Potential risk of drift from inclined fan nozzles

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pest, disease and weed control in large-scale crops depend on the application of agrochemicals. These applications are subject to several factors that can lead to drift. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of spray nozzles with inclined flat jet, on the drift. The drift was collected in a 10 m wind tunnel, with a spray system inside. The samples were collected in 5 horizontal points, from 2.0 to 6.0 m away from the spray nozzle and 5 points in the vertical, from 0.1 to 0.5 m away from the lower base of the wind tunnel, totaling 25 sample points. The mixture applied was glyphosate (isopropylamine salt, 1080 g a.e. ha-1) with 2,4-D (dimethylamine salt, 1.005 g a.e. ha-1). The nozzles J3D 100 025, JGC 120 02, JAP 110 015 and ADI 110 015 (control), inclined by 37.5º, 20º, 15º and 0º, respectively, were used in two directions of spray: upwind and downwind of the air flow direction. The nozzles J3D, JGC and JAP, when inclined downwind reduced the drift by 16.1, 2.6 and 39.0%, respectively, relative to the control, and when inclined upwind, reduced drift by 53.4, 3.9 and 18.6%, respectively, relative to the control. Spray nozzles with second-generation air-induction inclined flat jet (JAP) and standard inclined flat jet (J3D) reduce the collected drift compared to the nozzle without inclination, regardless of wind flow direction.