The effects of vertical and horizontal boom movements on the uniformity of spray distribution

To quantify the effect of boom movements on the spray distribution laboratory tests were performed. Influences of two nozzle types (flatfan and conejet), three amplitudes (0, 10 and 20 cm) and two directions of boom movement (horizontal and vertical), on the spray distribution were investigated. All tests were done for four different boomheights (30, 50, 70 and 90 cm). The tests show that a horizontal boom movement has a larger negative influence on deposition than a vertical movement. A flatfan nozzle is more sensitive to horizontal movements than a conejet nozzle. With lower boomheigths the negative effect of movement on spray distribution is more present. The performed laboratory tests can be used to further validate a developed computer model that predicts the effect of sprayer boom movements on the spray distribution. The model is able to use the static distribution of a single nozzle to predict the total spray distribution under a moving sprayerboom. The research presented aims to develop a model to simulate the effect of sprayer boom movements on the spray distribution under field circumstances, validated with field and laboratory measurements.