Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the amount of external spray residues that accumulate on farm sprayers and tractors. Six different sprayers were examined, Airtec, conventional sprayer (three types of nozzles, TeeJet XR, Lurmark DriftBeta and Hardi Injet), Danfoil, Hardi Twin, Kyndestoft and Släpduk. The study does not include accidental spillage from supply tanks or leakage from pipes etc. that may occur in everyday practise. A tracer dye, Nigrosin WLF, was added to the spray liquid. After spraying the sprayer and tractor were washed over a catchment pool containing a fixed volume of water. A small centrifugal pump was used to re—circulate the water. The concentrations of Nigrosin in the rinse water and in the spray liquid were determined by using a spectrophotometer. By comparing these concentrations, the amount of Nigrosin immobilised on the tractor and sprayer was determined. The sprayer was divided into two areas that were rinsed separately, the booms and the tank (every part of the sprayer except for the booms). The tractor was also divided into two areas, the front (radiator, bonnet and engine) and the back (the rest). All wheels were excluded. An average of between 0,01% - 0,60% of the sprayed tracer dye (active substance) was found on the tractor and sprayer after spraying had been carried out. The largest accumulation, 50 - 98% of the accumulated deposition, was observed on the booms. The largest deposition was observed on the air-assisted sprayers, Kyndestoft (0,60% of the sprayed amount) and Hardi Twin (0,46%). Släpduk received the third largest deposition (0,36%). 0,06% of the sprayed tracer dye was observed on Danfoil and Airtec. The deposition on the conventional sprayer with TeeJet XR nozzles was 0,04% and on the same sprayer with Lurmark DriftBeta 0,02%. Hardi lnjet nozzles mounted on the conventional sprayer gave a deposition of 0,01%. Residues on contaminated sprayers can be released by rain and may cause local doses that significantly exceed approved amounts. To avoid contamination of surface and ground waters, it is wise to practise decontamination not on the farmyard where the topsoil often has been replaced by gravel, but on the field. Parking and filling can be done on a biobed, i.e. a construction that keeps the spill from going further down in the soil profile, to the ground water. In the biobed, herbicides and pesticides are contained and quickly decomposed.

Keywords

sprutvätska

Published in

Rapport - Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Institutionen för lantbruksteknik
2000,
Publisher: Institutionen för lantbruksteknik, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/125831