Abstract

New regulations in Sweden 1997 stated that in every occasion pesticides are used, the user must determine the need of buffer zones. Two kinds of buffer zones are defined; “Ground based” and “Wind based”. Ground based buffer zones reduce risk of leakage or surface run-off to water. Safety distances vary from 12 m (to wells) to 1 m (to ditches, drainage wells). During filling and cleaning a safety distance of 30 m is required. The recommended wind based buffer zone distances are calculated through considering: climatic conditions, dose level related to the highest expressed on label, technical factors and the character of the area in the wind direction. “Sensitive” areas are open water, gardens, kindergartens, greenhouses or sensitive crops (including organic farming). “Common” objects are e.g. road vegetation and neighbour crops. Input data must be recorded. A pocket-sized booklet, a “Helper”, was developed for wind based buffer zones for boom-sprayers. The operator enters the data and finds a recommended safe distance. After a change in wind direction it is possible to treat the buffer zone

Published in

Annual Review of Agricultural Engineering
2005, volume: 4, number: 1, pages: 143-150
Book title: The Polish Annual Review of Agricultural Engineering
Publisher: Committee of Agricultural Engineering PAS, Warsaw, Poland

Conference

Environmentally Friendly Spray Application

Authors' information