Comparison of off-target pesticide drift in paddy fields from unmanned aerial vehicle spraying using cellulose deposition sampler

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 285; p. 117075
• Main Authors: Eun, Hye-Ran, Kim, So-Hee, Lee, Yoon-Hee, Kim, Su-Min, Lee, Ye-Jin, Jung, Hee-Young, Min, Yi-Gi, Noh, Hyun Ho, Shin, Yongho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.10.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cellulose deposition sampler; Ferimzone; Off-target drift; Paddy field; Rice; Unmanned aerial vehicle; Cellulose deposition sampler; Ferimzone; Paddy field; Unmanned aerial vehicle; Off-target drift; Rice
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117075

Off-target pesticide drift in paddy fields following unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spraying was evaluated using cellulose deposition samplers (CDSs). An analytical method for quantifying ferimzone Z and E isomers deposited on CDSs was developed using LC-MS/MS. The suitability of the CDS method was confirmed by comparing deposition patterns on CDSs with residue levels in rice plant samples. To assess pesticide deposition in paddy fields, CDSs were strategically placed at varying distances from target areas, followed by UAV spraying. The fungicide agrochemicals were applied with and without adjuvants, and wind direction affected the drift trajectory for all treatment groups. Adjuvants, particularly soy lecithin as the major component, significantly enhanced pesticide deposition within the spray pathway while reducing drift rates relatively by 47.9–68.0 %. Higher wind speeds were found to exacerbate drift, but adjuvant-treated sprays showed less variability in deposition patterns under these conditions. Pesticide residues in harvested brown rice were found to be below the maximum residue limits (MRLs), ensuring safety for consumption. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate adjuvants in UAV-based pesticide applications to optimize deposition efficiency and minimize environmental contamination. [Display omitted] •Development of a sensitive LC-MS/MS method for ferimzone analysis in CDS.•Adjuvants significantly enhanced pesticide deposition in UAV target areas.•Wind speed and direction critically impacted pesticide drift patterns.•Adjuvants reduced pesticide drift rate effectively during UAV spraying.•Ferimzone residues in brown rice remained below maximum residue limits.