Subtopic: Functional requirements, principles of working, construction and operation of manual, animal, tractor and renewable energy operated equipment for tillage, sowing, planting, fertilizer application, inter-cultivation, spraying, mowing, chaff cutting, harvesting and threshing
Question Statement:
Which of the following factors significantly reduce spray droplet drift during field pesticide application?
Options:
(A) Increasing nozzle orifice diameter at constant boom discharge
(B) Lowering boom height above crop canopy
(C) Using air-induction / venturi nozzles that produce air-entrained coarser droplets
(D) Increasing system operating pressure to very high levels
Answer Key:
A, B, C
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
- Larger orifice size produces coarser droplets that have higher terminal velocity and resist wind drift.
- Lowering boom height reduces airborne flight time between nozzle tip and foliage.
- Air-induction nozzles generate larger air-filled droplets with low drift potential.
- Increasing operating pressure produces finer droplets (< 100 microns), significantly increasing drift susceptibility.