HorticultureHorticulture Understanding Sprayers, Calibration, Drift, and Nozzle Selection Robert E. Wolf Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept. Kansas State University

Turf and Ornamental Pest Control Understanding Application Equipment, Drift, and Calibration Robert E. Wolf Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept. Kansas State University

Understanding Sprayers, Calibration, Drift, and Nozzle Selection Outline: Basic Application Equipment Components of a Sprayer Discuss Misapplication Calibration and Nozzle Selection Define Drift What Affects Drift Dropsize Discussion Drift Minimization Techniques

Application Equipment: ä Two basic types of application systems: ä Liquid (sprayers) ä Granular

Basic application devices: ä Hand can pump sprayers ä Backpack sprayers ä Boom sprayers ä High pressure sprayers ä Air-assist sprayers ä Aerial (spray and granular) ä Granular

Equipment cost today? How much do these machines cost?

Equipment cost today? How much do these machines cost?

Application Equipment Manual Sprayers ä Compressed air ä Knapsack Spray Management Valve CF Valve Easy Spray Valve

Powered Boom Srayers

Sprayer Components: ä Tanks (contamination issues) ä Pump, Strainers, Agitation ä Pressure gauge ä Hoses, Flow control assemblies ä Electronics: monitors-computers- controllers (GPS/GIS) ä Distribution system ä Nozzles!!!!!!!!!

Types of Pumps: ä Roller Pump ä Centrifugal Pump ä Diaphragm Pump ä Piston Pump ä Peristaltic Pump (Squeeze or hose pump – chemical injection)

Plumbing Diagram:

Misapplication: ä Without proper attention to the nozzle, you may end up with a …… Misapplication

Why is the Nozzle Important? ä Amount of spray applied ä Uniformity of the spray ä Coverage on the target ä Amount of off-target drift

1. Control the Amount applied: Nozzle Flow Rate is affected by:  Orifice size  Pressure  Solution characteristics Page 9

Rated Pressure = 40 psi for most nozzle types 10 psi for turbo flood nozzles Nomenclature: Stainless Steel Insert Orifice Trade Name Fan angle and flow rate- orifice size Extended Range VisiFlo Color Coding (S,H,P,K,SS)

Typical nozzle numbering system: Extended-range flat-fan XR 11004XRExtended-range degree fan angle psi Even flat-fan – (Band applications) 8002EEEven spray pattern 8080 degree fan angle psi Turbo flood – Turf Turf flood (small capacity) TF-4 TTJ- 04 TF-TTJTurbo Turf Flood psi.4 40 psi Turbo flood – (Floater capacity) QCTF - 40QCTFQuick attach turbo flood psi

Calculations GPA= 5940

Calibration/Nozzle Selection: ä What is the first step? ä Use label to select the ä application volume ä product rate ä Choose an appropriate travel speed ä Effective width of application ä nozzle spacing ä Calculate GPM – Flow rate per nozzle ä Select the correct size of nozzle!

Calculations GPA= 5940 Ok, now I remember!

Flow Rate Equation: Equation # 2 ä Calculates for amount of flow from one nozzle ä Represents the size of nozzle to put on the sprayer ä Calculates for amount of flow from one nozzle ä Represents the size of nozzle to put on the sprayer Page 14

GPM Example Solution: Answer.71

MEASURE SPEED (1 MPH = 88 Feet traveled in 60 seconds) Measure the ground speed in an area similar to the conditions of the area to be sprayed!

ä Calculate GPM (formula) ä Look under GPM column ä Match to pressure-psi ä Choose the size needed ä Operate at given pressure and speed used in formula to achieve GPA Selecting the proper nozzle…..71 Page 9

Electronics/Rate Controllers ä How does your system work when speed changes? ä Is it pressure based? ä What is the effect of going slower? ä What is the effect of going faster?

Checking for accuracy!!!

Nozzle Selection Chart: Turbo Flood

Hand Sprayer Calibration Spraying to the point of runoff ä product added to each gal. or 100 gal. ä uniform coverage-dripping from leaves ä time and gallons per tree/1000 sq. ft. “Dilute” Technique important!!

A spray gun has a swath of 10 ft. For uniform distribution of spray use 100% overlap. This creates an effective width of 5 ft. Calibration For Hand Spray Guns Step 1: Mark off a calibration course of 1000 sq. ft.

Accurately measure the time required to spray the calibration course using a proper technique. Remember only record the amount of time the gun is actually spraying. Step 2: Step 3: Measure the flow rate from the gun. Using the time recorded in Step 2 collect the output from the gun in a graduated container for the period of time in Step 2. Hand Spray Guns, cont.

Example: It took 50 seconds for an applicator to spray the 1000 sq. ft. calibration course. The amount of spray collected from the gun in the 50 seconds was 1.4 gallons. Hand Spray Guns: cont. The application rate for this example is: 1.4 gallons per 1000 sq. ft. or 61 gallons per acre (43.56 x 1.4)

MATERIALS AND WEAR Percent increase in nozzle flow rate Flat-fan spray nozzles after 40 hour test

2. Set up for Uniformity Goal is to put the material on evenly from nozzle to nozzle, end of boom to end of boom, and across the entire area. 20-inch spacing requires 17-19” above target for 50-60% overlap.

3. Will determine coverage: ä Need knowledge of the product being used. ä Systemic ä Contact ä What is the target? ä Soil ä Grass ä Broadleaf (smooth, hairy, waxy) ä Leaf orientation – time of day

4. Will affect drift: ä Movement of spray particles off-target. ä Creating smaller spray drops will result in increased drift. ä Is it Coverage vs Drift? ä What is the answer? $64,000 Question?

Why Interest in Drift? ä Spotty pest control ä Wasted chemicals ä Off-target damage ä Litigious Society ???? ä Result - higher costs - $$$ ä More wind?? (Timing) ä Environmental impact (Water and Air Quality) ä Spotty pest control ä Wasted chemicals ä Off-target damage ä Litigious Society ???? ä Result - higher costs - $$$ ä More wind?? (Timing) ä Environmental impact (Water and Air Quality)

Definition of Drift: Movement of spray particles and vapors off-target causing less effective control and possible injury to susceptible vegetation, wildlife, and people. Adapted from National Coalition on Drift Minimization 1997 as adopted from the AAPCO Pesticide Drift Enforcement Policy - March 1991

Types of Drift: Vapor Drift - associated with volatilization (gas, fumes) Particle Drift - movement of spray particles during or after the spray application

Spray Characteristics Affecting Drift Chemical Formulation Additives Drop size Evaporation Chemical Formulation Additives Drop size Evaporation

Equipment & Application Factors Affecting Drift Nozzle type Nozzle size Nozzle orientation Nozzle pressure Height of release Technology Nozzle type Nozzle size Nozzle orientation Nozzle pressure Height of release Technology

ä Temperature & humidity ä Air movement ä Direction ä Velocity) ä Air stability/inversions ä Topography ä Temperature & humidity ä Air movement ä Direction ä Velocity) ä Air stability/inversions ä Topography Weather and Other Factors Affecting Drift

Wind Direction: ä Wind direction is very important ä Know the location of sensitive areas - consider safe buffer zones. ä Do not spray at any wind speed if it is blowing towards sensitive areas - all nozzles can drift. ä Spray when breeze is gentle, steady, and blowing away from sensitive areas. ä “Dead calm” conditions are never recommended.

NameFeaturesCost* DwyerFloating Ball15.50 Wind WizardMechanical39.50 Turbo MeterWind speed - knots, feet/min, meters/sec, mph Kestrel 1000Maximum, average, current wind speed - knots, feet/min, meters/sec, mph Kestrel 2000Maximum, average, current wind speed, temp, wind chill- knots, feet/min, meters/sec, mph Kestrel 3000All wind speed features plus temp, wind chill, dew point, heat index, relative humidity Plastimo Iris 50**Compass89.00 Wind Meters and Compass *Prices for Wind Meters taken from Gempler’s 2000 Master Catalog **Plastimo Airguide Inc., 1110 Lake Cook Road, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089( )

Under normal conditions air tends to rise and mix with the air above. Droplets will disperse and will usually not cause problems. Normal Temperature Profile Altitude Cooler Warmer Temperature decreases with height Increasing Temperature Inversions:

Under these conditions the temperature increases as you move upward. This prevents air from mixing with the air above it. This causes small suspended droplets to form a concentrated cloud which can move in unpredictable directions. Temperature Inversion Altitude Temperature increases with height Warm Air Cool Air Increasing Temperature Temperature Inversions:

Recognizing Inversions: ä Under clear to partly cloudy skies and light winds, a surface inversion can form as the sun sets. ä Under these conditions, a surface inversion will continue into the morning until the sun begins to heat the ground.

Precautions for Inversions: ä Surface inversions are common. ä Be especially careful near sunset and an hour or so after sunrise, unless… ä There is low heavy cloud cover ä The wind speed is greater than 5-6 mph at ground level ä 5 degree temp rise after sun-up ä Use of a smoke bomb or smoke generator is recommended to identify inversion conditions.

Wind Patterns Near Treelines: Adapted from Survey of Climatology: Griffiths and Driscoll, Texas A&M University, 1982

Wind Patterns Around Buildings Diagram of wind around a building. Adapted from Farm Structures* Ground * H.J. Barre and L.L. Sammet, Farm Structures (Wiley, 1959)

Technical Aspects of Spray Drift

ä Particle drift will result from the smaller drops created during the spray process. The size of the droplets created is critical. ä Dropsizes are measured in microns using laser beams. Drift & Dropsize Relationship:

Dropsize Facts: ä One micron = 1/25,000 inch ä Expressed as (VMD) Volume Median Diameter ä Example - VMD = 500 microns

Comparison of Micron Sizes for Various Items: (approximate values) ä pencil lead 2000 (  m ) ä paper clip 850 (  m ) ä staple 420 (  m ) ä toothbrush bristle 300 (  m ) ä sewing thread150 (  m ) ä human hair100 (  m ) 150

1/2 of spray volume = larger droplets VMD 1/2 of spray volume = smaller droplets

Cutting Droplet Size in Half Results in Eight Times the Number of Droplets 500 Microns 500 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns 250 Microns

Nozzle Technology? ä Nozzles designed to reduce drift ä Improved drop size control ä Emphasis on ‘Spray Quality’

What’s New - Turf?

Turbo Turf Flood Nozzle ä Flat Spray Pattern ä Uniform spray distribution ä Tapered edge ä 50% overlap ä Turbulation chamber ä Pre-orifice design ä Large-drift resistant droplets

Raindrop compared to a Turbo Turf Flood Raindrop DropTurbo Turf Flood 5.0 MPH wind at 40 psi

Turbo Turf Flood at 40 psi and 10 mph, 1 pass Raindrop at 40 psi and 10 mph, 1 pass % Area Coverage-6.1 % Area Coverage-21.8 % Area Coverage-0.5 % Area Coverage-0.7 Area represented is between 4 & 8 ft. from end of boomArea represented is between 2 & 4 ft. from above boom

Raindrop compared to a Turbo Turf Flood Raindrop DropTurbo Turf Flood 5.0 MPH wind at 40 psi

Strategies to Reduce Drift: ä Select nozzle to increase drop size ä Increase flow rates - higher application volumes ä Use lower pressures ä Use lower spray (boom) heights ä Avoid adverse weather conditions ä Consider using buffer zones ä Consider using new technologies: ä drift reduction nozzles ä drift reduction additives ä shields

Drift Reduction Additives: ä Many available! ä Not EPA regulated ä Long chain polymers ä New-soluble powders ä % reduction in off-target movement ä Pump shear problems

What to Expect in the Future? Utilizing technology to enhance the application precision of chemicals ä Match the crop protection product to the target ä Adhere to label guidelines based on an industry standard - ä ASAE X-572 ä To minimize drift Extra Coarse Very Fine

Thank You!