What should be the focus when selecting an appropriate nozzle for herbicide application?

When selecting a nozzle for herbicide application, the primary focus should be on achieving larger droplets to minimize drift. Drift occurs when small droplets are carried by wind to unintended areas, which can harm nearby crops, plants, and the environment. By using nozzles that produce larger droplets, the application is more targeted and reduces the likelihood of herbicide being transported away from the intended treatment area. Larger droplets tend to settle more quickly to the ground, maximizing contact with the target weeds and minimizing off-target movement.

While other factors such as flow rate and droplet size also play significant roles in application efficiency, the critical goal when applying herbicides is to reduce drift and ensure that the product is effectively reaching the intended targets without causing damage elsewhere. The availability of a nozzle in the market is certainly practical, but it does not address the more critical agronomic and environmental concerns that are paramount during herbicide application.