Effects of Formulated Glyphosate and Adjuvant Tank Mixes on Atomization from Aerial Application Flat Fan Nozzles
Abstract : This study was designed to determine if the present USDAARS spray-nozzle models, which were based on spray solutions of water plus non-ionic surfactant, could be used to estimate spray droplet-size data for different spray formulations through use of experimentally determined correction factors. Twelve spray-solution treatments were evaluated, ten of which contained a formulated glyphosate product and nine of these contained an additional tank-mix adjuvant. Droplet-size testing was conducted across multiple operational points (nozzle-orifice size, nozzle orientation spray pressure, and airspeed), in a high-speed wind tunnel, which corresponds to the response surface experimental model used to develop the present spray-nozzle models. The hypothesis that the different treatment solutions would respond linearly across a range of operational parameters and that a correction factor from relative to water plus non-ionic surfactant solution was proven false. When compared to water or the water plus non-ionic surfactant, the changes in atomization across the operation spectrum of the nozzle were not consistent and varied by formulation. Attempts to apply regression fits for a correction factor based on solution physical properties were not successful. With the formulated glyphosate tank mix used, none of the adjuvants tested, except the polymer, showed significant changes in droplet size under the high air shear regime. Whereas there is likely a need to develop formulated product-specific atomization models, the further addition of adjuvants do not significantly change the atomization characteristics and, as such, should not require a unique spray-nozzle model.
Herbicide spray drift from ground and aerial applications: Implications for potential pollinator foraging sources
A field spray drift experiment using florpyrauxifen-benzyl was conducted to measure drift from commercial ground and aerial applications, evaluate soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] impacts, and compare to United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) drift models. Collected field data were consistent with US EPA model predictions. Generally, with both systems applying a Coarse spray in a 13-kph average wind speed, the aerial application had a 5.0- to 8.6-fold increase in drift compared to the ground application, and subsequently, a 1.7- to 3.6-fold increase in downwind soybean injury. Soybean reproductive structures were severely reduced following herbicide exposure, potentially negatively impacting pollinator foraging sources. Approximately a 25% reduction of reproductive structures up to 30.5-m downwind and nearly a 100% reduction at 61-m downwind were observed for ground and aerial applications, respectively. Aerial applications would require three to five swath width adjustments upwind to reduce drift potential similar to ground applications.
Exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and related enzyme activities of the medicinal fungus, Ganoderma lucidum, grown on lactose in a bioreactor
Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and biosynthesis were studied in Ganoderma lucidum, a fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, grown with lactose in a bioreactor. β-Galactosidase activity, which implies the existence of a lactose permease system, was induced by lactose. Lactose feeding also increased α-phosphoglucomutase activity and EPS accumulation but decreased phosphoglucose isomerase activity and lactate concentration in the culture broth. A maximum cell density of 22 g l−1 and EPS at 1.25 g l−1 were obtained in fed-batch bioreactor culture.