Optimized pesticide application

A deterministic Eulerian model of aerial pesticide application is introduced. Various assumptions allow the model to include transport of aerosol droplets with a continuous size distribution, vapour production, on-target deposition, off-target drift, and to consider interactions with plant canopies, The model allows optimization of mechanical parameters such as nozzle type, site constraints: such as canopy and pest densities, and application approaches such as aircraft type. Simplifying assumptions are introduced which significantly reduce computational complexity, yet allow important dynamical parameters to be included in the optimization or simulation. An optimization example is demonstrated; such optimization would not be possible with the larger pesticide application models currently being used. (C) 2000 Silsoe Research Institute.