RTDrift: A real time model for estimating spray drift from ground applications

A spray drift model called RTDrift was developed to estimate drift caused by ground sprayer machines. The sprayer was equipped with sensors measuring operational parameters namely spray pressure, boom height and movements, and geolocalisation. Climatic parameters, including wind speed and direction, were measured using a 2-D ultrasonic anemometer mounted on the sprayer. The nozzles spray drop size spectra were characterised using Phase Doppler Interferometer measurements. At every successive boom position, a diffusion-advection Gaussian tilted plume model computed the spray drift deposits for each drop class taking into account evaporation. The contribution of a single nozzle was calculated by integration of the individual puffs with respect to time and summation of the contributions of individual drops classes. The overall drift generated by the sprayer machine was obtained adding the contributions of all the nozzles. Field trials were performed on a fallow field with water and on crops with pesticides in various wind conditions. The ground drift was measured at different drift distances using fluorometric methods. When comparing the results of the model with experimental measurements of deposits, the model produced realistic maps of drift deposits. Some further improvement is needed in the presence of large scale eddies. The model offers potential benefits for the farmer as a real time drift estimator embedded on a sprayer machine.

► Sprayer-mounted sensors data can be used to accurately predict actual spray drift occurring during pesticide application.
► Gaussian advection-diffusion model perform satisfactory using constant diffusion parameters for various wind conditions.
► The droplets evaporation modelling was needed in the Gaussian model to predict accurately the long distances deposits.