Abstract
Aerial herbicide drift caused mainly by weather and climatic conditions may be the most challenging problem facing farmers. Spray drift reaching off-target areas can destroy sensitive crops; pollute air and water resources thus causing serious health problems to humans and animals. Nonetheless, buffer zones of 500 meters are indicated to limit these negative impacts of spray drift. The Guyana Sugar Corporation controls weeds and ripens canes by aerial herbicide application. The corporation, in the 1990s, instituted 750-metre buffer zones, which greatly affected the optimization of aircraft use in herbicide application and ripening of cane. This study tested the utility of the 750-meters buffer zone on Rose Hall, Albion and Blairmont Sugar estates. The actual drift distances were determined within 06:00 hours and 09:00 hours for 9 herbicide applications. Drift patterns associated with the three 1- hour time periods were correlated with prevailing weather conditions to determine optimal flying periods for the locations. The droplets concentration per sensitive paper was collected for each period. It was noted that the drift is less with the distance from the field up to 510 m; thereafter the number of droplets was 2 or less per sensitive paper. The wind speed increases as time goes up, thus increasing the drift. The windward side is where 510 m were recorded to have droplets of 2 and nil at 510 m from the opposite side.
Highlights
Since the 1960s application of agrochemicals by aircraft has been an important operation in the production of sugar by Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)
The corporation, in the 1990s, instituted 750-metre buffer zones, which greatly affected the optimization of aircraft use in herbicide application and ripening of cane
Herbicide spray drift is the movement of herbicide droplets through the air during application or soon after, to non-target areas [3]
Summary
Since the 1960s application of agrochemicals by aircraft has been an important operation in the production of sugar by Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The corporation carefully reviewed aerial application of herbicides and instituted buffer zones (no-fly zones) on all estates to avoid spray drift contamination of off-targets areas [2]. Herbicide spray drift is the movement of herbicide droplets through the air during application or soon after, to non-target areas [3]. Factors that may affect spray drift, in particular, are volatility of the chemical formulation for e.g. esters (very volatile), equipment and application techniques, droplet size, weather and climatic condition mainly wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity [3]. Droplet sizes reaching 50 microns in diameter suspend in the air until environmental conditions are favourable to evaporate and pollute non-target zones. Drift patterns associated with the three 1-hour time periods will be correlated with prevailing weather conditions to determine optimal flying periods for the locations
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