22 Jun 2122 June 2021 (by Simon Thorp (admin)) |
Drift Trials - next phase complete
Drift Trials are being carried out to provide evidence to support a decision about the required width of a buffer zone against surface water bodies when carrying out aerial spraying. In the current approval for the aerial application of Asulam, the buffer zone width is 90m.
A first phase of the trails was carried out in January 2021 on an airfield, and this showed that the latest boom and nozzle combination fitted to the helicopter were capable of delivering the product very accurately.
A second phase of the trials was carried out in June, again on an airfield, and this has provided data that demonstrate that the spray drift is contained well within the current 90m buffer zone width.
A third phase of the work will be carried out in July / August on a bracket covered hillside to capture data that demonstrate the effectiveness of the boom and nozzle combination in a real-life setting.
With this evidence, it is hoped that the buffer zone width can be reduced, so that less bracken is left untreated when carrying out aerial treatment close to surface water bodies.