Characteristics of dust particles abraded from pesticide treated seeds: 2. Density, porosity and chemical content

BACKGROUND: Apart from particle size, drift of abraded seed particles during sowing is mainly affected by two other physical properties, viz. particle shape and envelope density. The impact of these abraded seed particles on the environment is highly dependable on their active ingredient content. In this study, the envelope density and chemical content of dust abraded from seeds was determined as a function of particle size for six seed species. RESULTS: Envelope density and active ingredient content both change as a function of particle size. Important differences in these physico-chemical properties were observed between the six species. Functions were fitted to the collected data to describe the physico-chemical properties as a function of particle size. CONCLUSION: The gathered physico-chemical information is essential for the computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based dust drift prediction models and can be useful for other prediction models as well as for the ongoing risk assessment of active ingredients used for seed treatment on ecosystems and ecosystem-services. In addition, the results can help to better understand the dust drift phenomenon and to develop mitigation strategies.status: publishe