A method to reduce spray drift during application of pesticides and crop protection agents

Abstract

Spray drift during the application of agricultural chemicals is reduced by incorporating a monosaccharide or a mixture of monosaccharides into the liquid to be sprayed and by spraying the resulting liquid through a flat fan or straight stream nozzle without a deflector. Average spray droplet sizes are increased and the percentage of driftable spray droplets (< 150 microns) produced are reduced.

Description

Background technique [0001] The present invention relates to a novel method of reducing spray drift during the application of chemical pesticides by incorporating a monosaccharide or mixture of monosaccharides into the liquid being sprayed and spraying the resulting liquid through a flat fan nozzle. Agricultural spraying using economically available technology uses hydraulic spray nozzles that inherently produce a wide range of droplet sizes. A large fraction of the droplets are less than 150 microns (μ) in diameter, as evidenced in many field trials, wind tunnel tests and accepted mathematical models for drift, ie many droplets are deposited at a considerable distance away from the target. Some herbicides have been shown to be very sensitive to phytotoxicity in very low parts per million (ppm) or even parts per billion (ppb) levels of particular plant species, leading to greening of sensitive crops, fruit trees and residential areas Peripheral administration is limited. For...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Some herbicides have been shown to be very sensitive to phytotoxicity in very low parts per million (ppm) or even parts per billion (ppb) levels of particular plant species, which leads to greening of sensitive crops, fruit trees and residential areas Administering around is limited