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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #157516
Title: FIELD SWATH AND DRIFT ANALYSES TECHNIQUES

Author
item Hoffmann, Wesley
item HEWITT, ANDREW - STEWART AG RESEARCH
item BARBER, JANE - FLORIDA A&M UNIV
item Kirk, Ivan
item BROWN, JAMES - DEPT OF NAVY

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASAE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2004
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: In most field studies, application researchers use a range of different samplers from passive samplers such as water sensitive paper or mylar cards to active samplers such as rotary rods and high-volume air samplers. In this collaborative study, three types of horizontal passive samplers were placed in the field at the same time to investigate correlations in deposition and drift data that these different sampling devices measured. There was generally good agreement between the different sampling techniques; however, the data became more variable as the droplet size decreased and the distance from the application site increased. The results of this study indicate that information from other studies using these sampling techniques can be compared and evaluated.

Technical Abstract: Researchers use a variety of techniques for measuring spray droplet deposition and movement. In most field studies, researchers use one or two different samplers. In this collaborative study, three types of horizontal collectors were placed in the field at the same time. The objective was to investigate correlations in deposition and drift data that these different sampling devices collected. Five sets of ASAE reference nozzles from ASAE Standard S572 AUG99, which produce droplets from Very Fine to Extremely Course, were fitted to a Cessna Ag Husky. At 0-25 m (0 - 82 ft) from the downwind edge of the spray swath, there were highly significant correlations between the three samplers for the two nozzles that produced the largest droplet spectra. As the droplet spectra became smaller, a greater portion of the spray volume was subject to entrainment in the air and resulted in inconsistent and mostly non-significant correlations between the samplers for the three sets of nozzles that generated the smaller droplet spectra. There was a highly significant correlation for the water-sensitive paper and mylar card samplers that were placed under the aircraft (i.e., in-swath). The droplet spectra data from the water-sensitive paper samplers placed in-swath separated out along the droplet classification lines in ASAE Standard S572. The monofilament line samplers at 50 m (164 ft) showed that nozzles that produced smaller droplet spectra generate more airborne spray material downwind than nozzles with larger droplet spectra.