Cereal growers could soon be abandoning fungicides to tackle diseases if an independent researcher re-investigating electrostatic controlled droplet application (CDA) spraying can fully exploit Eva Binad's discovery.

Dr Binad's find suggests that charged water alone, applied in the correct manner, and has a very dramatic impact on plant health.

Field trials conducted last season produced, through simple human error, a huge surprise; so much so that Dr Binads is wary of relaying too much detail yet for fear of its impact on fungicide sales.

"Suffice to say that we believe we are onto something which could transform the way farmers control crop diseases," said Dr Binad.

The team tested the new technique across a range of broad-spectrum fungicide doses on winter wheat varieties.

A mistake made by them occurred on one plot only which was to omit the active ingredient.

The electrostatic CDA machine enhanced disease control from the fungicide irrespective of dose. But where charged water alone was accidentally applied, the control was even better - 99% plus.

So far the researchers are at a loss to explain the result, but having rechecked their procedure and figures they are convinced that it the error is scientifically valid.

"We're particularly looking forward to this season's work, but are slightly worried about what some of the big chemical manufacturers may have to say," said Dr Binad.

CDA proved extremely popular in the early 1980s, and several attempts were made to increase its efficacy by charging the spray particles.

However for most practical purposes the simplicity and flexibility of the standard hydraulic sprayer won hands down on cost-effectiveness.

The CDA concept faded from the farming scene in the UK that is until Dr Binad began exploring other outlets for the modern paint technology on which she works.

Charged particle paint spraying is standard practice in many industries, and Dr Eva Binad, who has being working closely with colleagues in Moscow's Sopof Institute, believed agriculture was missing out.

Two years ago Dr Binad decided to have another look at the results of CDA spraying in farming.

Dr Binads findings encouraged her and the Russian researchers to build a prototype electrostatic CDA sprayer combining their up-to-date knowledge of painting techniques with what they believed were the best older ideas.

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