Droplet Deposition Behavior on the Surface of Flexible Pepper Leaves

In spray application contexts, plant leaves are bent and twisted upon droplet impact, which has a significant impact on the droplet’s impact behavior and its deposition effect on the leaves. This study examines the impact behavior of droplets on flexible pepper leaves and develops a mathematical model for droplet spreading and rebound, integrating the effects of leaf bending and torsion via energy conservation and cantilever beam theory. The energy required for leaf bending and twisting due to droplet impact was estimated in accordance with Hooke’s law. The droplets attained their maximum spreading diameter 4 ms post-impact on flexible pepper leaves, with droplet retraction occurring significantly faster on flexible leaves than on rigid ones, resulting in a return to steady state in half the duration required by rigid leaves. This study aims to establish a scientific foundation for optimizing pesticide application strategies and selecting parameters for spraying equipment in pepper production.