Study and development of a test methodology to assess potential drift generated by air-assisted sprayers.

DiSAFA – University of Torino and DEAB – Polytechnic University of Catalonia started a set of experiments aimed at defining a new methodology for the assessment of potential drift generated by fruit crop sprayers using ad hoc test benches, operated in absence of wind and without any target in front of the machine. A set of tests using two different air-assisted sprayer models, one for vineyard and one for orchard, was made in order to compare the results obtained combining conventional and air induction nozzles with high and low air flow rates. Results pointed out that thanks to the use of the test benches is possible to discriminate the potential drift of the different sprayer configurations tested and that trends of the ranked sprayer configurations resulted the same for both sprayers. Further studies are needed to verify the consistency of the results obtained with those achieved applying ISO 22866 test method for drift assessment in the field.