ARS | Publication request: AERIAL ELECTROSTATIC SPRAY SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASAE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 8, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Electrostatic charge can be induced to spray droplets, which causes the droplets to be attracted to grounded surfaces. This attraction is similar to the phenomenon of a toy balloon being attracted to other surfaces after being stroked on a cat. These electrostatic principles were applied in development of an electrostatic spray system for agricultural aircraft. We ereport the performance of this aerial electrostatic spray system from a series of field experiments to control insect pests on cotton. This system increased deposits on cotton leaf surfaces and provided equivalent pest control when compared with conventional aerial spray application systems. The electrostatic system will contribute to improved efficiency of aerial pest control operations.

Technical Abstract: Production models of a USDA-developed aerial electrostatic spray application system are currently being marketed in the U.S. Spray deposit and insect mortality studies conducted on cotton with the USDA prototype are summarized. Spray deposits with the electrostatic system were higher than with conventional aerial application systems. The increased deposits with the electrostatic system did not always produce improved insect control. Generally, the aerial electrostatic system with a spray rate of 9.4 L/ha provided similar insect control in these studies as conventional aerial spray systems with spray rates of 46.8 L/ha or aerial ultra-low- volume spray systems with spray rates of 1 L/ha. Lower spray rates contribute to improved operational efficiencies for aerial applicators.