TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent – Improved Application Accuracy with Reduced Spray Drift
TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent is based on surfactants and natural orange extracts, specifically formulated to reduce the number of fine droplets created during spraying. Smaller spray particles are more susceptible to drift caused by wind, leading to off-target application and reduced efficiency.
By eliminating these fine droplets, TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent significantly improves spray accuracy while maintaining full spray volume, ensuring effective coverage without compromise.
In addition to its anti-drift benefits, TourTurf® ADA contains an orange peel extract designed to neutralise strong odours often associated with turf management products – particularly those containing garlic or other organic materials. This makes spraying more pleasant for the operator, contributing to a better overall application experience.
What is Spray Drift?
Spray drift is a common challenge in turf management and agricultural spraying. It refers to the unintended movement of pesticide or fertiliser droplets away from the target area, which can reduce product effectiveness, harm nearby vegetation, and pose environmental risks.
As defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: “Spray drift is the movement of droplets in the atmosphere during or after spraying.”
Drift can occur due to several factors, including droplet size, wind speed, spray height, and equipment pressure. Minimising drift is crucial not only for optimal turf care, but also for ensuring environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance.
How to Avoid Drift
Drift reduction begins with sound spray practices. As Richard J. Cooper from the Department of Crop Science at North Carolina State University advises in his paper “Techniques for Minimizing Turfgrass Pesticide Drift and Volatilization”:
“Perhaps the most important precaution is to avoid making spray applications when wind speed exceeds 6.5 to 8 km/h (4 to 5 mph)… The application equipment you use also affects potential drift through its influence on droplet size… Most sprayers for turfgrass applications operate at low pressure and produce large spray droplets, which are much less likely to drift... The operating pressure at the nozzle for boom sprayers with standard flat fan nozzles should be 1.4 to 3.4 bar (20 to 50 psi). Pressures between 1.4 and 2.1 bar (20 and 30 psi) will form medium-sized droplets, giving adequate coverage with little drift potential… Set spray booms no more than 45 to 50 cm (18 to 20 inches) above the turf.”
These practices are even more effective when supported by a proven drift-reduction additive like TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent.
Application Accuracy with TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent
TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent helps reduce the number of droplets under 105 µm – the size most prone to drift. This results in enhanced product performance.
When used as a tank mix with TourTurf® Infill or any TourTurf® product containing LPT (Leaf Penetrant Technology), ADA works synergistically. These products include additional spreading and wetting agents, further improving droplet coverage and leaf penetration.
This makes TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent the ideal spray partner when applying TourTurf® IDC Infill Defence Concept, maximising spray efficiency and delivering outstanding application results.
Application Rates & Mixing Guidelines
Apply TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent at 1 litre per 20 litres of the turf management product being used, usually 2 l/ha.
Water-Sensitive Paper is a rigid yellow paper that turns dark blue when contacted by aqueous solutions.
It’s a reliable visual tool for assessing droplet size and distribution and evaluating application effectiveness.
Assessment Procedure
Spray tests were carried out by applying different tank mix combinations onto Water-Sensitive Paper from above.
Microscopy Analysis
Droplets were analysed at 40x magnification to visualise size and spread characteristics clearly.
Droplet Counting Method
Droplet counts were based on randomly selected size classes. A magnifying glass was used to quantify droplet numbers and assess spray patterns.
Results Overview
- TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent significantly increased average droplet size versus untreated water.
- Larger droplets are less likely to drift, resulting in improved spray precision.
- TourTurf® IDC Infill maintained similar droplet numbers as the untreated control, with enhanced spreadability.
- The combination of IDC Infill + ADA Anti-Drift Agent led to fewer fine droplets and greater droplet spread on the target surface.
Conclusion
TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent is a powerful spray additive that improves application accuracy, reduces drift risk, and enhances the comfort of the spray operator. Combined with TourTurf® IDC Infill or other LPT-formulated products, it ensures optimal delivery and performance of turf management treatments.
Whether you're aiming to reduce drift, improve spray coverage, or simply make applications more pleasant, TourTurf® ADA Anti-Drift Agent offers a smart, effective solution.