JPSE v6 - Instrumentation to Document Environmental Conditions during Pesticide Applications

Abstract

Journal of Pesticide Safety Education, 2004, Volume 6, Pages 15-23.

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Instrumentation to Document Environmental Conditions during Pesticide Applications

Robert E. Wolf , Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA rewolf@ksu.edu
Patricia A. Hipkins , Senior Research Associate and Assistant Coordinator, Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA phipkins@vt.edu

Proper and accurate assessment of weather conditions before and during an application is necessary to make sound decisions regarding application timing. In addition, good records document proper use in case of a complaint. Simple, relatively inexpensive instruments can be used to measure wind direction and speed as well as other environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and humidity). This article discusses how weather conditions can be measured at a pesticide application site.

Keywords: pesticide, application, timing, weather data, wind, records, drift