1. Rights-of-Way Pesticide Applicator Training Rights-of-Way & Noxious Weeds Equipment and Calibration Robert E. Wolf Extension Specialist Application Technology Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept.

2. Rights-of-Way Changes in the Application Industry! uHistorically inefficient process uIncreased cost of chemicals uRates are changing (< an ounce/acre) uMore pest specific products (foliar) uBiotechnology and GMO’s – Roundup Ready, Bt’s uMore sophisticated equipment (electronics) $$$ uEnvironmental impact (water and air) Easy to measure! Drift!!! uVariable rates uSite-specific

3. Rights-of-Way Equipment cost today? How much do these machines cost?

4. Rights-of-Way Equipment cost today? How much do these machines cost?

5. Rights-of-Way Application is Important: uMany 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

6. Rights-of-Way Application Equipment: uTwo basic types of application systems: Liquid (sprayers) Granular

7. Rights-of-Way Application Equipment Manual Sprayers Compressed air Knapsack Spray Management Valve CF Valve Easy Spray Valve

8. Rights-of-Way Power Hydraulic Sprayer Low-pressure High pressure Application Equipment

9. Rights-of-Way

10. Noxious Weed Control

11. Rights-of-Way Automated Systems uInjection uMultiple position nozzles uMultiple chemicals

12. Rights-of-Way Sprayer Components: uTanks (contamination issues) uPump, Strainers, Agitation uPressure gauge uHoses, Flow control assemblies uElectronics: monitors- computers- controllers (GPS/GIS) uDistribution system uNozzles!!!!!!!!!

13. Rights-of-Way Types of Pumps: uRoller Pump uCentrifugal Pump uDiaphragm Pump uPiston Pump uPeristaltic Pump (Squeeze or hose pump – chemical injection)

14. Rights-of-Way Plumbing Diagram

15. Rights-of-Way Plumbing Diagram:

16. Rights-of-Way Spray Characteristics are Important to Understand: Demonstrates Turbo Flat vs TurboDrop-5 MPH Wind

17. Rights-of-Way NOZZLE TYPES: FLAT SPRAY Extended Range Flat-Fan Turbo Flat-Fan Drift Reduction Flat-Fan Turbo Flood Off center Flat-Fan

18. Rights-of-Way Others: Boomless Handgun with disk & core or adjustable nozzle

19. Rights-of-Way Nozzles are important because:

20. Rights-of-Way 1. Control the Amount applied: Nozzle Flow Rate is affected by:  Orifice size  Pressure  Solution characteristics

21. Rights-of-Way 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)

22. Rights-of-Way MATERIALS AND WEAR Percent increase in nozzle flow rate Flat-fan spray nozzles after 40 hour test

23. Rights-of-Way 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.

24. Rights-of-Way 3. Will determine coverage: uNeed knowledge of the product being used. Systemic Contact uWhat is the target? Soil Grass Broadleaf (smooth, hairy, waxy) Leaf orientation – time of day

25. Rights-of-Way 4. Will affect drift: uMovement of spray particles off-target. uCreating smaller spray drops will result in increased drift. uIs it Coverage vs Drift? uWhat is the answer? $64,000 Question?

26. Rights-of-Way Why Interest in Drift? uSpotty pest control uWasted chemicals uOff-target damage uMore high value specialty crops uUrban sprawl and..... uLess tolerant neighbors uLitigious Society uMore wind?? (Timing) uEnvironmental impact Water and Air Quality uPublic more aware of pesticide concerns! (Negative) (Perceptions) uResult-higher costs-$$$

27. Rights-of-Way Technical Aspects of Spray Drift

28. Rights-of-Way 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

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

30. Rights-of-Way Factors Affecting Drift Spray Characteristics  chemical  formulation  drop size  evaporation Equipment & Application  nozzle type  nozzle size  nozzle pressure  height of release Weather  air movement (direction and velocity)  temperature and humidity  air stability/inversions  topography

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

32. Rights-of-Way NameFeaturesCost* DwyerFloating Ball15.50 Wind WizardMechanical39.50 Turbo MeterWind speed - knots, feet/min, meters/sec, mph135.00 Kestrel 1000Maximum, average, current wind speed - knots, feet/min, meters/sec, mph 89.00 Kestrel 2000Maximum, average, current wind speed, temp, wind chill- knots, feet/min, meters/sec, mph 119.00 Kestrel 3000All wind speed features plus temp, wind chill, dew point, heat index, relative humidity 159.00 Plastimo Iris 50**Compass89.00 Wind Meters and Compass *Prices for Wind Meters taken from Gempler’s 2002 Master Catalog **Plastimo Airguide Inc., 1110 Lake Cook Road, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089(708-215-7888)

33. Rights-of-Way 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

34. Rights-of-Way 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

35. Rights-of-Way Recognizing Inversions uUnder clear to partly cloudy skies and light winds, a surface inversion can form as the sun sets. uUnder these conditions, a surface inversion will continue into the morning until the sun begins to heat the ground.

36. Rights-of-Way Courtesy – George Ramsay, Dupont

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

38. Rights-of-Way Calibration!!!! Ensuring that the spray output is what it is supposed to be!

39. Rights-of-Way Calculations GPA= 5940 #$!@&%!

40. Rights-of-Way Calibration/Nozzle Selection uWhat is the first step? uUse label to select the application volume product rate uChoose an appropriate travel speed uEffective width of application nozzle spacing uCalculate GPM – Flow rate per nozzle uSelect the correct size of nozzle!

41. Rights-of-Way Sprayer Calibration Variables 1. Nozzle flow rate (GPM) 2. Ground speed (MPH) 3. Effective sprayed width (W)- inches or swath width (SW) - feet 4. Application rate (GPA)

42. Rights-of-Way NOZZLE SELECTION 1. Nozzle flow rate (GPM) - affected by: density, orifice size, and pressure To double the flow rate the pressure (psi) must increase____________ times! 4

43. Rights-of-Way NOZZLE SELECTION 2. Ground speed (MPH) - Doubling the ground speed reduces the application rate (GPA) by _________! 1/2

44. Rights-of-Way NOZZLE SELECTION 3. Effective sprayed width (inches - W) or (swath width in feet - SW) Doubling the effective sprayed width per nozzle decreases the application rate (GPA) by _________! 1/2

45. Rights-of-Way Calculations GPA= 5940 Ok, now I remember!

46. Rights-of-Way Application Rate Equation Equation # 1

47. Rights-of-Way Application Rate Equation Equation # 1 (5940/12” = 495)

48. Rights-of-Way 5940 or 495 = a constant to convert gallons per minute, miles per hour, and feet to gallons per acre Where: GPA = ______________________ GPM = ______________________ MPH = ______________________ SW = ______________________ gallons per acre gallons per minute miles per hour swath width - feet

49. Rights-of-Way Measuring Ground Speed Ground Speed - Miles Per Hour (MPH) Where traveling 88 ft. in 60 seconds = 1 MPH Doubling the ground speed reduces the output by 1/2.

50. Rights-of-Way Flow rate equation or (5940/12” = 495)

51. Rights-of-Way Electronics/Rate Controllers uHow does your system work when speed changes? uIs it pressure based? uWhat is the effect of going slower? uWhat is the effect of going faster?

52. Rights-of-Way Hand Sprayer Calibration Spraying to the point of runoff uproduct added to each gal. or 100 gal. uuniform coverage-dripping from leaves utime and gallons per tree/1000 sq. ft. “Dilute” Technique important!!

53. Rights-of-Way Calibration Procedure Steps: 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. Measure the flow rate from the gun. Using the time recorded in step 2, spray into a calibrated container for that same length of time. Amount in the container represents the application rate per 1000 sq. ft.

54. Rights-of-Way 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)

55. Rights-of-Way Example Reference Graph Cumulative Volume Fraction 0.10.50.9 Drop Size (microns) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 very fine/ fine fine/medium medium/ coarse coarse/ very coarse very coarse/ extremely coarse VF F M C VC XC uNew Label language- EPA Reviewing Public Comments uMatch the crop protection product to the target uAdhere to label guidelines based on an industry standard ASAE S-572 uBuffer Zones or No Spray Zones uMaximize Efficacy uMinimize Drift EPA Requested Changes Coming!!!!

56. Rights-of-Way

57. For more information contact: www.bae.ksu.edu/rewolf/ rewolf@ksu.edu