Diffusers and low-drift nozzles for an increasingly organic agriculture

Attention to environmental issues is one of Ideal's top priorities.

The innovation, research and development we carry out is aimed not only at creating increasingly efficient machinery, but also at studying and designing solutions capable of protecting all crops, while minimising environmental impact.

A problem common to all sprayers is drift, i.e. the dispersion of part of the plant protection chemicals into the environment. In fact, not all of the mixture reaches the target correctly.

This results in a less effective treatment, higher costs for the farmer and environmental issues due to the possible contamination and pollution of the surrounding area.

And, as sprayer manufacturers, our job is to offer farmers solutions and options to minimise the percentage of plant protection product dispersed into the environment.

Low-drift nozzles

A cheap and effective measure to mitigate drift phenomena is the use of low-drift nozzles.

Compared to traditional ones, low-drift nozzles produce, at the same flow rate, larger and more even droplets and this makes the solution less subject to wind and, therefore, drift.

Moreover, thanks to the venturi system, the solution is mixed with air, creating droplets with tiny air bubbles which, upon contact with the vegetation, break up into finer droplets, thus covering the entire plant.

Cleaning the nozzle is simple: by following the safety information provided on the manufacturer's label and wearing safety devices, simply dismantle the nozzle and separate its parts, then rinse the parts under running water and clean them using a soft brush that does not damage the components.

How do I choose the right nozzle?

Low-drift nozzles allow for more environmentally friendly treatments to be carried out. But choosing the right nozzle depends on the crop, the chemical and the machinery used.

If, for example, we consider a treatment carried out using hydraulic booms installed on our Ideal field sprayers, we can choose to use single or double fan low-drift nozzles.

The advantage of using double fan low-drift nozzles is that two spray fans are created, with a width of 110° each and at a 65° angle from one another. This allows for a 35-40% greater degree of penetration compared to a normal nozzle and more uniform wetting.

For pre-sowing/transplanting and pre-emergence weed control operations, there are also mirror nozzles, used to minimise drift as they create a homogeneous population of ultra-large droplets, and asymmetric fan nozzles installed at both ends of the booms to reduce dispersion and prevent the contamination of the buffer strips.

The colour of the nozzles

To standardise the industry and make the flow rate of the nozzles immediately recognisable, it is possible to refer to the colours of the ISO standard.

In fact, regardless of the manufacturer, the same colour corresponds to the same flow rate at the reference pressure.

Therefore, at the same operating pressure, nozzles of the same colour always deliver the same flow rate of litres per minute, regardless of the manufacturer and type of nozzle.

However, for each nozzle there is a table indicating the various flow rates according to the operating pressure. In fact, the type of nozzle and operating pressure are essential to determine the volumes of water required for effective treatments.

In general, the greater the pressure, the greater the flow rate, the smaller the diameter of the droplets. And, therefore, the greater the drift.

Other measures to mitigate drift

To reduce drift phenomena, other measures can be taken, such as using the air sleeve for spray booms.

In fact, again taking Ideal field sprayers as an example, for the trailed Poly Super and the trailed Poly Super Plus, we offer the possibility of equipping the hydraulic booms with an air sleeve with propeller which, thanks to the air flow it generates, aims the product directly at the crop, thus reducing the amount of suspended droplets.

Using the air sleeve in the right conditions reduces drift by up to 75%.

In addition to this, it allows the solution to penetrate deeper for better distribution and a more effective treatment. This makes this accessory perfect for professional treatments on large areas and on horticultural and herbaceous crops.

Another factor that should not be underestimated is the instrumental adjustment of the machine.

In fact, all the measures that are taken to reduce drift are effective only if the sprayer is periodically checked and calibrated to make it suitable for the specific needs of the crop and for the weather conditions.

This is because, in addition to the choice of nozzles, there are a series of variables to be considered during treatments, such as speed of travel, distribution volume and operating pressure. Each of these variables must be adjusted to optimise the delivery of the plant protection products and carry out more effective treatments.

To make life easier for farmers, Ideal sprayers can be calibrated in a few simple steps. By following the instructions on our website, you can calibrate your Ideal machine yourself. Simply insert the requested information to know which nozzle or plate needs to be used for best results, based on the number of litres per hectare to be distributed and the working speed to be maintained.

A more efficient and sustainable agriculture requires every technique and innovation capable of optimising work and the use of plant protection products.

Being able to carry out more targeted and effective treatments capable of limiting drift phenomena – and, in general, undesirable effects on the environment – must be the main objective of both farmers and sprayer manufacturers.

At Ideal we pay great attention to farmers’ problems and needs. This leads us to the development of innovative agricultural machines that provide better performance and meet the specific needs of each crop while fully respecting and protecting the environment.