Drift and Deposition on Coffee Trees Using a Hydropneumatic Sprayer at Different Application Rates

Spraying is essential for applying nutrient solution and phytosanitary treatments, necessitating efficient deposition on the target areas. However, during application, some of the spray solution drifts into the environment. Therefore, understanding the effectiveness of spraying equipment is crucial to reduce losses. This study aimed to evaluate spray deposition on leaves and drift above the canopy, on the soil, and on leaves in rows adjacent to the target area using a hydropneumatic sprayer at different application rates. The JA1 and MAG2 nozzles were used to spray 200 and 400 L ha-1, respectively. Deposition was evaluated by incorporating a marker into the solution and subsequently analyzing it via spectrophotometry. The assessment covered included four adjacent rows on each side of the sprayer. The application rate, side, and row were used to fit a linear mixed model, with the means being compared using the Tukey test with Šidák correction. All parameters exhibited greater deposition on the left side compared to the right, with increased deposition on the right side only occurring due to a wind direction. Drift was detected on the soil, above the canopy, and up to the fourth assessed row, influenced by application rate, wind direction, and droplet classification.