How to avoid drift in agricultural spraying by using a self-propelled machine?

The agricultural spraying is one of the most decisive steps of the crop field production. It ensures the health of the plants and yield, but it requires special care to avoid losses and negative impacts.

A constant challenge in this process is the drift, a phenomenon that can cause huge economic, social and environment losses.

In this article, you’ll find out how to identify drift, what the main causes are and how to avoid it efficiently.

What is spraying drift and how to identify it?

The agricultural spraying drift can be defined as the displacement of the agricultural chemical droplets outwards from the desired application area. The phenomenon is especially caused by the wind, which blows the product particles. As a consequence, it prevents the chemical from reaching the target crop.

Identifying drift is not always that simple, but some factors help the farmer to see the issue:

Visible mist formation: when you see a product “cloud” being blown by the wind to beyond the crop field borders. This is a clear factor that the chemical is not reaching the target properly, which results in efficiency loss;
Neighbor crops are damaged: when the product reaches nearby sensitive crop plants, causing burning or poor development. This consequence is usually noticed some days after the application;
Poor treatment efficiency: when the target crop keeps on being attacked by pests or diseases even after the spraying process. It shows that a significant portion of the chemical hasn’t reached the correct target.

Noticing these signs is important to act quickly. The sooner the drift is identified, the higher the chances to correct management failures and reduce losses for further applications.

Main drift causes

Drift happens by a combination of factors. Among the major ones, we can highlight four: weather conditions, the spray nozzle choice, the chemical solution content, and cautions during the operation.

Each one requires special attention so that the operator ensures application efficiency and sustainability.

1. Weather conditions

The climate during applications has a direct impact in a successful spraying operation and should be closely monitored. See the alerts:

Wind: speeds above 10 km/h significantly increase the drift risk, as light droplets are easily blown to outside the target area. The stronger the wind blows, the longer the distance the particles are taken;
Temperature and humidity: high temperatures and low humidity speed up the evaporation of the droplets. Consequently, they become smaller, lighter and are subjected to be blown by the wind. Spraying when temperatures are below 30 °C and humidity above 55% is considered a safer scenario.

Therefore, it becomes clear that monitoring the weather conditions before and during applications is as much important as adjusting the agricultural machine. Ignoring this aspect may impair the entire operation performed by the agricultural sprayer.

2. Spray nozzle choice

The spray nozzle is one of the main resources for efficiency and drift control. It sets the size, weight, and application of the droplets. To reduce losses, the operator should have in mind:

Choosing the droplet size: too fine droplets (<150 micron) are blown by the wind, while too coarse droplets slide off the leaves. The ideal is to keep medium to coarse droplets;
Using air induction nozzles: producing larger droplets, filled with air bubbles that fall down precisely without damaging the coverage;
Keeping the integrity of the nozzles, worn-out or damaged nozzles change the spraying pattern and jeopardize the application quality. The preventive replacement ensures quality and precision.

These cautions and digital tools increase the spraying efficiency. The Stara Spraying App helps the operator to choose the correct nozzle, adjust the pressure and calibrate the machine according to every operation.

Choosing the right nozzle should always consider the chemical solution content, which also interferes with the drift risk.

See also: Self-propelled sprayer nozzle: main types and 10 hints to choose| Stara

3. Chemical solution content

The way the chemical solution is prepared also influences on the drift risk. See more details:

Anti-drift adjuvants: these products increase the chemical solution viscosity. As a result, they form heavier droplets and are less subjected to be blown by the wind. Additionally, they help the chemical adherence to the leaves and boost efficiency;
Following the technical recommendations: follow the correct metering of each product is essential. A poorly prepared chemical solution may impair the chemical solution efficiency and there is the risk of drift loss.

4. Cautions during operations

In addition to the previous factors, the agricultural machine is crucial to reduce drift losses. The operation cautions with the operation determine the air droplets performance. The operator should:

Keep the correct spray boom height: too high booms increase the application distance and the droplet becomes vulnerable to the wind.
Adjusting the application speed: excessive speeds reduce the application uniformity and increase losses;
Adjusting the operation pressure: high pressure produces too fine droplets, which are easily blown by the wind.

The balance between these adjustments ensures safer applications and get the most out of the chemicals.

How to avoid drift by using a Stara self-propelled sprayer

Hopefully, the combination of the best agricultural practice with on-board technology on self-propelled sprayers allows to reduce the drift losses significantly. See the step-by-step to prevent drift by using a Stara self-propelled machine:

Monitor the wind speed, temperature, and humidity;
Spraying the crop at proper hours;
Choose the spray nozzle correctly;

These cautions and digital tools increase the spraying efficiency.

Be skilled to use the self-propelled sprayer technologies

The agricultural technologies on the agricultural machine ensure more than application efficiency, but also a safer environment and input savings in the field.

Stara has developed exclusive solutions for self-propelled machines, which help the farmer to keep the spraying precision, even under speed, wind, and pressure conditions.

Also, the company has developed a specific technology to avoid drift, such as the Twin Row Spraying System, as explained by the agronomist engineer, Lucas Henrique Luersen – Stara Product Marketing Analyst:

"This innovation alternates between two spray nozzles with different flow options, which are activated at the same time. Thus, you can range the self-propelled sprayer speed by keeping the same droplet patterns and application quality, which ensures precision and efficiency."

Luersen also points out that it is crucial to choose the spray nozzle recommended for the chemical type chosen for the crop, either fungicide, insecticide, or herbicide.

Consequences of drift in agricultural spraying

Controlling drift is not only a matter of input savings, but also economic, social, and environment responsibility. The negative impacts are noticed in short and long terms.

Economic impacts

Product waste and repeated applications: every droplet that doesn’t reach the target results in waste. The need for new applications increases the chemical costs, fuel, and labor
Lower yields: a poor control of pests and diseases leads to lower quality and low harvest volume. As a result, reducing the crop field income;
Lower profit margin: in a long term, errors to apply chemicals may impair the farm financial situation.

This set of factors shows how drift can cause a huge impact on the farm production.

Environment and neighbor crop damages

Losses and neighbor crops: when the chemicals reach sensitive crops, the damages can be irreversible. It causes additional costs and even the need of compensation;
Environment risks: drift can contaminate water sources, soil and, organisms, such as bees, which are fundamental for pollination;
Bad relationship with neighbors: spraying issues can affect the relationship with neighbors and the farmer’s responsibility perception.

These consequences are a warning to invest in good agricultural management and technologies, which ensure the correct product application by using the self-propelled sprayer.

Training for agricultural machine operators

Last but not least, the Precision Agriculture technologies can deliver the highest performance when used properly.

For this reason, make sure the agricultural sprayer operators on your farm have received training on the machine adjustments, whenever necessary:

Correct calibration of the self-propelled sprayer: ensuring that the chemical is applied at the correct metering to avoid waste and poor crop protection;
Choosing the ideal spray nozzles: a skilled agricultural machine operator knows which spray nozzles to use for each chemical application and weather condition;
Understanding wheather data: know to assess the wind, temperature, and humidity is decisive to plan the application.

The constant training enables the operator to become a strategic ally of the crop production. Thanks to the technical knowledge, the professional boosts the sprayer performance and contributes significantly for a safer and sustainable sowing.

Conclusion

The spraying drift control is an important pillar for productive, profitable, and sustainable farming.

When gathering best agriculture management practice and technologies, such as the Twin Row Spraying System of the Stara self-propelled sprayers, the farmer has all tools to protect the people, the crop, and the environment.