Impacts of surfactant-based adjuvants on spray droplet size, drift distance, and deposition efficiency
Keywords:
spray drift, unmanned aerial vehicles, air-induction nozzles, surface tension, contact angleAbstract
The application of anti-drift nozzles, such as air-induction nozzles, is the most common recommendation for reducing spray drift; To reduce the risk of coarse droplets bouncing and rolling produced by anti-drift nozzles, various types of adjuvants were screened by comparing their atomization performance, surface tension and contact angle, in order to identify favourable adjuvants that are compatible with anti-drift nozzles. It was found from the study results that the addition of 50% neem crude oil emulsifiable concentrate (neem oil), isomeric alcohol ethoxylates and BYK-405 all significantly decreased distribution span (S) and the percentage of droplet size less than 150 μm (ΦVol<150μ) values, but significantly promoted the median volume (D50) value. And the surface tension measurement results showed that all tested adjuvants significantly reduced the surface tension, while neem oil, FC4430 and silwetl-77 were observed with a most significant effects; Furthermore, all tested adjuvants except BYK-051N could also significantly decrease the contact angle, and the difference between neem oil, FC4430 and silwetl-77 was significant. Wind tunnel test results clearly demonstrated that the application of IDKA (a combination of air-induction nozzle IDK120-01 and neem oil) substantially decreased the drift deposition amount; In addition, the field experiments revealed that IDKA possessed a significantly improved deposition amount per unit area on canopy or bottom, leading to a more effective deposition. These results suggest that the use of IDK120-01 nozzle and neem oil can effectively reduce spray drift, lessen surface tension and enhance spreading. Keywords: spray drift, unmanned aerial vehicles, air-induction nozzles, surface tension, contact angle DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20241703.7410 Citation: Gong C W, Liu Y, Ma Y, Wang Q L, Xu Z Z, Wang X G, et al. Impacts of surfactant-based adjuvants on spray droplet size, drift distance, and deposition efficiency. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2024; 17(3): 50-58.References
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[36] Buick R D, Buchan G D, Field R J. The role of surface tension of spreading droplets in absorption of an herbicide formulation via leaf stomata. Journal of Pesticide Science, 1993; 38: 227–235.
[37] Nairn J J, Forster W A, van Leeuwen R M. Effect of solution and leaf surface polarity on droplet spread area and contact angle. Pest Management Science, 2016; 72(3): 551–557.
[38] Hess F D, Foy C L. Interaction of surfactants with plant cuticles. Weed Technology, 2000; 14: 807–813.
[39] Abbott H A, Van Dyk L P, Grobbelaar N. Spreading of spray mixtures on leaf surfaces: I. Relative effectiveness of various physico-chemical predictors. Journal of Pesticide Science, 1990; 28: 419–429.
[2] Chen S D, Lan Y B, Zhou Z Y, Fan O Y, Wang G B, Huang X Y, et al. Effect of droplet size parameters on droplet deposition and drift of aerial spraying by using plant protection UAV. Agronomy, 2020; 10(2): 195.
[3] Felsot A S, Unsworth J B, Linders J B, Roberts G, Rautman D, Harris C, et al. Agrochemical spray drift; assessment and mitigation. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B-Pesticides Food Contaminants and Agricultural Wastes, 2010; 46(1): 1–23.
[4] He Y, Xiao S, Fang H, Dong T, Nie P C, Wu J J, et al. Development situationand spraying decision of spray nozzle for plant protection UAV. T. ASABE, 2018; 34: 113–124.
[5] Dafsari R A, Yu S, Choi Y, Lee J. Effect of geometrical parameters of air-induction nozzles on droplet characteristics and behaviour. Biosystems Engineering, 2021; 209: 14–29.
[6] Vallet A, Tinet C. Characteristics of droplets from single and twin jet air induction nozzles: A preliminary investigation. Crop Protection, 2013; 48: 63–68.
[7] Crease G J, Hall F R, Thacker J R M. Reflection of agricultural sprays from leaf surfaces. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B-Pesticides Food Contaminants and Agricultural Wastes, 1991; 26: 383–407.
[8] Beck B, Brusselman E, Nuyttens D, Moens M, Pollet S, Temmerman F, et al. Improving foliar applications of entomopathogenic nematodes by selecting adjuvants and spray nozzles. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 2013; 23(5): 507–520.
[9] Dalili A, Sidawi K, Chandra S. Surface coverage by impact of droplets from a monodisperse spray. Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, 2020; 17(1): 207–217.
[10] Ellis M B, Tuck C R, Miller P C H. The effect of some adjuvants on sprays produced by agricultural flat fan nozzles. Crop Protection, 1997; 16: 41–50.
[11] Hilz E, Vermeer A W. Spray drift review: The extent to which a formulation can contribute to spray drift reduction. Crop Protection, 2013; 44: 75–83.
[12] Heidary A M, Douzals J P, Sinfort, C, Vallet A. Influence of spray characteristics on potential spray drift of field crop sprayers: A literature review. Crop Protection, 2014; 63: 120–130.
[13] Miller D R, Thomas E S. Response of spray drift from aerial applications at a forest edge to atmospheric stability. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2000; 1: 49–58.
[14] Bueno M R, Da Cunha J P A R, de Santana D G. Assessment of spray drift from pesticide applications in soybean crops. Biosystems Engineering, 2017; 154: 35–45.
[15] Wang S L, Li X, Zeng A J, Song J L, Xu T, Lv X L, et al. Effects of adjuvants on spraying characteristics and control efficacy in unmanned aerial application. Agriculture, 2022; 12(2): 138.
[16] Gao X Q, Wang D, Jiang Z L, Li X D, Chen G P. Effect of adjuvants on the wetting behaviors of bifenthrin droplets on tea leaves. Applied Sciences, 2022; 12(9): 4217.
[17] Liu Q, Shan C F, Zhang H Y, Song C C, Lan Y B. Evaluation of liquid atomization and spray drift reduction of hydraulic nozzles with four spray adjuvant solutions. Agriculture, 2023; 13(2): 236.
[18] Li C, Chen L, Ren Z. Application of ring method to measure surface tensions of liquids in high magnetic field. Review of Scientific Instruments, 2012; 83: 043906.
[19] Jolivalt C, Brenon S, Caminade E. Immobilization of laccase from Trametes versicolor on a modified PVDF microfiltration membrane: characterization of the grafted support and application in removing a phenylurea pesticide in wastewater. Journal of Membrane Science, 2001; 180(1): 103–113.
[20] Pandey V, Deka H, Biswas G, Dalal A. Dynamics of growth and breakup of an evaporating pendant drop. Journal of Heat Transfer-Transactions of the ASME, 2020; 142(2): 1.
[21] Hisatake K, Tanaka S, Aizawa Y. Evaporation rate of water in a vessel. Journal of applied physics, 1993; 73(11): 7395–7401.
[22] Zhu H, Salyani M, Fox R D. A portable scanning system for evaluation of spray deposit distribution. Computers & Electronics in Agriculture, 2011; 76: 38–43.
[23] Miranda-Fuentes A, Marucco P, González-Sánchez E J, Gil E, Grella M, Balsari P. Developing strategies to reduce spray drift in pneumatic spraying in vineyards: Assessment of the parameters affecting droplet size in pneumatic spraying. Science of the Total Environment, 2018; 616: 805–815.
[24] Ferguson J C, O’Donnell C C, Chauhan B S, Adkins S W, Kruger G R, Wang R B, et al. Determining the uniformity and consistency of droplet size across spray drift reducing nozzles in a wind tunnel. Crop Protection, 2015; 76: 1–6.
[25] Kirk I W. Measurement and prediction of atomization parameters from fixed-wing aircraft spray nozzles. T. ASABE, 2007; 50: 693–703.
[26] Stainier C, Destain M F, Schiffers B, Lebeau F. Droplet size spectra and drift effect of two phenmedipham formulations and four adjuvants mixtures. Crop Protection, 2006; 25: 1238–1243.
[27] Preftakes C J, Schleier III J J, Kruger G R, Weaver D K, Peterson R K. Effect of insecticide formulation and adjuvant combination on agricultural spray drift. Peer J, 2019; 7: e7136.
[28] Santos C A M D, Santos R T D S, Della’Vechia J, Griesang F, Polanczyk R A, Ferreira M D C. Effect of addition of adjuvants on physical and chemical characteristics of Bt bioinsecticide mixture. Scientific Reports, 2019; 9: 1–8.
[29] Dechelette A, Campanella O, Corvalan C, Sojka P E. An experimental investigation on the breakup of surfactant-laden non-Newtonian jets. Chemical Engineering Science, 2011; 66(24): 6367–6374.
[30] Fornasiero D, Mori N, Tirello P, Pozzebon A, Duso C, Tescari E, Bradascio R, Otto S. Effect of spray drift reduction techniques on pests and predatory mites in orchards and vineyards. Crop Protection, 2017; 98: 283–292.
[31] Feng P C, Chiu T, Sammons R D, Ryerse J S. Droplet size affects glyphosate retention, absorption, and translocation in corn. Weed Science, 2003; 51: 443–448.
[32] Werner S R, Jones J R, Paterson A H, Archer R H, Pearce D L. Droplet impact and spreading: Droplet formulation effects. Chemical Engineering Science, 2007; 62: 2336–2345.
[33] Creech C F, Henry R S, Hewitt A J, Kruger G R. Herbicide spray penetration into corn and soybean canopies using air-induction nozzles and a drift control adjuvant. Weed Technology, 2018; 32: 72–79.
[34] Zhu Y Q, Yu C X, Li Y, Zhu Q Q, Zhou L, Cao C, et al. Research on the changes in wettability of rice (Oryza sativa) leaf surfaces at different development stages using the OWRK method. Pest Management Science, Sci. 2014; 70(3): 462–469.
[35] Carvalho F K, Antuniassi U R, Chechetto R G, Mota A A B, de Jesus M G, de Carvalho L R. Viscosity, surface tension and droplet size of sprays of different formulations of insecticides and fungicides. Crop Protection, 2017; 101: 19–23.
[36] Buick R D, Buchan G D, Field R J. The role of surface tension of spreading droplets in absorption of an herbicide formulation via leaf stomata. Journal of Pesticide Science, 1993; 38: 227–235.
[37] Nairn J J, Forster W A, van Leeuwen R M. Effect of solution and leaf surface polarity on droplet spread area and contact angle. Pest Management Science, 2016; 72(3): 551–557.
[38] Hess F D, Foy C L. Interaction of surfactants with plant cuticles. Weed Technology, 2000; 14: 807–813.
[39] Abbott H A, Van Dyk L P, Grobbelaar N. Spreading of spray mixtures on leaf surfaces: I. Relative effectiveness of various physico-chemical predictors. Journal of Pesticide Science, 1990; 28: 419–429.
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2024-07-11
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Gong, C., Liu, Y., Ma, Y., Wang, Q., Xu, Z., Wang, X., … Shen, L. (2024). Impacts of surfactant-based adjuvants on spray droplet size, drift distance, and deposition efficiency. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 17(3), 50–58. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/7410
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