Wind tunnel measurements and model predictions for estimating spray drift reduction under field conditions

Abstract

A UK scheme to enable the protection of surface water from spray drift allows farmers to reduce the size of a buffer zone according to the drift-reducing capability of the sprayer. Recent changes to UK regulations have allowed buffer zones greater than 6 m to be included, providing that 75% drift reduction conditions are used. However, there is an implicit assumption that the level of drift reduction is independent of distance downwind, so that measurements relating to a 6 m buffer zone can be applied to 20 m. An investigation of the relationship between wind tunnel and field data was carried out with the purpose of establishing if drift reduction measured between 2 and 7 m in the Silsoe wind tunnel can be extrapolated to 20 m in the field. A computer-based spray drift model was used to explore some of the factors influencing downwind spray drift to support this extrapolation. It was concluded that spray drift reduction is dependent on distance downwind, but that wind tunnel measurements can be used to estimate this at least up to 20 m downwind. Improvements to the wind tunnel protocol were identified, which will need to take account of how the data will be used in the regulatory process before implementing. Further discussions are needed to harmonise methods for determining spray drift reduction across EU member states, but this approach of mapping the wind tunnel data onto field data is one that should be possible with other methods.