Herbicide application using wiper applicators - A review

Wiper applicators allow herbicides to be directly transferred onto the surface of target plants, thereby avoiding application to nearby desirable plants of shorter stature. This form of herbicide application can greatly reduce costs of weed control and risks of environmental contamination. The risk of drift to susceptible plants in areas adjacent to the weed control operations can also be eliminated by using wiper applicators. Despite the huge potential for using wiper applicators to improve weed control in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, there has been only limited research into the factors that might affect the performance and efficacy of wiper applicators. These factors include the growth stage of weeds at the time of application, types of herbicide used, design of wiper applicator and the quantity of herbicide deposited on plants. In this review, gaps in knowledge about wiper applicators are discussed and priorities for future research are suggested.