SBIR-STTR Award

Present day herbicide spraying of field row crops is very inefficient; over 75% of the herbicide is wasted as overspray, which is costly and contaminates the environment. The feasibility of efficiently applying translocatable herbicides with electrostatic spray deposition techniques will be examined. Studies will evaluate different particle charging means, including induction charging, corona charging, and combinations thereof. Special emphasis will be placed on studying the efficacy enhancement of herbicides which appear to work better at higher concentrations.Applications:Research can result in an efficient, safe, reliable electrostatic herbicide sprayer, affordable to the average farmer. Economically, direct cost savings of one billion dollars or more annually could be realized. Ecologically, a lessening of this nation's pollutants to the environment would result. The new generation of highly active postemergence herbicide materials could benefit farmers and industry more readily.

Present day pesticide spraying of crops is inefficient. The oversprayed chemical pollutes soil, surface and ground water. The TotalStat sprayer is an electrostatic, ultra low volume device which may significantly reduce the usage of pesticides. It produces highly charged droplets of controllable size, which are air-assisted into the plant's canopy for deposition. Oil is used as the carrier, which aids the spreading and adhesion of the active chemical on the plant's surface. The TotalStat sprayer has been lab and field tested using an insecticide, demonstrating superiority to conventional hydraulic spraying application. Further research will investigate crop/chemical/pest combinations looking for basic interactions of the application variables. The outcome of this effort is intended to produce an operational application system which will be economically attractive for the farmer, having significantly reduced pollution effect to the food chain.Applications:Chemical efficiency will improve significantly. Ecologically, a lessening of toxic pollutants to the environment would result. More specific biological chemicals become both technically and economically attractive. The TotalStat sprayer will technologically increase both the safety and productivity of the user.