Pesticide Usage

 

Laboratory 10

 

Practical Pesticide Application Operations and Calibration

March 27, 2007

 

Discussion of Practical Pesticide Application Equipment , Calibration and Calculations

Presented by Ms. Grace Hite

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Proper Sprayer Operations and Calibration

Down load a PDF version of this PowerPoint presentation

• Types of Liquid Pesticide Applicators
  • Backpack
  • Tractor mounted
  • Air blast

 

• Application Equipment

• Effective and accurate pesticide application requires equipment to be:
  • Properly maintained
  • Correctly operated
  • Periodically calibrated

• Calibration
  • Definition: Determining the output of a product that will be applied to the target area.

    Goal: Put a specific amount of material on a specific area as uniformly as possible

• Advantages of proper calibration
  • Proper pest control with minmal crop damage
  • Minimal environmental pollution
  • Lower costs and time efficiency

• Precalibration Checks
  • Always start with a clean sprayer/spreader!
  • Correct spray tips/orifice setting- ie: 8004VS
  • Operating pressure or other gear settings.
  • Operating speed.
  • Proper boom height.
  • Check patterns & tip outputs.

• You Have Control
  • Speed
    • Different gear speed
    • Throttle
    • Hydrostatic drives
  • Output (GPM)
    • Nozzle size (01 to 04)
    • Pressure (PSI)
  • Sprayer
    • Nozzle patterns
    • Spacing
    • Boom width

 

• Important figures to know

• Should know
  • 1 acre = 0.408 hectare = 43,560 ft2 = 43.56 1000 ft2
  • 1 mile = 5280 ft
  • 1 gallon = 4 QT = 8 PT = 128 fl oz. = 3785 ml
  • 1 pound = 16 ounce = 453.59 gram
• Good to know
  • Your walking speed
  • Pace distance

• Calculating Sprayer Outputs
  • Nozzle output formulas:
    • GPM = GPA x MPH x W
    • GPA = 5940 x GPM (per nozzle)

• Calculating speed
  • Speed formula:
  • MPH = Distance (ft) x 60
  • Travel speed (walking or tractor)
  • Measure distance ie: 100ft
  • Determine time it takes to travel 100ft
  • Calculate speed ie: 23 sec
  • Distance/time or (ft)x60/(sec)x 88
  • Measure longer distances for higher speeds
  • Determine the nozzle that you need or have ( all nozzles must be the same)
  • Determine desired delivery volume
  • Pressure
  • Nozzle spacing
  • Spray Tip Patterns
  • Determine GPM (Gallons per Minute)
    • GPM = GPA x mph x W/ 5940

 

• Drift Management: Decreasing Pesticide Drift
  • There Are Two Types Of Drift
    • Vapor Drift &endash; occurs when temperatures exceed threshold levels and the chemical volatilizes.
    •  
    • Particle Drift &endash; associated with several factors.
      • Nozzle Types and Size
      • Nozzle Pressure
      • Boom Height
      • Sprayer Speed
      • Wind Speed
    • Other drift control measures that can be used are: drift retardants, invert emulsions, recirculating sprayers & electrostatic sprayers.

• Summary
  • Important Messages To Take Home!
  • Take time to maintain before season.
  • Calibrate at least at the start of the season.
  • Calibrate when changing pesticide types ie: herbicides to fungicides
  • Do the calculations and recalculate.
  • What is the first thing you do?
  • Read the Labelling
  • Front to back

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  In-class calibration exercise

Down load a Microsoft Word version of example/sample: Sample problems

Homework calibration problems:

Down load a Microsoft Word version of homework problems: Homework problems

The key to the homework problems is now available click here

 

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This portion of the laboratory was conducted at the Glade Road Research Facility using a demonstration spray table and was developed and presented by:

Dr. Shawn Askew,

Assistant Professor

Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science

Examination of spray nozzle performance using a 3 nozzle spray system spray table

• Effect of Pressure on Spray Patterns Using TeeJet 8004 Nozzles:

• 10 PSI
• 20 PSI
• 30 PSI
• 40 PSI
• View data

 

• Effect of Boom Height and Orientation on Spray Pattern Using TeeJet 8004 Nozzles.

• 18 inch
• 9 inch
• uneven boom
• View data

• Effect of Tip Wear on Spray Pattern Using TeeJet 8004 Nozzles.

• Normal
• Bad
• View data

• Effect of Wind Speed on Spray Drift Using TeeJet 8004 Nozzles.

• 0 MPH
• 5.8 MPH
• 8 MPH
• View data

Effect of Pressure on Spray Drift Using TeeJet 8004 Nozzles: Wind Speed 8.5 MPH

• 30 PSI = series 1
• 60 PSI= series 2
• View data

 

Comparison of the Effects of Nozzle Type on Spray Drift Using TeeJet Drift Reduction Nozzles.

• TeeJet Flat Fan 8004
• TeeJet Turbo
• TeeJet Air Injection 11004
• View data