Contact: Dr. Ivan Kirk, Agricultural Engineer, USDA-ARS, 2771 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845  Email: i-kirk@tamu.edu

 Summary:  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.  Selected drift retardant adjuvants were mixed with an EC blank formulation and 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 twelve adjuvants tested increase droplet size and reduce driftable fine droplets, but three of the products were ineffective and five were not sufficiently effective to change a fine spray to a medium spray category. Results from these studies will facilitate aerial applicator selection of spray drift retardant adjuvants to mitigate off-target spray drift.

<Select to See the Presentation>

<Select to View the Manuscript>