Which practice would not help reduce drift potential?

• A. Use drift reducing nozzles
• B. Increase sprayer pressure
• C. Use drift control adjuvants
• D. Reduce sprayer height

Answer: (B)

Drift potential depends on how far off-target droplets can travel, which is strongly affected by droplet size and how the spray moves through the air. Practices that make droplets larger and slow their travel help keep the pesticide on the target and reduce drift.

Using drift-reducing nozzles changes the spray pattern or droplet size to favor larger droplets, which are less likely to drift with the wind. Drift control adjuvants often modify the spray mix to produce larger or more adherent droplets, again reducing off-target movement. Reducing sprayer height keeps the spray closer to the target and reduces the time droplets spend in wind currents, which also lowers drift.

Increasing sprayer pressure, on the other hand, tends to produce finer droplets and higher exit velocities, making it easier for droplets to be carried away by air. This increases drift potential rather than reducing it.