The effects of air-assisted delivery and spray volume on spray deposit characteristics, disease management and worker exposure were evaluated in a commercial vineyard using a crop with a characteristically light to medium density canopy Neutronactivation techniques were used to quantify amounts of fungicide on the leaf samples and on driver clothing. Spray quality characteristics were evaluated using a computer imaging system. Conventional applications were made using an air-assist sprayer with centrifugal fans. A hooded sprayer was used to make non-air-assisted applications at two application rates. The performance of the hooded sprayer treatments was equivalent to or superior to the conventional sprayer. Performance evaluations includedquantification of foliar and clothing spray deposits, foliar spray coverage, and foliar disease ratings. Results indicate that under similar crop conditions, the hooded sprayer can reduce worker contamination and spray drift while providing equivalentcontrol of vineyard diseases compared to the conventional, air-assist sprayer.
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