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Submitted to: Atomization and Sprays
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2013 Publication Date: 3/20/2014 Citation: Martin, D.E. 2014. A fluorescent imaging technique for quantifying spray deposits on plant leaves. Atomization and Sprays. 24(4):367-373. Interpretive Summary: Conventional agricultural insecticide sprays may be ineffective when specific crop pest insects live and feed on the underside of plant leaves. Although electrical charging of these sprays increases the amount of insecticide material that deposits on the underside of leaves, new techniques are needed for measuring droplet deposition on the underside of leaves. A measurement technique was developed using image acquisition of spray droplets mixed with fluorescent dye, and image processing and analysis using readily-available software. Important results from the analysis include the quantity, size, and coverage area of droplets on the leaf. This spray droplet measurement technique will help agricultural applicators accurately assess and improve precision spray applications for effective control of pest insects. Technical Abstract: Because of the unique characteristics of electrostatically-charged sprays, use of traditional methods to quantify deposition from these sprays has been challenging. A new fluorescent imaging technique was developed to quantify spray deposits from electrostatically-charged sprays on natural plant leaves. Results indicated that this technique was successfully able to detect and count numerous individual spray droplets on the underside of beet leaves. This technique also allowed for visualization of the spatial distribution of the spray droplets. Researchers should be able to use this technique to quantify spray deposits on a multitude of both artificial and natural deposition samplers. |
