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      Quantification of spray drift from aerial applications of pesticide

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      Date
      2007-04-02
      Author
      Caldwell, Daniel Morgan
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Level
      Masters
      Metadata
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      Abstract
      With widespread use of pesticides in modern agriculture, the impacts of spray drift have become a topic of considerable interest. The drifting of sprays is a highly complex process influenced by many factors. Advances in aerial application technology and in our ability to measure drift, coupled with the adoption of new technologies for regulating pesticide application have necessitated further research in the pesticide application process. Experiments were conducted to quantify spray drift and describe its movement from aerial applications of pesticide. The effects of spray quality, atomizer type and ground cover were examined. Initial airborne drift amounts were greater than downwind deposits, thus not all of the drifting spray was deposited in the measuring area. Total off-target movement of spray was significantly greater for Fine compared to Coarse sprays. Rotary and hydraulic atomizers, both producing Fine sprays, produced statistically similar off-target movement of sprays. Similarly, no significant statistical differences in spray drift between applications to bare ground and applications to a headed barley crop canopy were not identified. Contrary to expectations, aerial application to bare ground seemed to result in less off-target movement than application to a crop canopy. The vertical spray cloud profiles were similar for all applications with the greatest amount of spray present at the height of release. Spray concentrations diminished from that height upward with diffusion and downward with deposition. The empirical data disagreed with the mechanistic model AgDISP which is currently used in the Canadian regulatory process. The model over-predicted drift deposition by a factor of two to five. Variability in spray deposit values could not be attributed to average differences in meteorological conditions at the time of application. Experiments with appropriate protocols for increased sensitivity may be required to more accurately report subtle differences in drift at distances greater than 200 m from the target area.
      Degree
      Master of Science (M.Sc.)
      Department
      Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering
      Program
      Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering
      Supervisor
      Holm, F. A. (Rick)
      Copyright Date
      April 2007
      URI
      http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-03312007-125445
      Subject
      Pesticide
      AgDISP
      Spray Drift
      Aerial Application
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      • Graduate Theses and Dissertations
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