What are the most important factors to prevent spray drift?

The most important factors to prevent spray drift involve wind and droplet size. Wind can significantly influence the movement of pesticide particles as they are released into the air. Strong winds can carry droplets away from the intended target area, leading to unintended application to non-target areas. By controlling the spray timing, such as avoiding windy conditions, operators can minimize the potential for drift.

Droplet size is also critical because smaller droplets are more susceptible to being carried away by air currents, leading to increased drift. Larger droplets tend to settle more quickly, reducing the distance they can be blown from the target area. Therefore, choosing equipment and settings that produce larger droplet sizes can be an effective strategy in mitigating drift.

While other factors like temperature, humidity, altitude, and application volume and pressure do influence pesticide application efficacy and environmental impact, the combination of wind conditions and droplet size directly pertains to the mechanics of spray drift, making them the most critical factors in preventing it.