ISO 24253-2:2015

Overview

ISO 24253-2:2015 - Crop protection equipment: Spray deposition test for field crop - Part 2: Measurement in a crop specifies a standardized method for in-field measurement of spray quantity and distribution within crop canopies when treated by horizontal boom sprayers with downward directed application. The standard supports comparable field experiments and linkage with laboratory tests (e.g., ISO 5682-2), but is not intended for regulatory use. It can also be applied to nursery trees and small bush crops (young currants) sprayed with boom sprayers.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Measurement targets: deposition on top of canopy, at designated points inside the canopy, and on the ground beneath the vegetation using collectors (artificial or plant material).
• Tracers: use safe, stable tracers with high recovery (>90 %, preferably >95 %) - examples include metal ions, food dyes (tartrazine), and fluorescent dyes (sodium fluorescein).
• Collectors: artificial collectors must demonstrate good recovery and low background emission (blank readings ≤ 0.1 % of sprayed average); background coefficient of variation should be < 10 % (based on at least 10 collectors). Annex A gives collector examples; Annex B covers fluorimetry and deposition calculation.
• Test area and layout: uniform cropped area; sampling locations at least 1.5 m from crop edges; surrounding vegetation/buildings recommended to be ≥10× crop height away. Track length guidance: minimum 10 m before sampling for speeds up to 2 m/s (20 m for up to 4 m/s) to ensure steady output.
• Meteorological monitoring: wind speed/direction, temperature and humidity measured at specified heights ((2 ± 0.1) m above ground or (1 ± 0.1) m above canopy) with wind sampled at ≥1 Hz. Instrument accuracy requirements are specified (e.g., wind speed error 0.1–0.2 m/s). Preferred average wind speed during spraying is below 2 m/s and stable (std. dev. ≤ ±1 m/s); temperature 5–35 °C.
• Data and reporting: standardized reporting of sprayer settings, boom/nozzle details, field and crop data, spray liquid and measurement results to enable comparison.

Applications

• Quantifying spray deposition and penetration in field crops for spray efficacy and coverage studies
• Comparative testing of sprayers, boom configurations, or nozzle types
• Research linking field deposition to laboratory measurements and drift studies
• Evaluation of spray performance in nursery and small bush crops when using boom sprayers

Who should use this standard

• Agricultural engineers, sprayer manufacturers and designers
• Field researchers and agronomists studying pesticide application efficacy
• Testing laboratories and academic institutions conducting spray deposition experiments

Related standards

• ISO 24253-1 (Measurement in a horizontal plane)
• ISO 22522 (canopy width deposition) - recommended when measuring deposition over canopy width
• ISO 5682-2 (laboratory spray tests), ISO 22866 (spray drift), ISO 14131 (boom movement)

Keywords: ISO 24253-2:2015, spray deposition test, crop protection equipment, measurement in a crop, boom sprayers, tracers, collectors, meteorological monitoring.