The coffee crop (Coffea arabica L.) has many challenges for the pesticide application technology, mainly with respect to the spray penetration in the orchard and drift reduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spray deposition on leaves of coffee plants and the loss to the soil provided by the application with different spray volumes and nozzles. The study was conducted using a factorial model 2 x 2, with two nozzles (hollow cone - ATR and hollow cone with air induction - TVI) and two rates (200 and 500 L ha-1). The brilliant blue tracer was added to the tank, which was detected by spectrophotometry after the application using an airblast sprayer. Leaves were collected from the upper and lower parts of the plant canopy and glass slides were positioned on the ground under the plant canopy, to collect the drained drops. The use of hollow cone nozzles with air induction together with the use of higher spraying rate (500 L ha-1) was feasible on the spray deposition in the coffee leaves. The lower spray rate (200 L ha-1) was feasible together with hollow cone nozzle. The hollow cone with air induction nozzle resulted in higher losses to the soil.
spray nozzle; Coffea arabica; airblast sprayer; flow rate
