Drift Retardant Research Articles

Dicamba air concentrations in eastern Arkansas and impact on soybean

AbstractDamage to non–dicamba resistant (non-DR) soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] has been frequent in geographies where dicamba-resistant (DR) soybean and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) have been grown and sprayed with the herbicide in recent years. Off-target movement field trials were conducted in northwest Arkansas to determine the relationship between dicamba concentration in the air and the extent of symptomology on non-DR soybean. Additionally, the frequency and concentration of dicamba in air samples at two locations in eastern Arkansas and environmental conditions that impacted the detection of the herbicide in air samples were evaluated. Treatment applications included dicamba at 560 g ae ha−1 (1X rate), glyphosate at 860 g ae ha−1, and particle drift retardant at 1% v/v applied to 0.37-ha fields with varying degrees of vegetation. The relationship between dicamba concentration in air samples and non-DR soybean response to the herbicide was more predictive with visible injury (generalized R2 = 0.82) than height reduction (generalized R2 = 0.43). The predicted dicamba air concentration resulting in 10% injury to soybean was 1.60 ng m−3 d−1 for a single exposure. The predicted concentration from a single exposure to dicamba resulting in a 10% height reduction was 3.78 ng m−3 d−1. Dicamba was frequently detected in eastern Arkansas, and daily detections above 1.60 ng m−3 occurred 17 times in the period sampled. The maximum concentration of dicamba recorded was 7.96 ng m−3 d−1, while dicamba concentrations at Marianna and Keiser, AR, were ≥1 ng m−3 d−1 in six samples collected in 2020 and 22 samples in 2021. Dicamba was detected consistently in air samples collected, indicating high usage in the region and the potential for soybean damage over an extended period. More research is needed to quantify the plant absorption rate of volatile dicamba and to evaluate the impact of multiple exposures of gaseous dicamba on non-targeted plant species.

Spray mixture pH as affected by dicamba, glyphosate, and spray additives

AbstractThe pH of spray mixtures is an important attribute that affects dicamba volatility under field conditions. This report examined the effect of different components added to water sources that ranged in initial pH from 4.6 to 8.4. Commercial products were used, which include formulations of dicamba, glyphosate, the drift retardant Intact, ammonium sulfate (AMS), and several pH modifiers. Adding BAPMA salt of dicamba always increased the mixture pH, whereas diglycolamine + VaporGrip® (DGA+VG) had a mixed response. The addition of AMS decreased pH slightly (usually <0.5 pH unit), whereas the addition of potassium salt of glyphosate (GLY-K) always decreased the measured pH (from 1.0 to 2.1 pH units). A substantial pH change could have profound effects on dicamba volatility. Moreover, the 1.0 to 2.1 pH units would not be consistent with the registrant’s report stating that GLY-K decreased mixtures with DGA+VG pH by only 0.2 to 0.3 units. The drift retardant Intact had no effect on pH. There was no difference in resultant pH when comparing K salt and isopropylamine (IPA) salts of glyphosate. Spray carrier volume, ranging from 94 to 187 L ha–1, had only a minor effect on measured pH after the addition of various spray components. The addition of selected pH modifiers raised the pH above 5.0, which is a critical value according to the latest dicamba application labels. The order of mixing of various pH modifiers, including AMS, had only limited effect on measured spray solution pH.

Potential of adjuvants to reduce drift in agricultural spraying

The reduction of pesticide spraying drift is still one of the major challenges in Brazilian agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of different adjuvant products, such as surfactants, drift retardants, mineral oil and vegetable oil for reducing drift in agricultural spraying. The experiment consisted of quantifying drift of sprayings of 18 adjuvants dissolved in water under controlled conditions in a wind tunnel. Tests were performed in triplicates with spraying nozzles type Teejet XR8003 VK, pressure of 200kPa and medium drops. Solutions sprayed were marked with Brilliant Blue dye at 0.6% (m v-1). The drift was collected using polyethylene strips transversally fixed along the tunnel at different distances from the nozzle and different heights from the bottom part of the tunnel. Drift deposits were evaluated by spectrophotometry in order to quantify deposits. The adjuvants from chemical groups of mineral oil and drift retardant resulted in lower values of drift in comparison with surfactants and water. The results obtained in laboratory show that the selection of appropriate class and concentration of adjuvants can significantly decrease the risk of drift in agricultural spraying. However, the best results obtained in laboratory should be validated with pesticide under field conditions in the future.

Evaporation and coverage area of pesticide droplets on hairy and waxy leaves

The fate of pesticide droplets on leaves is significantly influenced by the fine structures found on leaf surfaces. Evaporation times and the maximum coverage areas of single droplets (246, 343, 575, 762, and 886 μm) on hairy and waxy geranium leaf surfaces were determined under controlled conditions. Stereoscopic sequential images of the droplet evaporation processes were taken for five droplet sizes, three relative humidity (RH) conditions and 13 different sprays. The sprays were combinations of water, a non-ionic colloidal polymer drift retardant, an alkyl polyoxyethylene surfactant, a fungicide and three insecticides. The evaporation time and maximum coverage area of droplets were significantly changed by adding the surfactant or drift retardant to the sprays, but not by adding fungicide or insecticide. Droplet evaporation times on waxy leaves were longer than those on hairy leaves. Evaporation times increased exponentially as droplet diameter and RH increased with limited variability of regression coefficients independent of spray type and leaf surface. The maximum coverage area of droplets also increased exponentially as droplet diameter increased but it was not significantly affected by RH. On the waxy geranium leaf surfaces, the coverage area of pesticide droplets decreased throughout the evaporating process and at all RH conditions, while, on hairy leaf surfaces for the same size droplets, and at the same RH conditions, the coverage area continued to spread until evaporation was nearly completed. Given that the duration of evaporation time and the extent of the coverage area affect pesticide distribution on waxy or hairy leaves, recommendations for pesticide dosage and spray methods should be taken into account for different leaf surfaces to obtain the optimum biological effect and reduced pesticide use.

Evaporation of Pesticide Droplets on Surfaces Under Various Relative Humidity Conditions

Abstract It is important to understand the evaporation process of pesticide droplets on targets for increasing the efficiency and efficacy of foliar applied insecticide and fungicide spray applications. Evaporation characteristics of five droplet sizes (246, 343, 575, 762, and 886 μm) under three relative humidity (RH) conditions (30, 60, and 90 %) were studied in a laboratory. Sequential images of evaporating droplets placed inside a small environmentally controlled chamber were obtained using a stereoscope for determination of droplet evaporation time and residual patterns. The spray mixtures included different combinations of water, a nonionic colloidal polymer drift retardant, an alkyl polyoxyethylene surfactant, and an insecticide. The droplet evaporation was investigated on the surfaces of hydrophilic and hydrophobic glass slides which represented ideal non-waxy and waxy leaf surfaces, respectively. Among the spray mixtures investigated, the droplets containing the drift retardant had the longest evaporation time, and the droplets containing the surfactant had the shortest evaporation time after these additives were added into insecticide mixtures. The mean evaporation time of 246, 343, 575, 762, and 886 μm droplets containing water and the insecticide without additives at 60 % RH on the hydrophilic surface were 43, 77, 133, 226, and 384 s, respectively. The mean evaporation times of the same size droplets containing the same insecticide but mixed with the surfactant were 26, 47, 77, 156, and 251 s, respectively. The evaporation time of 575 μm droplets containing the drift retardant at 60 % RH increased from 159 s to 224 s when the deposition surface changed from the hydrophilic slide to the hydrophobic slide. The evaporation time of droplets greatly increased as RH increased, and also increased exponentially as the droplet size increased. Therefore, spray additives, target surface fine structure and RH greatly influenced the evaporation time of spray droplets.

Evaporation and Deposition Coverage Area of Droplets Containing Insecticides and Spray Additives on Hydrophilic, Hydrophobic, and Crabapple Leaf Surfaces

The efficiency of foliar spray applications is influenced by the evaporation and residual pattern of pesticide droplets on targets. Evaporation time and maximal coverage area of a single droplet from 246 to 886 m in size at relative humidity (RH) ranging from 30% to 90% were measured with sequential images under controlled conditions. Droplets were placed on targets inside an environmentally controlled chamber under a stereoscope and a high-definition digital camera. The spray mixtures used to form droplets included different combinations of water, a nonionic colloidal polymer drift retardant, an alkyl polyoxyethylene surfactant, and two commercially available insecticides. The droplet evaporation was investigated on crabapple leaf surfaces, and hydrophilic and hydrophobic glass slide surfaces. Adding surfactant into spray mixtures greatly increased droplet coverage area on the surfaces, while droplet evaporation time was greatly reduced. For a 343 m droplet on a crabapple leaf at 60% RH, the evaporation time decreased from 70 to 50 s and the maximal coverage area increased from 0.366 to 0.890 mm2 after the surfactant was added into the spray mixture containing water and insecticide. Adding the drift retardant into the spray mixture slightly increased the droplet evaporation time and decreased the droplet coverage area. In addition, changing the target surface from the hydrophilic slide to the hydrophobic slide greatly increased the droplet coverage area and reduced the droplet evaporation time. Increasing RH increased the droplet evaporation time greatly but did not change the coverage area. The droplet evaporation time and coverage area increased exponentially as the droplet size increased. Therefore, droplet size, surface characteristics of the target (waxy or non-waxy), RH, and chemical composition of the spray mixture (water alone, pesticide, additives) should be included as important factors that can affect the efficacy and efficiency of pesticide applications.

Wind Tunnel Evaluation of Drift Reduction Potential and Spray Characteristics with Drift Retardants at High Operating Pressure

Abstract Although considerable research has been done on effectiveness of drift retardants for many years, answers to some questions are still unclear to applicators. Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate drift potentials associated with off-target ground and airborne spray deposits discharged with a hollow cone nozzle spraying three different drift retardants at a high operating pressure and various wind velocities in a wind tunnel. Droplet sizes and spray widths were also determined with a laser imaging system and a portable spray patternator. At 1655 kPa pressure and 4.65 L/m flow rate, the volume median diameters of droplets from the hollow cone nozzle discharging spray mixtures containing water only, polyvinyl polymer, nonionic colloidal polymer and polyacrylamide polymer drift retardants were 201, 222, 239, and 210 μm, respectively. The major spray pattern width was not changed after drift retardants were added into the spray carrier. For the wind velocity from 1 to 5 m/s in the wind tunnel, the polyacrylamide drift retardant produced the highest airborne deposit among the three drift retardants, followed by polyvinyl, and then nonionic colloidal. Also, the polyacrylamide drift retardant produced the highest ground drift potential, followed by nonionic colloidal and then polyvinyl. According to the results from this laboratory study, both nonionic colloidal and polyvinyl polymer drift retardants reduced the drift potential compared to the spray carrier containing water only.

FOLIAR DEPOSITION AND OFF-TARGET LOSS WITH DIFFERENT SPRAY TECHNIQUES IN NURSERY APPLICATIONS

Information is lacking on spray techniques to improve deposit uniformity within nursery canopies and reduceoff-target loss on the ground and via spray drift from the treated area. Spray deposits at various elevations within crabappletrees and on the ground were investigated with an air blast sprayer equipped with conventional hollow-cone nozzles,air-induction nozzles, and conventional hollow-cone nozzles with a drift retardant in a commercial nursery field. Airbornedeposits at three elevations on sampling towers and on the ground at several distances from the sprayer were also investigatedwith the three spray treatments in an open area without trees. To compare field test results, wind tunnel experiments wereconducted to assess spray deposits on the floor beyond 0.4 m downwind distance from the nozzles and airborne deposits at2.1 m downwind from the spray discharge point with the three spray techniques without air assist. Droplet size distributionsacross spray patterns without air assist were measured with a laser particle/droplet image analysis system. In general, therewas no significant difference for deposits within nursery tree canopies and on the ground with three different spray techniques.At the 700 L/ha application rate, which was 360 L/ha lower than the rate typically used in nursery application, the treecanopies received over 4 to 14.5 times as much spray deposit as actually needed from all treatments, and a large portion ofspray volume deposited on the ground. Compared with conventional hollow-cone nozzles, drift reduction from air-inductionnozzles or the spray mixture with drift retardant treatment was significant in wind tunnel tests but was not significant in fieldtests.

Comparison of Abscission Spray Application Practices for Mechanical Harvesting of Oranges

Abstract Two air-carrier sprayers were used to investigate the feasibility of applying abscission materials from one side of the tree in a two-row bedded orange grove. One-sided (bed side) and two-sided (both bed and ditch side) applications at 2.4 and 4.8 km/h were compared using each sprayer. Tank mixture contained active ingredient (a.i.) 5-chloro-3-methyl-4-nitro-1-H-pyrazole (CMN-P) at about 350 mg/L a.i., a surfactant, a drift retardant, and a fluorescent tracer. Leaf samples were collected from different locations on the bed and ditch sides, and deposition was determined by fluorometry. The efficacy of abscission application was assessed in terms of fruit detachment force (FDF) and percent fruit removal (PFR) by trunk shakers. With both sprayers, one-sided applications resulted in comparable depositions to two-sided applications at the far side of the lower canopy level. This result implies that one-sided applications might provide acceptable spray coverage in lightly foliated canopies. Abscission sprays at one-half or full a.i. (526 or 1052 g/ha) rate reduced fruit detachment force significantly. The best results were obtained with two-sided applications at lower ground speed (highest volume/a.i. rate). The air-curtain sprayer at full a.i. rate and the air-blast sprayer at one-half or full a.i. rate resulted in a significant increase in percent fruit removal.

Effect of Drift Retardant Adjuvants on Spray Droplet Size of Water and Paraffinic Oil Applied at Ultralow Volume

Adjuvants were evaluated to determine the effect on increasing spray droplet size and reducing the amount of spray dispensed in small driftable size particles when applying water and paraffinic oil at ultralow volume. Spray solutions were applied with an air-assist system at liquid flow rates of 28 and 56 ml/min and atomized with 14, 28, 42, 56, and 84 kPa of air pressure. Water and paraffinic oil were applied alone and with two drift retardant adjuvants mixed individually in each. The two water soluble adjuvants were mixed at concentrations of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, and 2.0%; oil soluble adjuvants were applied at 0.125, 0.25, and 0.50%. Adjuvants used in water and oil were effective at increasing droplet size and reducing the amount of liquid dispensed in small driftable size particles. Effectiveness of the adjuvants decreased as air pressures increased, with water soluble adjuvants being more susceptible to air pressure. Volume median diameters > 200 μm with water could be achieved without adjuvants; whereas with oil, an adjuvant was required.

Acute toxicity and hazard assessment of Rodeo�, X-77 Spreader�, and Chem-Trol� to aquatic invertebrates

The herbicide Rodeo® provides waterfowl managers with an effective chemical tool for creating open water habitats in wetlands if its use does not adversely affect native invertebrate communities. The survival of caged Chironomus spp. (midge), Hyalella azteca (amphipod), Stagnicola elodes (pond snail), and Nephelopsis obscura (leech) was assessed in prairie pothole wetlands treated by air with a tank mixture of Rodeo®, the surfactant X-77 Spreader®, and the drift retardant Chem-Trol® at a rate recommended for controlling cattails. Laboratory studies were then conducted to determine the acute toxicities of Rodeo®, X-77 Spreader®, and Chem-Trol®, individually and in simulated tank mixtures, to the same invertebrates and to Daphnia magna in reconstituted water representative of these wetlands. There was no difference in the survival of caged invertebrates between treated and reference wetlands after 21 days. Based on nominal concentrations of the formulations, X-77 Spreader® (LC50s=2.0–14.1 mg/L) was about 83–136 times more toxic than Rodeo® (LC50s=218–1216 mg/L) to aquatic invertebrates. Chem-Trol® killed ≤10% of the animals at 10,000 mg/L and ≤50% of the animals at 28,000 mg/L. Daphnia magna were more sensitive than the other species to X-77 Spreader®, Rodeo®, and the simulated Rodeo® tank mixture (RTM). The joint toxic action of the RTM was additive for amphipods and midges, greater than additive for leeches, and was less than additive for daphnids. X-77 Spreader® was the major toxic component in the RTM. Binary mixtures of X-77 Spreader®, Rodeo®, and Chem-Trol® at tank mixture and equitoxic ratios also showed additive toxicity to amphipods. The use of Rodeo® (applied as a tank mixture with X-77 Spreader® and Chem-Trol®) as a management tool in wetlands does not pose an acute hazard to native aquatic invertebrates because the concentrations of Rodeo®, X-77 Spreader®, and Chem-Trol® found to be acutely toxic to these invertebrates were much higher than their expected or measured concentrations in water from wetlands treated with the RTM.

Chemical vine desiccation of two potato cultivars

Russet Burbank and Onaway potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) vines were desiccated with diquat (6,7-dihydrodipyrido (1,2-a:2′1′-c) pyrazinediium ion), ametryn (N-ethyl-N-methylethyl)-6-(methylthio)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion), and endothall (7-oxabicyclo (2.2.1) heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) applied at various rates alone or combined with surfactants, drift retardant, copper, or ammonium sulfate. Diquat and paraquat at 0.28 and 0.56 kg ha−1 plus nonionic surfactant thoroughly desiccated Onaway and Russet Burbank potato vines. Only Onaway vines were thoroughly desiccated by ametryn at 1.3 and 2.3 kg ha−1. Endothall at 0.87 kg ha−1 provided thorough desiccation of Russet Burbank vines. The addition of a drift retardant did not reduce the effectiveness of diquat, while combining either ammonium or copper sulfate with diquat slowed the dieback of potato vines in 1987. Combining copper sulfate with diquat also slowed the dieback of Onaway vines in 1988. Both copper and ammonium sulfate, combined with diquat and nonionic surfactant, slowed the dieback of Russet Burbank vines when evaluated two days after application, but seven days later, no difference in vine dieback was evident. Crushing plants by rolling the field prior to desiccant application quickened vinekill by 18%. Applications of diquat using flat fan nozzles at 333 kPa provided vinekill equivalent to applications using hollow cone nozzles on a 25 cm spacing at 833 kPa, when spray volume for both applications was 467 L ha−1. Potato yield, percentage of U.S. No. 1 potatoes, and stemend discoloration were unaffected by chemical desiccation.