A Measurement of the Total Mass of Spray and Irrigation Mixtures Intercepted by Small Whole Plants

Abstract

A plant-weighing procedure was used to measure the total mass of spray mixture intercepted by small whole corn and cotton plants. Mixtures of water and water plus crop oil concentrate or spreader–sticker were applied at spray volumes of 280 to 28,000 L/ha. The plants were weighed before and after passing under the spray and leaf areas, and shoot fresh and dry weights for each plant were measured. Spray deposition increased with spray volumes but not proportionally. Corn plants were larger than cotton plants and retained more spray per plant; however, cotton retained more spray per unit leaf area. The two adjuvants had similar effects on deposition, tending to increase it in corn and decrease it in cotton.