The Effect of Application Volume and Deposition Aids on Droplet Spectrum and Deposition in Broccoli for Aerial

Applications

Paper # AA06-009 Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Presented at the2006 ASAE NAAA/ASAE Technical Session

40th Annual National Agricultural Aviation Association ConventionRosen Shingle Creek Hotel & Resort

December 4-6, 2006

Objective:

The effect of application volume and deposition aids on droplet spectrum and deposition in broccoli for aerial applications.

Materials and Methods:

• Broccoli field in Yuma, Arizona• March 7 and 9, 2006 • 15 treatments• Products completely randomized• Broccoli was post harvest stage

– Planted on ridges, double rows, 18-24 inches tall, and dense

• Application Conditions:– Treatments 1-7 = 73°F and 40% RH– Treatments 8-15 = 48°F and 66%

RH– Wind speed:

• Range = 4-10 and 2-3 mph

Materials and Methods:• AT 402B (Tri Rotor; Yuma, AZ and Lakin,

KS)– Drop booms– CPTT11 nozzles with 8° deflection– 3 GPA (36 nozzles) CPTT11 - 15– 5 GPA (36 nozzles) CPTT11 - 20– 10 GPA (67 nozzles) CPTT11 - 30 – 58 - 73 psi (average = 62.8)– 128 – 141 MPH (average = 132.5

mph, GPS measured)

• Aircraft Operation S.A.F.E. calibrated

• Application Height 10-12 feet• Swath width = 60 feet

Materials and Methods:• 5 deposition aids:

– Interlock– Interlock + Preference– Interlock + Rivet– AG06011 – AG06038

• Water/Prime Oil/Red dye as a check

• Spray mixes containing 50 gal– Prime Oil @ 3 ounces/acre– Tap water– Required amount of product or

combination of products per label• Application volumes

– 3, 5, 10 GPA

Collection Procedure for canopy:

• 1 pass• 5 collector areas evenly

spaced across the swath width

• 3 kromekote papers stapled to leaves

• placed in top, middle, and bottom of canopy = 15 papers

DropletScan used to analyze droplets:

System ComponentsSystem Components

Analysis Procedure:

• Scanned and recorded– 675 canopy papers (5 x 3 x 15 x

3)– % Area Coverage, droplet size

characteristics, and number of droplets in the bottom, middle, and top of the broccoli canopy.

• Statistical analysis with SAS– Proc GLM– LS Means compared

• Alpha = .05

Results and Discussion:

• Comparison of locations in canopy• Comparison of application volume• Comparison of products vs. water

– Percent area coverage– Number of droplets per square centimeter– Volume median diameter in lower canopy

Coverage in Bottom of Canopy – 3 GPA:

0.67 0.670.70

0.20

0.60

0.33

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

water

-3

Inte

rlock

-3

Int+

Pref-3

AG 060

13-3

Int+

Rivet-3

Int+

AG 0

6030

-3

Treatments

% A

rea

Co

ve

rag

e

Coverage in Bottom of Canopy – 5 GPA:

0.70

0.93 0.97

0.730.80

0.47

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

water

-5

Inter

lock

-5

Int+

Pref-5

AG 060

13-5

Int+

Rivet-5

Int+

AG 0

6030

-5

Treatments

% A

rea

Co

ve

rag

e

Coverage in Bottom of Canopy – 10 GPA:

2.20

1.85

0.95

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

water

-10

Int+

Pref-1

0

Int+

Rivet-1

0

Treatments

% A

rea

Co

ve

rag

e

Percent Area Coverage Bottom Collectors

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

Treatments

% A

rea

Co

vera

ge

a

b

LSD = 0.87

a

bb

bb

b

b

b

b b bb

b

Average = 0.85

13.715.3 16.7 16.7

13.310.3

12.0 11.7

29.325.3

21.718.7

31.032.7

23.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

water-5

water-3

Inte

rlock

-5

Inte

rlock

-3

Int+

Pref-5

Int+

Pref-3

AG 060

13-5

AG 060

13-3

Int+

Rivet-5

Int+

Rivet-3

Int+

AG 060

30-5

Int+

AG 060

30-3

water-1

0

Int+

Pref-1

0

Int+

Rivet-1

0

Treatments

Dro

ple

ts/s

q.

cmDroplets/Sq. cm - Bottom

Collectors

LSD = 12.9

Average = 19.4

de de decde cde e e e

abc

aab

abcdabcd

abcde

bcd

VMD – Bottom of Canopy

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Treatments

Mic

ron

s

LSD = 60.3

Average =284

Summary of findings:

• The 10 GPA treatments of water only and the combination of Preference/Interlock provided significantly better coverage in the lower canopy.

• There were no other significant differences measured among all other volumes and products.

• For the 5 GPA treatments, the Interlock and the Interlock/Preference combination provided the best coverage.

• Increased volume per acre improved coverage.

Summary of findings cont.:

• Deposition aids only slightly increased canopy penetration except with the 10 GPA treatments where water alone was best.

• Higher application volumes increased the number of droplets measured in the lower canopy.

• The combinations of Interlock/Rivet and Interlock/Experimental AG06030 at both 5 and 3 GPA improved the droplet count.

• Interlock/Preference at 10 GPA had the most droplets in the lower canopy.

Acknowledgements:– Agriliance– Tri Rotor- – Jim DeKoster - Pilot – Armando – Mix Master