The persistence of spray droplets above two vegetation canopies

Abstract

AbstractDroplets were released from an ‘instantaneous line source’ perpendicular to the wind at heights of 4 and 7 m above the ground. Droplets were collected by rotating samplers at three heights; sets of samplers were positioned in a line parallel to the wind, downwind of the line source. Trials were carried out in moderately unstable conditions during the day, and under stable conditions shortly after dark, both over short rough stubble and over mature cotton. A substantial proportion of the small droplets were found to travel as far as 500 m over cotton; over grass, few of even the smallest droplets were collected 250 and 500 m downwind of the line source. Collection at the distant samplers was on average slightly, but not significantly, more when the spray was released at the greater height.