PROBLEMS OF DUST EMISSIONS AND DRIFT OF SEED TREATMENTS IN THE SOWING PROCESS: A REVIEW
Authors: Novokhatsky M. ,   L. Pogorilyy UkrNDIPVT, Pogorilyy V. , Sidorenko S. , Maidanovych V. , Klochay O. ,   L. Pogorilyy UkrNDIPVT
Published: July 2024

The purpose of the work: assessment of the risks of poisoning beneficial pollinating insects by analyzing the problem of the drift of poisoner materials used to disinfect the seeds of row crops and sowing poisoned seeds with pneumatic seeders. Materials and methods. The analysis was carried out based on the results of a review of global scientific and technical achievements in the specified field with the use of current regulatory documents on the safety of agricultural machines: DSTU EN ISO 12100-2016, ISO 14121-1: 2007 and ISO/TR 14121-2:2007. Results. Most modern planters use a system of pneumatic seed feeding from the hopper to the coulter through a pneumatic line. During the operation of the tractor with the seeder in the field, dust is formed, which, together with the air, enters the pneumatic system of the seeder and acts as a «sandblaster». Captured dust grinds the coating of poisoned seeds, and then takes this mixture with it outside, into the atmosphere. Fine dust is formed mainly due to the insufficient quality of the seed coating process. Coarse dust mainly contains particles of larger sizes that have fallen from the treated seeds. Dust that contains very high levels of pollinator materials can move beyond seeded fields and kill bees and other natural pollinators. In Ukraine and the EU countries, no single clearly established legal act would determine the quantitative limitation of dust emissions when sowing poisoned seeds. The situation in the EU, regarding the regulation of the drift of the mordant, takes place per the legislation of each country, but in compliance with the basic principles and provisions of the Machinery Directive. A coordinating role in this process is played by the Julius-Kuhn Institute, which has developed a register of vacuum planters that meet the requirements for reducing the drift of dust from the seed treatment. Ukraine, moving in the direction of harmonizing legislation and norms to EU requirements, approved the Technical Regulation of Machine Safety - a complete analog of the European Machinery Directive, which contains a separate appendix, that establishes additional essential requirements for safety and health protection, which machine manufacturers must observe during design and manufacture of certain types of machines, including machines intended for the application of pesticides. Standardization of emissions of dust contaminated with seed protection products in Ukraine can be determined and controlled according to DSTU EN ISO 17962:2017. Conclusions. To prevent and reduce emissions and drift of dust from seed treatment agents, a responsible comprehensive approach is necessary, namely: high-quality preparation of seeds for treatment with treatment agents and high-quality application of the treatment agent; making changes to the design of pneumatic seed drills, equipping them with additional dust-catching equipment, or equipment that changes the direction of air movement; if possible, sowing in a period when there is no strong wind. Keywords: poisoner, pneumatic seeder, drift of poisoner dust, poisoned seeds, death of bees, pollinators, pesticides.