Influence of the nozzle type, air-assisted velocity, and wind velocity on the measurements of spray drift potential of boom sprayers

Abstract

Spraying is a major operation to control the bio-elements that are harmful to farming products. Reduction in nozzle drift can be considered as one of the main factors in preventing the risk of environmental pollution because of using pesticides. For this aim, three types of air-assisted nozzles, namely, air-liquid-air(ALA), liquid-air(LA), liquid-air-liquid(LAL), and at four levels of air-assisted velocity (0, 2, 4, and 7.5 m/s^-1)were used;  They were also examined at four levels of wind velocity (0, 2, 3, and 4 m/s^-1).A spectrophotometry device, MATLAB, SAS 9.1, and IBM SPSS statistical software were used for measurement. The results showed that the effects of the nozzle type, air-assisted velocity, and wind velocity on the drift, deposition, unified spraying, volume median Diameters of 50% and 90%, and spraying quality indicators were significant (a<=0.01 ). Also in regression studies, among the three effective factors (nozzle type, air-assisted velocity, wind velocity), the nozzle type with the highest coefficient of 0.62, 0.74, 0.277, and 0.144, respectively, the most effective factor on the drift, the amount of the deposition and volume 50 and 90 percent media diameter were identified.