ISO 5681:2020

Overview

ISO 5681:2020 establishes a standardized vocabulary for equipment used to apply plant protection products (PPPs). The document defines terms commonly used in relation to application equipment - from general definitions for products and treatments to specific terminology for sprayers, nozzles, droplet sizes and delivery systems. This third edition updates and expands terms to align with new international standards and to support clear technical communication among manufacturers, regulators, agronomists and researchers.

Key Topics

The standard covers a comprehensive set of topics in a structured way (see clause 3 and subclauses):

• General terms: definitions for plant protection products, formulated products, carriers, treatments, treated area and spray targets.
• Equipment for spraying: definitions for sprayers, spray liquid, spray quality, spray volume and spray dose.
• Droplet characteristics: droplet, droplet size, droplet size spectrum, volume median diameter (VMD), number median diameter (NMD) and span. The document notes droplet particles are generally less than 1500 µm, and defines categories such as mist (VMD 50–100 µm) and fog (VMD under 50 µm).
• Types of spraying: hydraulic, centrifugal, pneumatic, air-assisted, electrostatic, twin-fluid, ultrasonic and thermal spraying, plus precision and sensor-activated adaptations.
• Droplet generators and nozzles: terminology for hydraulic nozzles, fan and flat-fan nozzles, cone nozzles, rotary atomisers and directional or off-centre designs.
• Other components: pumps, fans, compressors, tanks, booms, filters, agitation and injection systems, and machine operation terms such as field techniques and application rates.

Applications

ISO 5681:2020 is practical for many stakeholders involved in crop protection equipment lifecycle and use:

• Manufacturers and designers: ensure consistent product specifications, clearer component descriptions and better interoperability.
• Regulators and certification bodies: harmonize terminology used in conformity assessment, test reports and regulatory documents.
• Agronomists and operators: improve communication about spray quality, droplet sizes and application techniques to optimise efficacy and reduce off-target drift.
• Researchers and trainers: provide a common lexicon for studies, training materials and technical documentation.

Using standardized terms reduces ambiguity in procurement, maintenance, testing and regulatory compliance and supports safer, more effective pesticide application.

Related Standards

ISO 5681:2020 complements other ISO/TC 23 publications on agricultural machinery and spray testing. Users should consult the ISO Online Browsing Platform for cross-references and the ISO/TC 23/SC 6 work programme for related standards on sprayer performance and measurement methods.

Keywords: ISO 5681:2020, crop protection, vocabulary, plant protection products, sprayer, nozzle, droplet size, VMD, spray volume, precision spraying.