Effect of drift‐reducing spray configurations on spray deposition and coverage in winter wheat

BACKGROUND: Selecting an optimal spray configuration in arable crops is complex due to the large variety in techniques, nozzle types, crop stages, and pathogens. This complexity is further increased by regulatory requirements for drift reduction, which restrict the range of configurations that can be applied. To support informed decision-making, this study examined droplet deposition and coverage in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using drift-reducing spray configurations. RESULTS: Seven configurations were tested in field trials over two growth stages (mid and late) and 2 years (2023 and 2024), combining application techniques (standard boom, air support, Wingssprayer, reduced boom height) with nozzle types (standard flat fan nozzles with 0%, 50%, and 90% drift reduction, and a dual fan nozzle). Deposition and coverage were quantified using artificial collectors and tracer analysis. A significant interaction was observed between spray configuration and collector position at both growth stages (P < 0.001). Drift-reducing configurations performed similarly to the reference application which used a fine-quality standard flat fan nozzle (XR 110 03, 300 kPa, 0.5 m nozzle height and spacing). CONCLUSION: Spray configuration had a negligible effect on the relative spray deposition at the different collector positions in winter wheat, except at the spike and at the ground level. The results indicate that spray applications in winter wheat require optimizations tailored to the specific target location within the canopy, rather than a uniform approach. Air support combined with a fine spray quality nozzle appears particularly promising in improving deposition without compromising drift reduction. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.