Droplet size spectra and deposits of Bacillus thuringiensis aerial sprays, following application at two volume rates over an oak forest
Abstract Dipel® 8AF, a commercial formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) was sprayed undiluted at 30 BIU in 1.8L/ha over a block B1, and sprayed after dilution with water at 30 BIU in 6.2 L/ha over another block B2 in an oak forest infested with the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) in southeastern Ontario, Canada. Spray was applied in May 1987 using a Cessna 188 Agtruck aircraft equipped with four Hicronair® AU4000 atomizers. Droplet sizes were measured at mid‐canopy level of oak trees and at ground level using cylindrical Kromekote® cards. Deposit per unit area was assessed on aluminum oak leaves. At the lower volume rate of 1.8 L/ha, spray droplets were smaller and droplets/cm2 were lower on the cylindrical Kromekote cards in B1 than those obtained in B2 which received the higher volume rate of 6.2 L/ha. The average deposit per unit area of the aluminum oak leaves, expressed in nL of the spray volume per cm2 surface area, was also correspondingly lower in B1 than in B2. This was attributed to the ...