Droplet flows during the application of biopesticides

摘要

Changing EU legislation is limiting the use of synthetic pesticides in crop protection. Biopesticides using living organisms (nematodes, bacteria, etc) to kill pests are increasing in popularity but little is currently known about the biopesticide droplet motions over foliage (Glass et al, 2010). Nematodes are a popular biopesticide control method, which are natural organisms present in soil, typically up to 500 microns in length. Entomopathogenic nematodes attack pests by entering body openings, often releasing bacteria which reproduce within the body of the nematode host, eventually killing it. Nematodes can be delivered to foliage by mixing with water and adjuvants and spraying onto leaves. Collaborative work between Becker Underwood Ltd, the world's leading manufacturer of beneficial nematodes, The Food and Environment Research Agency in York and the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds has focussed on the motion of biopesticide droplets over foliage, with particular emphasis on the influence of nematodes on the droplet size distribution and the importance of droplet impact speed, droplet size and leaf orientation on the droplet migration over leaves.