Comparison of Spray Droplet Characteristics for Nozzles Used for

Agronomic Weed Control

Robert Wolf

Cory Friedli and Brian Lauer

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept.

Nozzle Efficacy/Drift Slope

Extended Range

Chamber Design

Venturi Design - I

Venturi Design - II

• XR, TR

• Turbo Flood• Turbo TeeJet

• Air Mix• AI XR• GuardianAir

• AI• Ultra Low Drift• Turbo Drop

• TTI

Nozzle development timeline

New 2008 Test Nozzles!

Turbo TwinJet

AI XR TeeJet

Air Mix & TDHSTF- Greenleaf

GuardianAir - Hypro

Objective

The objective of this study was to compare droplet spectra characteristics for nozzle types used to apply postemergence herbicides.

Materials and Methods cont.:

24 ft. spray bar7.5 GPA @ 10 MPH0.24 GPM / nozzleNozzle Spacing: 20 in.Boom Height: 20 in.

1. XR Flat-fan (XR)

5. AIC Venturi Flat-fan6. TurboDrop High Speed Twin-fan7. Ultra Lo Drift (ULD)8. TTI Venturi Flat-fan

Materials and Methods cont.:

2. DR Flat-fan DR3. Turbo Flat-fan (TT)4. Turbo Twin Flat-fan (TTJ60)

9. BFS Venturi Flat-fan10. AIXR Venturi Flat-fan (AIXR)11. Air Mix Venturi Flat-fan (AM)12. GuardianAir Venturi Flat-fan (GA)

Discussion

Results

DropletScan used to analyze droplets

Droplet scan software was used for droplet characteristics

Volume Median Diameter, Percent Area Coverage, Deposition

Statistical analysis with SAS

Volume Median Diameter

506467 487 491 475 460 462

391

540

377

475

372

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Mic

ron

s

Droplet Size

ba

efcd

fd bc bc cd d d c

Coverge

Coverge Across Nozzle Type

13.9 13.714.5 14.1

12.313.5 12.9

15.1

10.7

13.6

16.9 17.4

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

Perc

en

t A

rea C

overa

ge

cd cd bc deb

f

cd

a a

bc c cde

Deposition

Deposition Across Nozzle Type

5.2 5.4 5.5 5.34.8

5.3 5.1

5.9

3.8

5.5

6.57.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

AIC11

002

AIXR11

0025

AM11

0025

BFS11002

5

DR1100

25

GA11

0025

TDHSTF110

02

TT1100

25

TTI110

02

TTJ601

10025

ULD12

002

XR1100

3

Gal

lon

s p

er A

cre

b b b b b bb b

b b

bb

Findings

• Statistical differences were found for all droplet characteristics measured.

• TTI - largest droplets, with lowest coverage and deposition.

• XR - smallest droplets, with most coverage and deposition.

• ULD – middle on droplet size, 2nd best coverage and deposition.

• Venturi design II group as an average had smaller droplets, better coverage and deposition than the venturi design I group.

Conclusions:

• The findings support that the use of nozzle types producing smaller droplets tend to have more coverage and deposition than those producing larger droplets.

• Data also supports that the newer designs in venturi nozzles will provide more coverage and deposition than the older venturi nozzle designs.

Thanks