Crop volume index

Because parts of the model are used in the Dutch pesticide authorization procedure to estimate worker exposure during re-entry, a study was conducted to validate some of the aspects of the proposed model. Emphasis was put on the relationship between hie applied amount of active ingredient and the resulting increase of DFR in relevant zones (crop heights), as well as determining factors (i.e., application techniques and crop density, or leaf volume index). In addition, the influence of re-entry time and crop density on transfer factors (calculated from levels of re-entry exposure and either DFR or SFR) was studied. 

The results of the DFR assessment of different crop zones indicate that low-volume applications result in a more homogeneous distribution over the crop compared to high-volume applications. A recent study on the interception of high-volume applications in the cultivation of chrysanthemums revealed interception ratios from 0.2 to 1 related to the leaf area index (LAI) (Veerman et al., 1994). In our study, it was not easy to assess the LAI because of the structure of the carnation crop. Estimation of the LAI based on the results of estimation of the crop density (leaf volume index) was not reliable enough and resulted in a large variance of the calculated interception ratio (from 0.4 up to 5). 

---