Evaluation of Low-Drift Nozzles in Agrochemical Applications in Orchards

Abstract

Fruit production demands several phytosanitary treatments per year. The efficiency of these treatments is affected by product loss because of drift, a situation that is aggravated by frequent high winds and the presence of a substantial rural population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution and to quantify product losses in fruit orchard applications. Fluorescent tracers with air-blast sprayers were applied, using air-induction hollow cone nozzles, compared to conventional hollow cone nozzles. To evaluate drift, pipes cleaner were placed on columns behind the adjacent row to the treated one, and for the losses under the tree, Petri dishes were located below the treated row; for the distribution in the tree, leaves were collected from the canopy. The deposits were quantified with a fluorimeter, and the surface of the leaves with an area optical meter. Both nozzles produced equal quantity of deposits in the canopy with a minor quantity in the top part. The low drift sprinklers obtained 75% less drift than the standard nozzles; however, the losses under the tree were 50% higher. To conclude, the utilization of low drift nozzles in fruit orchards is an alternative to mitigate pollution of the environment.

Development and validation of a 3D CFD model of drift and its application to air-assisted orchard sprayers

“…The air-filled droplets produced by these nozzles disintegrate into smaller droplets when they hit a solid surface and spread onto the target rather than bounce. Comparison of drift from drift reducing and conventional hydraulic nozzles by some researchers (Behmer et al, 2010;Wenneker et al, 2005;Zhu et al, 2005) showed a reduction in drift by drift reducing nozzles which is in line with the results obtained from this CFD analysis. Some researchers also reported that drift reducing nozzles give higher ground deposition near the orchard boundaries (Heijne, Wenneker, Van de Zande, Western, 2002;Wenneker et al, 2005;Wenneker & van de Zande, 2008;Zhu et al, 2005) which again conforms with the results of the CFD simulations performed in this study.…”

“…It is possible to reduce spray drift from orchard sprayers without compromising the biological efficacy if it is possible to generate coarse droplets that have lower tendency to rebound. As suggested by previous researchers, this can be achieved by using either adjuvants (Miller, Hewitt, Bagle, 2001;Oliveira, Antuniassi, Mota, Chechetto, 2013;Salyani & Cromwell, 1993;Spanoghe, De Schampheleire, van der Meeren, Steurbaut, 2007) or air-induction (drift reducing) nozzles (Behmer, Di Prinzio, Striebeck, Magdalena, 2010;Derksen, Fox, Brazee, Krause, 2007;Mcartney & Obermiller, 2008;Wenneker, Heijne, van de Zande, 2005;Wenneker & van de Zande, 2008;Zhu, Guler, Derksen, Ozkan, 2005). However, some researchers reported no pronounced effect of adjuvants on droplet size (Fritz, Hoffmann, Bagley, 2012) and similar drift profiles by all conventional adjuvants (Butler Ellis & Tuck, 1999).…”

Spray drift with several nozzles under wind breeze in a vineyard nursery

“…Hay diferentes recomendaciones de tamaño de gota en las aspersiones para reducir la deriva, como por ejemplo, un diámetro de gota mayor que 100 μm (Mota, 2015; Oliveira y Antuniassi, 2012; Villalba y Hertz, 2010), o mayor de 200 micras (Boller y Schlosser, 2010;Ozkan y Zhu, 2016). Para reducir la deriva es común el aumento en el tamaño de las gotas y reducir la presión de aspersión (Behmer et al, 2010;Bradford y Calvin, 2001;Garcerá et al, 2017;Planas et al, 2013;Van de Zande et al, 2012). Por lo que, boquillas diseñadas para producir gotas grandes sin cambiar el caudal de descarga de la asperjadora son de gran importancia.…”

“…En este trabajo se evaluó y cuantificó los depósitos de las derivas producidas en las aspersiones foliares is different size recommendation to reduce drift, like over 100 μm (Mota, 2015;Oliveira and Antuniassi, 2012;Villalba and Hertz, 2010), larger than 200 micron diameter may be needed to satisfactorily reduce drift (Boller and Schlosser, 2010;Ozkan and Zhu, 2016). However, the increase in droplet size by reducing spray pressure is commonly used to reduce drift (Behmer et al, 2010;Bradford and Calvin, 2001;Garcerá et al, 2017;Planas et al, 2013;Van de Zande et al, 2012). Thus, nozzles designed to produce large droplets without changing the flow rate (volume rate) are of great importance.…”

Seleção de traçadores e deriva nas aplicações foliares de produtos fitossanitários na cultura do café (Coffea arábica L.)

“…Segundo Butler Ellis et al ( 2002) e Behmer et al (2010), o uso desse tipo de ponta representa uma das estratégias de redução de deriva por produzirem gotas de tamanho elevado, com bolhas de ar no seu interior. Combellack et al (1996), avaliando potencial de deriva em túnel de vento na velocidade de 4,2 m s -1 , observaram que a ponta com indução de ar reduziu em 262% o risco de deriva em relação à mesma ponta sem indução de ar.…”