Drift Reduction in Orchard Spraying Using a Cross Flow Sprayer Equipped with Reflection Shields (Wanner) and Air Injection Nozzles

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    Abstract

    In a country as the Netherlands with much surface water, is important to reduce spray drift of pesticides in order to minimize environmental pollution, especially pollution of the water surface during spray application. In a series of experiments, the drift reduction to the soil surface outside an apple orchard was measured for the Wanner sprayer with reflection shields in comparison with a reference sprayer. The reference spraying machine for orchard spraying is a cross flow fan sprayer, equipped with Albuz ATR lilac nozzles (fine droplets), and a spray volume of approximately 200 l.ha-1. Spray drift measurements were performed spraying a fluorescent tracer and quantifying spray drift deposition next to the orchard on artificial collectors. For the Wanner sprayer with reflection shields and Albuz ATR lilac nozzles, the spray drift was reduced in the area 3.0 ¿ 7.0 m downwind of the last tree row (equivalent to the area where the ditch is positioned) with 69% and 58%, respectively for the early growth stage (developing foliage; before 1st of May) and the fully developed foliage stage (after 1st of May). At 4.5 ¿ 5.5 m downwind of the last tree row the spray drift deposition was reduced with 71% and 62% respectively for the early growth stage and the fully developed foliage stage. Very high drift reduction levels were obtained with the Wanner sprayer with reflection shields and Lechler ID 90-015C (venturi) flat fan nozzles. In this situation spray drift was reduced in the area 3.0 ¿ 7.0 m downwind of the last tree row with 95% and 94%, respectively for the early growth stage (developing foliage; before 1st of May) and the fully developed foliage stage (after 1st of May). At 4.5 ¿ 5.5 m downwind of the last tree row the spray drift deposition was reduced with 95%, both for the early growth stage and the fully developed foliage stage. From the experiments it is concluded that the combination of drift reducing methods consisting a sprayer with reflection shields and coarse droplets application is a very effective method to reduce spray drift in the Netherlands
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages10
    JournalAgricultural Engineering International
    VolumeX
    Issue numberALNARP 08 014
    Publication statusPublished - 2008

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