Analogous Charging Effect of Surfactant-Pesticide Spray Jet on Droplet Characteristics and Deposition on Hydrophobic Leaf Surfaces

An induction charging principle had been applied to enhance spray droplet characteristics and quantity deposition on hydrophobic abaxial-adaxial leaf surfaces from pesticide EC Glyphosate [C3H8NO5P] and surfactant Silwet L-77 [C13H34O4Si3] formulations. A nozzle cap containing two electrodes (spacing at 9 mm apart) was used to superpose charges to spray droplets under applied voltages of 2–12 kV in an electric field (E) of 8.9 × 105 V/m. From a tee-jet flat fan (TP11004VS) nozzle tip fitted into the electrode cap and positioned at 60 cm high above targeted Brassica campestris leave surfaces, the spray droplets were directed onto the leaves at a liquid flow pressure of 4 bar and travelling speed of 2 m/s. The measurements were done using Keithsley picoammeter to quantify spray chargeability (CMR), droplet sizes by lesser particle size analyzer (LPSA) and deposition on leaf surfaces by high-speed camera. In effect, droplet sizes of EC, L-77 and EC + L-77 decreased with an increasing applied voltage. The CMR of L-77 was lower than EC and highest for EC + L-77 composite solution. Based on Image analysis of droplets density per leaf area, maximum exposure of adaxial leaf surfaces intercepted many charged spray droplets than abaxial surfaces. As regressed, the quantity of charged spray deposition from EC + L-77 formulation was highest at both adaxial (approx. 27.44 Qd/cm2) and abaxial (approx. 5.57 Qd/cm2) hydrophobic leaf surfaces than EC of 26.12: 3.19 Qd/cm2 and L-77 of 24.80: 2.53 Qd/cm2, respectively. Also, contact angle, Theta E, of charged spray droplets was smaller than Theta C on adaxial than abaxial leave surfaces, a phenomenon attributed to high chemo-electrical properties of formulations that aided the direct flight, coiling and deposition of droplets in order of EC > EC + L-77 > L-77. Generally, there was no observable droplet rebound; hence, surfactant-pesticide composite spraying is considered suitable for electrostatic application in plant protection technology. Therefore, for effective application, charged droplets from glyphosate EC in silwet L-77 solution should be recommended, as it provides optimum droplet sizes, chargeability, contact angle and deposition on hydrophobic leave surfaces.