ARS | Publication request: EFFECTIVENESS OF TURBODROP AND TURBO TEEJET NOZZLES IN DRIFT REDUCTION

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: August 10, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Almost all major agricultural nozzle manufacturers have recently introduced their version of so called low-drift nozzles. Although manufacturers of low-drift nozzles claim these nozzles to be considerably more effective in reducing spray drift than the standard flat-fan nozzles, no independent data are available to support their claim. The objective of this study was to determine effectiveness of two low-drift nozzles (Turbo TeeJet and TurboDrop) in reducing drift. This was accomplished by measuring droplet sizes, and deposition distances of droplets in a wind tunnel (5 m/s) using low-drift nozzles and comparing the data from these measurements with those obtained from a standard flat-fan nozzle. Low-drift nozzles produced fewer drift prone droplets and lower downwind deposits than the standard flat-fan nozzle (XR). Droplet size measurements taken along the long axis of the spray patterns found less variation in droplet size for the XR and TT nozzles than for the TD nozzles. TurboDrop nozzles produced lower downwind deposits than Turbo TeeJet nozzles operated at similar pressures (276 kPa); however, a larger orifice Turbo TeeJet nozzle operated at a lower pressure (176 kPa) performed similar to TurboDrop nozzle operated at 276 kPa. Plugging the air intake hole on the TurboDrop nozzle increased nozzle output, decreased VMD, and slightly increased the percent of spray volume in drift prone droplets and downwind deposits.