AERIAL APPLICATION METHODS FOR INCREASING SPRAY DEPOSITION ON WHEAT HEADS

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a major disease of wheat and barley in several small grain production areas inthe United States and, as such, the development and evaluation of aerial application technologies that enhance the efficacyof fungicides with aerial spray applications, is one of the research priorities of the United States Wheat and Barley ScabInitiative. This research was initiated to assess aerial spray technologies in an effort to increase spray deposits on wheatheads. The experiment was designed as a 2 3 factorial treatment arranged in a randomized complete block with threereplications at each of three field locations. Multiple sub-samples of wheat heads and artificial samplers were collected andanalyzed to assess and describe spray deposits from the specified treatments. Test results indicated that lower spray rates withlarger droplet sizes tended to result in greater tracer deposits. The results from this study are expected to provide guidancefor aerial fungicide applications for increased deposition.