ARS | Publication request: PERFORMANCE OF DRIFT REDUCING AGENTS

Submitted to: Texas Plant Protection Conference Program
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 2, 2003
Publication Date: December 2, 2003
Citation: Kirk, I.W. 2003. Performance of drift reducing agents [abstract]. Texas Plant Protection Conference. p. 26.

Technical Abstract: Off-target spray deposits are a significant problem associated with sprays of agricultural production and protection materials. Spray nozzle selection and operational parameters are primary tools in maintaining spray deposits in the target zone, but spray drift retardant adjuvants are a convenient secondary alternative. Twelve commercially available drift retardant adjuvants were selected for the study. Each adjuvant was mixed, at the maximum label rate for aerial application, with a water-based spray mix containing an EC blank formulation. These spray mixes were atomized in a high-speed wind tunnel to assess their ability to increase spray droplet size and reduce the fine droplet or driftable component of the spray spectrum. Most of the adjuvants increased droplet size and reduced driftable fine droplets, but three of the products were ineffective and five were not sufficiently effective to change the spray mix from an ASAE Fine spray category to an ASAE Medium spray category. The results of these studies, along with product costs, will aid aerial applicators in making informed decisions about selection and use of spray drift retardant adjuvants to mitigate off-target spray drift.