Spray drift
The movement of pesticide or fertilizer droplets by wind beyond the intended application area during spraying.
Также говорят: pesticide drift, off-target movement, spray transport
Spray drift occurs when fine droplets are carried away by air currents instead of landing on the target crop. This reduces the efficacy of the treatment and poses a significant risk of damage to non-target areas or neighboring sensitive ecosystems.
To manage drift, practitioners use air-induction nozzles to produce coarser droplets and carefully monitor wind speed before operation. It is essential to avoid spraying during stable or highly turbulent conditions, such as high-temperature intervals that cause air updrafts.
Common errors involve using excessive pressure, spraying during gusty wind conditions, or neglecting the use of drift-reduction adjuvants. Correct nozzle selection and boom height adjustment are critical to keeping the product within the specified target zone.