AIR-ASSISTED SPRAYING AND ITS DRIFT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ass. Prof. of Agric. Eng., Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Al-Azhar U., Egypt.

2 Senior Res., Plant Prot. Ins., Agri. Res., Egypt.

3 Master Stud. ., Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Al-Azhar U., Egypt.

Abstract

The main objective of this investigation is to study and evaluate the spraying factors affecting on spray drift and the environment pollution using air-assisted spraying technique (twin spraying technique). The air-assisted spraying device was modified and fabricated in some private local workshops at Dmanhour city, EL-Behira Governorate, Egypt. The experiments were divided in two operation conditions, as with and without air-assistance. The variables of study were four levels of spray height 30, 40, 50 and 60 cm , three types of nozzle (flat fan 110º) tip sizes 1, 3 and 5mm and four levels of operation pressure 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 bar. The performance indicators of spraying device were coefficient of uniformity (CU%) of spray patternator distribution. The results were as: The maximum values of (CU%) due to using  air assisted unit were 87.25, 96.06 and 88.24% at spray height 40 cm and spray pressure 2.5bar by using nozzle tip size of 1mm, 3mm and 5mm, respectively. Meanwhile, the lowest values were 77.54, 86.23 and 80.81% at spray height 60 cm by using nozzle tip size of 1mm, 3mm and 5mm, respectively without air. The off-target distance decreased from 7 to 4 m at spray height 40 cm by using nozzle tip size of 3 mm, average wind speed 1.26m/s using air assistance technique. The obtained values of (VMD) increased by using the same nozzle tip size 3mm and spray height 40 cm from 209.98 µm without air assistance to 235.18 µm with air assisted unit. The values of deposition rate increased to 0.472, 0.468, 0.446 and 0.462 mm3/cm2 at the top plant level and increased to 0.389, 0.384, 0.360 and 0.360 mm3/cm2at the bottom plant level when using nozzle tip size of 1mm and with air assisted unit at spray height of 40 cm and spray pressure levels of 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 bar respectively. Recommendation: using air assisting technique for increased of uniformity and decreased the drift.  

Main Subjects


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