SEDL / STP / STP1036-EB / STP22916S

Use of an Air-Assisted Electrostatic Sprayer to Increase Pesticide Efficiency in Greenhouses

Lehtinen, JR
Design Engineer, Parker Hannifin Corp., Cleveland, Ohio

Adams, AJ
Post-Doctoral Research Assoc., Laboratory for Pest Control Application Technology (LPCAT), Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center (OARDC), Wooster, Ohio

Lindquist, RK
Professor, OARDC, Wooster, Ohio

Hall, FR
Head, LPCAT, OARDC, Wooster, Ohio

Simmons, HC
Director of Engineering, Parker Hannifin Corp., Cleveland, Ohio

Pages: 14    Published: Jan 1989

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Abstract

The spraying system described in this paper uses air and electrostatics to deliver small drops (20 um Dv^0.5) to the target. The use of this system in greenhouses is especially attractive since air movement can be controlled and drift is contained. It has been found that charged drops are collected more efficiently by, and distributed more evenly upon plant targets than uncharged drops. Evaluation of spray distribution on cucumbers and poinsettias confirmed that the theoretical advantages of small, charged drops may be exploited in greenhouses. Although the lower spray volume necessitated a correspondingly high concentration of active ingredient, no phytotoxic damage was observed.