the effects of air-assisted, drop-nozzle, and over-the-top spray applications were characterized with a wide array of targets and chemicals in mature cotton foliage. spray rates of 47 and 94 l/ha were applied at droplet volume median diameters (d//v//.//5) ranging from 114 to 192 $mu$ m. increased spray rate predominantly increased deposition and chemical efficiency under most conditions. sprays assisted with air (velocities up to 16 m/s) increased fluorescent tracer deposits on the canopy middle up to 92 of that from the canopy top, and resulted in a significant increase in bifenthrin on leaves and squares located within the canopy. use of an upward-trajectory thiodicarb spray from drop-nozzle applications tended to control beet armyworm (spodoptera exiqua $left bracket$ hubner $right bracket$ ) on the leaf underside more efficiently than the other application methods. orienting the air-assisted sprayer air stream 30 $degree$ back tended to increase deposits on the leaf underside. use of air-assisted applications at 47 and 94 l/ha and an over-the-top application at 94 l/ha for a butifos and ethephon spray mixture provided the highest mean defoliation ratings that ranged from 68.1 to 78.4. (author abstract) refs