Selecting Nozzles while Calibrating Your Field Sprayer Cecil Tharp Pesticide Education Program Montana State University Extension

Proper Calibration Offers   Better Pest Control   Environmental and human safety   Effective use of time   Save $$

Backpack Sprayer (GPA) 128 th Acre Method  Use water when calibrating  Use same nozzles and filters as when spraying  Measure an 18 ½ by 18 ½ ft area.  Spray area with water and time how long it takes  Constant speed and constant pressure  Spray water into a container for same amount of time.  Ounces = Gallons Per Acre Applied

Sample Scenario Using 128 th Acre Scenario  Takes 10 seconds to spray 128 th Acre  In 10 seconds you spray 10 ounces.  What is the GPA output? 10 GPA

CALIBRATING BOOM SPRAYERS CALIBRATING BOOM SPRAYERS Find GPA? How?

Product Label Recommendations  Your product label often describes the proper GPA (gallons per acre) for your sprayer.  ex. 20 GPA is recommended  Use the 5940 METHOD to find your nozzle size  GPM = GPA * W * MPH / 5940

5940 method  GPM = GPA * W * MPH / 5940   GPA = Gallons Per Acre (product label)   GPM = Gallons per Minute collected from a single nozzle (Make sure all nozzle are within a 5% range.)   5940 is a constant   MPH = Field Speed   W = 1) width between nozzles in inches or 2) width of a broadjet swath in inches.

Selecting the Appropriate Nozzle  GPM = GPA * W * MPH / 5940  Let’s say you need to spray 20 GPA, you have 30” spaced nozzles, and you will drive 5 mph.  GPM = 20 GPA * 30” * 5mph / 5940  or 0.5 GPM nozzles needed

Selecting Nozzles (TeeJet.com)  Solid Stream Nozzles  Handgun sprayers (livestock, tree pests, crevice treatment)  Cone Nozzles  Complete penetration desired  Fan Pattern Nozzles  Uniform spray coverage  Most Common

Find the correct nozzles  Flat Fan Nozzles  Standard: 30 – 60 PSI  Even (E): uniform / banded applications  Extended Range (XR or LFT): 15 – 25 PSI / drift control can be as high as 60 PSI  ex. XR8001SS  Spray angles are 65, 73, 80, and 110  We obtained 0.5 GPM so you would need a nozzle labeled with 05.

Selecting the right Nozzles (what material) Nozzle MaterialNozzle Life Brass (B)Poor Nylon Fair Stainless Steel (S)Good Plastic Good Hardened Stainless SteelExcellent

Nozzle Description  Ex. XR8001SS  1 st 2 letters are the acronym for type of nozzle (Extended Range Flat Fan)  Last 2 numbers are always GPM =.1 GPM  Numbers remaining determine the width of your spray from each nozzle: 80 degrees / determines height of your sprayer  Last 2 letters are always material. = Stainless Steel

Examples of what you will see: Some Examples of Nozzle Material Acronyms  XR8004VS - Stainless Steel with Visflo color-coding  XR8004VS - Stainless Steel with Visflo color-coding  XR11004-VP - Polymer with VisiFlo color-coding  XR11004-VP - Polymer with VisiFlo color-coding  XR11004-VK - Ceramic with polypropylene VisiFlo color- coding  XR11004-VK - Ceramic with polypropylene VisiFlo color- coding  XR8010SS - Stainless Steel  XR8010SS - Stainless Steel  XR11004VB - Brass with VisiFlo color-coding (110°)

Double Check your GPA Annually   Goal: To determine how many gallons of liquid your sprayer actually emits onto 1 acre.   Boom Sprayer   Shortcut Method to Determine GPA   Longhand Method

Check nozzle spacing and height

Boom Level or Nozzle Angle Correct

Worn Spray Tips

Verify that all nozzles are equal

Nozzle Output  Check nozzle output for 1 minute and get average  If each nozzles output is not greater or less than 5% off of average, all is well.  How?

5% error level   To find 5%   Find your average…48 oz   Move the decimal place one space to the left. 48. = 4.8 This is a 10% error   Divide by 2 = 2.4.   This is 5% error   Now add 2.4 to 48 for +5%   Subtract 2.4 from 48 for   5% Error range = 45.6 and 50.4   Any nozzle output between 45.6 and 50.4 is OK!

GPA for Boom Sprayer cont. Shortcut Method 1 st – Determine Nozzle output is same. 2 nd – Flag out Course Length based on your nozzle spacing 18” = 227’ course length 20” = 204’ course length 30” = 136’ course length 40” = 102’ course length  Or 340 / spacing in feet 3 rd - Drive course in gear and rpm you will use when spraying and will use when spraying and time yourself. time yourself.

GPA for Boom Sprayer cont..  Conduct 2 or 3 times and get average 4 th - Collect liquid from 1 nozzle for this amount of time amount of time 5 th - Ounces of liquid collected = GPA

Sample Scenario Boom Sprayer  18” wide nozzles, 6 nozzles  What to do?  Travel 227’ and time  30 seconds  Measure amount delivered in that 30 seconds  15 ounces in 30 seconds  15 GPA

You know GPA, now how much solution do you need?  Acres * GPA = Volume in Tank  10 acres * 30 GPA = 300 Gallons

How much chemical do you need?  Acres * product rate = Total Product  Product Rate = 2 pints / Acre  You will be spraying 10 acres  20 pints of product

Sample Questions You have an output of 20 GPA You need to spray 300 acres #1 - How much of a spray mixture will you need? 6000 gallons 6000 gallons You need to apply 2 oz / acre of Warrior 1E. #2 - How much product do you put in tank? 600 oz of Warrior 600 oz of Warrior

Questions Continued #3 You have 20” nozzles and travel 204’ in 25 seconds. -You collect 10 ounces in 25 seconds. -What is your GPA? 10 GPA

Question continued You are trying to select a nozzle and it reads XR11004B. You are trying to select a nozzle and it reads XR11004B. #4 What type of nozzle is this?  Extended Range Flat Fan #5 What angle of spray mist is emitted from these nozzles?  110 degrees #6 How low can you hold this boom at this spray angle?  15 – 18” #7 How many gallons per minute does this nozzle emit at a standard pressure? .4 Gallons Per Minute (standard 40 PSI) #8 What material is this?  Brass #9 What is the nozzle life of this nozzle?  Poor

Questions? #10: What width and length would easily qualify for using the short cut 128 th acre method for calibrating your backpack sprayer? 18 1/2 x 18 ½ feet

Questions