ISO 24253-1:2015

Overview

ISO 24253-1:2015 - Crop protection equipment: Spray deposition test for field crop - Part 1: Measurement in a horizontal plane defines standardized field procedures to measure spray deposition on a horizontal surface. It applies to horizontal boom sprayers with downward-directed application and specifies how to quantify the quantity and distribution of spray on ground surfaces (bare soil or short mown grass). The standard enables meaningful comparisons between different field experiments and with laboratory tests (e.g., ISO 5682-2), but is not intended for regulatory use.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test principle: Measure spray deposition on artificial collectors placed on a horizontal plane to determine mean deposition and its variation.
• Test area: Use bare soil or grass ≤ 8 cm; sampling layout must avoid boom end and machine turbulence and include measurements on both sides and along the boom. Track length must allow steady output (suggested minimums: 10 m for speeds ≤ 2 m/s; 20 m for speeds ≤ 4 m/s).
• Meteorological monitoring: Measure wind speed/direction, temperature and humidity at (2 ± 0.1) m height. Wind sampling frequency ≥ 1 Hz. Prefer wind speeds ≤ 2 m/s and stable conditions (std dev ≤ ±1 m/s). Temperature range 5 °C–35 °C; report temperature inversions.
• Tracers and collectors: Use safe, stable tracers (e.g., fluorescent dyes, metal ions) with recovery ≥ 90% (preferably >95%). Collectors must be pre-tested for recovery and background emission (blank ≤ 0.1% of sprayed average; background CV < 10%). Annexes provide examples of collectors and recovery/fluorimetry procedures.
• Data and reporting: Standardized reporting of sprayer settings (nozzles, boom, air assistance), field conditions, spray liquid composition and numerical expression of deposition and distribution (see Annexes C–F for calculations).

Practical applications and users

• Users: agricultural engineers, sprayer manufacturers, pesticide research labs, agronomists, field trialists, and test institutes.
• Applications:
  • Performance testing and comparison of boom sprayers (dose uniformity, boom design effects).
  • Field validation of laboratory spray deposition methods (comparison with ISO 5682-2).
  • Research on effects of nozzle type, boom height, speed and air assistance on ground deposition.
• Limitations: Not suitable for systems that rely on crop canopy for deposition (directed spraying, electrostatic, very fine sprays, variable-rate systems).

Related standards

• ISO 24253-2 (Measurement in a crop)
• ISO 5682-2 (laboratory spray deposition tests)
• ISO 22866 (field spray drift protocol)
• ISO 14131 (sprayer boom movement measurement)

Keywords: ISO 24253-1, spray deposition test, crop protection equipment, horizontal boom sprayer, field measurement, collectors, tracers, spray distribution.