1. Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration
Basic Training Presentation

2. Changes in the Application Industry!
Historically inefficient process
Increased cost per acre for crop protection
Rates are changing (< an ounce/acre)
More pest specific products (foliar)
Biotechnology and GMO’s – Issues????
More sophisticated equipment (electronics) $$$
Environmental impact (water and air)
Variable rates
Site-specific 2 4

3. R-U Ready Soybean Explosion
Million
Million
Acreage of roundup ready ready (genetically modified) soybeans under cultivation in the United States.
Million
Million

4. Equipment cost today? How much do these machines cost?
$150, ,000 +

5. Equipment cost today? How much does this machine cost?
$250, ,000

6. What about the cost of the nozzle?

7. Application Equipment and Calibration Outline
Discuss Misapplication
Basic Application Equipment
Components of a Sprayer
System Designs
Understanding Nozzles
Importance of Nozzles
Calibration and Nozzle Selection
Spray Solution Affect on Output
Ground Speed

8. Application is Important:
Many complaints to chemical company representatives involve improper application of chemicals.
Improper mixing procedures
Travel speed errors
Uniformity of coverage
Incorrect quantities added to the tank
Particle drift
Selection and maintenance of nozzles

9. Misapplication Facts:
Farmland Insurance
Based on insurance claim payouts!

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

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

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

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

14. Plumbing Diagram

15. Plumbing Diagram

16. Plumbing Diagram:

17. Nozzle Types: Cone Spray Tips: Flat Spray Tips: Raindrop
Extended Range Flat-fan
Drift Reduction Flat-fan
Turbo Flood Flat-fan
Turbo Flat-fan
AI Flat-fan
TurboDrop
Cone Spray Tips:
Raindrop

18. Spray Characteristics are Important to Understand:

19. Selecting the proper nozzle:
Legal issues!!
Following the label!

20. Nozzles are important because:

21. Misapplication:
Without proper attention to the nozzle, you may end up with a
Misapplication

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

23. Nomenclature: Rated Pressure = 40 psi for most nozzle types
Extended Range
Trade Name
(S,H,P,K,SS)
Stainless Steel Insert Orifice
VisiFlo Color Coding
Fan angle and flow rate-orifice size
Rated Pressure =
40 psi for most nozzle types
10 psi for turbo flood nozzles 7

24. Typical nozzle numbering system
Extended-range
flat-fan
XR 11004 XR
110
110 degree fan angle 04
psi
Even flat-fan –
(Band applications)
8002E E
Even spray pattern 80
80 degree fan angle 02
psi
Turbo flood -
(small capacity)
TF- 4 TF
Turbo flood 4
4 10 psi
Turbo flood –
(Floater capacity)
QCTF - 40
QCTF
Quick attach turbo flood 40
psi
EQU 5 Manufacturers use their own nozzle numbering system. Keep the manufacturer’s product catalog handy for quick reference.

25. MATERIALS AND WEAR Percent increase in nozzle flow rate
Flat-fan spray nozzles after 40 hour test 8

26. 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 field.
20-inch spacing requires 17-19” above target for 50-60% overlap.

27. 3. Will determine coverage:
Need knowledge of the product being used.
Systemic
Contact
What is the target?
Soil
grass
broadleaf (smooth, hairy, waxy)

28. $64 Million Question? 4. Will affect drift:
Movement of spray particles off-target.
Creating smaller spray drops will result in increased drift.
Is it Coverage vs Drift?
What is the answer?
$64 Million Question?

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

30.
GPA=
5940
Calculations

31. Ok, now I remember!
GPA=
5940
EQU 23
Calculations

32. Nozzle size - Variables
Nozzle flow rate (GPM)
Ground speed (MPH)
Effective sprayed width (W)
Application rate (GPA) 9

33. Application Rate Equation
Calculates for application rate
Represents total amount applied for an acre

34. Flow Rate Equation Calculates for amount of flow from one nozzle
Represents the size of nozzle to put on the sprayer

35. Where:
GPA = ______________________
GPM = ______________________
MPH = ______________________
W = ______________________
5940 = a constant to convert gallons per minute, miles per hour, and inches to gallons per acre
gallons per acre
gallons per minute
miles per hour
nozzle spacing - inches 14

36. Variables 4 1/2 1/2 1. Nozzle Flow Rate - Gallons Per Minute (GPM)
To double the nozzle output, the pressure must increase times 4
2. Ground speed - Miles Per Hour (MPH)
1/2
Doubling the ground speed reduces GPA rate by___
3. Effective Sprayed Width (W) (Nozzle spacing, band
width, number of nozzles on drop)
Doubling the effective sprayed width per nozzle decreases the application rate by
1/2 12

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

38. Application Nozzle type
GPA MPH INCH SPACING
GPM = x x
5940
GPM = =
The correct nozzle is used at psi. 21

39. GPM Example
You want to broadcast a foliar herbicide at 12 GPA traveling 12 MPH using extended range flat-fan nozzles on 20-inch spacing.
Use equation to calculate for flow rate?

40. GPA Example Solution
GPM=?
GPA=?
MPH=?
W=?
GPM=?
GPA=12
MPH=12
W=20

41. GPM Example Solution
Answer
.48

42. Selecting the proper nozzle….
Page 51 TeeJet Catalog

43. Selecting the proper nozzle….
Calculate GPM (formula)
Look under ‘Capacity of 1 nozzle in GPM’ column
Match to pressure-psi
Choose the size needed
Operate at given pressure and speed used in formula to achieve GPA
.48

44. Spray Solution Characteristics
A. Surface Tension
B. Density
C. Viscosity
Effects droplet size, not flow
Weight/unit volume
density - flow rate decreases
Resistance to flow 11

45. Spraying Solutions other that water: 28% CONVERSION – see page 124, SS
28% = _______ lbs/gal
Specific Gravity =
Weight of 28%/gal divided by
weight of water/gal = 17

46. 1.28 28% CONVERSION 10.65 28% = _______ lbs/gal Specific Gravity =
Weight of 28%/gal divided by
weight of water/gal
10.65
10.65
1.28 =
8.34 18

47. Conversion factor =
square root of specific gravity of 28%
x = 19

48. Conversion factor =
square root of specific gravity of 28%
1.13
x =
1.13 20

49. 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! 15

50. Nozzle Selection Chart: