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
•
XR, TR
•
•
Turbo Flood
Turbo TeeJet
•
•
•
Air Mix
AI XR
GuardianAir
Chamber Design
Venturi Design - II
Venturi Design - I
•
•
•
AI
Ultra Low Drift
Turbo Drop
•
TTI
New 2008 Test Nozzles!
Turbo TwinJet
GuardianAir - Hypro
Air Mix & TDHSTF- Greenleaf
AI XR TeeJet
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 bar
7.5 GPA @ 10 MPH
0.24 GPM / nozzle
Nozzle Spacing: 20 in.
Boom Height: 20 in.
Materials and Methods cont.:
1. XR Flat-fan (XR)
2. DR Flat-fan DR
3. Turbo Flat-fan (TT)
4. Turbo Twin Flat-fan (TTJ60)
5. AIC Venturi Flat-fan
6. TurboDrop High Speed Twin-fan
7. Ultra Lo Drift (ULD)
8. TTI Venturi Flat-fan
9. BFS Venturi Flat-fan
10. AIXR Venturi Flat-fan (AIXR)
11. Air Mix Venturi Flat-fan (AM)
12. GuardianAir Venturi Flat-fan (GA)
Results
Discussion
DropletScan used to analyze droplets
Droplet scan software was used for droplet characteristics
Volume Median Diameter, Percent Area Coverage, Deposition
Statistical analysis with SAS
Droplet Size
Volume Median Diameter
600
540
506
487
467
500
491
475
475
462
460
a
391
Microns
400
b
d
bc
bc
cd
300
d
d
377
372
cd
c
f
ef
200
100
0
C
AI
2
00
1
1
X
AI
R
5
02
0
11
AM
5
02
0
11
5
02
0
11
S
BF
D
R
5
02
0
11
G
25
0
10
A1
TD
H
02
0
1
F1
T
S
T
5
02
0
1
T1
T
2
00
1
1
TI
T
5
02
0
11
0
6
TJ
U
LD
2
00
2
1
XR
03
0
11
Coverge
Coverge Across Nozzle Type
20.0
16.0
13.9
14.5
13.7
14.0
12.0
cd
10.0
cd
bc
16.9
17.4
a
a
15.1
14.1
12.3
bc
13.5
cde
c
13.6
12.9
b
de
10.7
cd
f
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
11
00
3
XR
12
00
2
U
LD
00
25
J6
01
1
TT
I1
10
02
TT
11
00
25
TT
ST
F1
10
02
TD
H
A1
10
02
5
G
5
11
00
2
R
D
BF
S1
10
02
5
11
00
25
AM
AI
X
R
11
00
2
11
00
25
0.0
AI
C
Percent Area Coverage
18.0
3.0
11
00
3
3.8
XR
b
12
00
2
b
LD
5.9
U
b
J6
01
10
02
5
5.1
TT
5.3
I1
10
02
7.0
TT
11
00
25
b
ST
F1
10
02
4.8
TT
H
5.3
TD
b
A1
10
02
5
5.0
G
5
b
11
00
2
b
R
5.5
D
5.4
BF
S1
10
02
5
b
11
00
25
5.2
AM
11
00
25
4.0
R
11
00
2
6.0
AI
X
AI
C
Gallons per Acre
Deposition
Deposition Across Nozzle Type
8.0
6.5
7.0
5.5
b
b
b
b
2.0
1.0
0.0
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