Assessment of aerial spray deposits in a spruce forest using in‐flight microencapsulation technique

Abstract

Spray drops were counted and sized on Kromekote® cards at ground level, and on spruce foliage at canopy level, after aerial application of a formulation containing a microencapsulation medium, over a spruce forest in Ontario. The majority of drops (70%) on foliage was 20 ‐ 75 µm range. A coarse drop size spectrum was observed on cards with a maximum diameter (Dmax) of 380 µm, and with 85% of the drops = 130 µm in diameter. Foliar drop analysis, on the other hand, indicated a finer spectrum with a Dmax of 150 µm, and with 85% of the drops = 75 µm. These results were explained on the basis of formulation ingredients, atomizer setting, weather factors, and drop retention on target surfaces. The assessment of spray deposits on glass plates at ground level indicated that about 16% of the applied spray volume reached the forest floor, a value which is comparable to those obtained in previous forestry applications using the ultra‐low‐volume (ULV) technique.