ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with a brief description of the state-of-the-art of application technology and provides a better understanding of the potentials and limitations involved. A rather extensive technology surrounds the application of chemicals to plants. The general notion that existing application equipment is expected to efficiently, effectively, and safely apply all past, present, and future chemical compounds and formulations presented to them is certainly obsolete. A relatively new development for selective application without atomization involves a wiping or rubbing technique to effect the transfer of chemicals. The nature of the atomization process and the resulting drop size distributions will be largely a function of the type of atomizer and its operating conditions as well as the principal liquid physical properties of viscosity, surface tension, and density. Once an application need has been identified and equipment selected, then the details of application must be satisfied. The chemicals must be properly and accurately measured, mixed, and applied in the proper manner.
