collectors. The reference spray was defined as a standard horizontal spray boom without air support, a spray boom height of 0.50 m, a nozzle distance of 0.50 m, ISO 110 03 standard flat-fan nozzles at 3.0 bar (1.2 L min-1), and a driving speed of 8 km h-1, resulting in an application rate of approximately 180 L ha-1. Nozzle type as well as spray pressure, driving speed, and spray boom height, have an important effect on the amount of spray drift. Larger nozzle sizes, lower spray pressures and driving speeds, and lower spray boom heights generally reduce spray drift. Concerning nozzle types, air inclusion nozzles have the highest drift reduction potential, followed by the low-drift nozzles and the standard flat-fan nozzles. Drift results are closely linked with droplet size characteristics of the sprays.

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