Driftmetingen Dominiak Dwarsstroomspuit 2021-2022

Results of spray drift experiments are presented of the Dominiak cross-flow fan orchard sprayer in comparison with a reference spray technique for fruit crop spraying in The Netherlands. The Dominiak sprayer was equipped with controllable air valves and drift reducing nozzles (Teejet AI 80-02 VS at 2 bar spray pressure, 95 % drift reduction), the PTO of the tractor, controlling the fan speed, was limited to 270 rpm, the fan gear was set to ‘1’ (low air setting). The Dominiak orchard sprayer used a specific protocol for the outer six tree rows, limiting the amount of air support out of the orchard and spraying the outer tree row from one side. During the spray drift experiments, performed in 2021 and 2022, the downwind outer 24 m of an apple orchard was sprayed at the full leaf stage (BBCH 75-91) using the fluorescent tracer Acid Yellow 250. Spray drift deposition was collected downwind on a mowed grass area up to 25 m distance from the last tree row. For the Dominiak orchard sprayer spray drift reduction at 4.5-5.5 m distance from the last tree row was 99.6% in comparison with the reference spray application.