Optimizing Aircraft Utilization for Herbicide Application by Evaluation of Herbicide Spray Drift in West Bank Berbice Guyana South America

Abstract

Aerial herbicide drift caused mainly by weather and climatic conditions may be the most challenging problem facing farmers. Spray drift reaching off-target areas can destroy sensitive crops; pollute air and water resources thus causing serious health problems to humans and animals. Nonetheless, buffer zones of 500 meters are indicated to limit these negative impacts of spray drift. The Guyana Sugar Corporation controls weeds and ripens canes by aerial herbicide application. The corporation, in the 1990s, instituted 750-metre buffer zones, which greatly affected the optimization of aircraft use in herbicide application and ripening of cane. This study tested the utility of the 750-meters buffer zone on Rose Hall, Albion and Blairmont Sugar estates. The actual drift distances were determined within 06:00 hours and 09:00 hours for 9 herbicide applications. Drift patterns associated with the three 1- hour time periods were correlated with prevailing weather conditions to determine optimal flying periods for the locations. The droplets concentration per sensitive paper was collected for each period. It was noted that the drift is less with the distance from the field up to 510 m; thereafter the number of droplets was 2 or less per sensitive paper. The wind speed increases as time goes up, thus increasing the drift. The windward side is where 510 m were recorded to have droplets of 2 and nil at 510 m from the opposite side.