Drop size spectra and deposit from aerial spraying with and without apolymeric adjuvant
1992
Sundaram, A. | Sundaram, K.M.S. | Robinson, A.G. | Beveridge, W.J.G. | Leung, J.W.
In a study reported in the literature, an aqueous solution of a polymer, Sta-Put, was shown to increase the drop sizes of the spray cloud when atomized using hydraulic nozzles in an airstream (speed, 192 km/h) under laboratory conditions. The objective of the present study was to examine if Sta-Put can influence the drop size spectra of the spray cloud under field conditions when applied through rotary atomizers using a fixed-wing aircraft flying at a speed of 160 km/h. Tank mixes were sprayed aerially with and without Sta-Put. Size spectra of drops were measured at the target site on Kromekote cards. Deposits were assessed on balsam fir-shaped aluminum branch tips, natural fir needles, and glass plates. The presence of Sta-Put in the tank mix caused slightly larger drop sizes on the Kromekote cards. Correspondingly, the average deposits on the simulated fir needles, natural foliage and glass plates were also greater for the tank mix containing the Sta-Put. The present study indicates that Sta-Put has the potential for increasing the size spectrum of a spray cloud released by rotary atomizers under field conditions, similar to the behavior in the hydraulic nozzles under laboratory conditions. However, its usefulness in field applications as a "drift modifier agent" to reduce the proportion of fine drops in the spray cloud should be explored further using a variety of atomizers and application conditions.
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