ARS | Publication request: AERIAL SWATH WIDTHS FOR ULV MALATHION

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 11, 2002
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Applications of most crop protection materials should be uniform across the field or area on which they are applied for maximum effectiveness. However, swath widths specified for applying sprays in boll weevil eradication programs were judged by some observers to be too wide for uniform spray deposits. A field study was conducted with two agricultural aircraft operating according to eradication program guidelines to determine uniformity of spray deposits across a sprayed area. Results of the study show that reduced swath widths would provide greater uniformity of spray deposits in boll weevil eradication programs.

Technical Abstract: An aerial spray deposition study with ULV malathion was conducted to determine if spray swath widths specified in boll weevil eradication program contracts are appropriate for achieving uniform spray deposits across treated fields. The results of the study show that swath widths are too wide for uniform spray deposits using the two aircraft included in the study. Reduction of swath widths would improve uniformity of spray deposition, but this study was no designed to determine whether uniform spray deposits would increase boll weevil mortality in fields sprayed under boll weevil eradication program specifications.