Spray Equipment Calibration

Calibration Used to determine sprayer output in units of volume per acreUsed to determine sprayer output in units of volume per acreExamples:Gal/acre Gal/1000 sq. ft.

Accurate Pesticide Application CANNOT Occur Without Calibration

Calibration Requirements Pattern WidthPattern Width Sprayer SpeedSprayer Speed Sprayer Flow RateSprayer Flow Rate

Pattern Width (Distance)

Sprayer Speed (Distance/time)

Sprayer Flow Rate (Volume/time) Volume Area Look for worn nozzles & uniform spray distribution

What affects application rate? Pattern WidthPattern Width –Boom length –Boom height –Spray angle Sprayer Speed (travel speed)Sprayer Speed (travel speed) Sprayer Flow RateSprayer Flow Rate –Nozzle size –Nozzle type –Nozzle wear –Blockage –System pressure –Viscosity of fluid

Example 1 x Min x Gal = Gal 1 x Min x Gal = Gal Ft Ft Min Ft 2 Ft Ft Min Ft 2 Pattern SprayerFlow Width SpeedRate Width SpeedRate

Example Gal x 43,560 Ft 2 = Gal Ft 2 Acre Acre

Conversions 1 Acre = 43,560 Ft 2 1 Mile = 5,280 Ft. 1 Gallon = 128 oz

Example (1) Pattern Width 4 ft. swath Sprayer Speed 300 ft./min. Flow Rate 1 gal/min What GPA Applied?

Calculation 1 x Min x 1 Gal x 43,560 Ft 2 = 1 x Min x 1 Gal x 43,560 Ft 2 = 4 Ft 300 Ft Min Acre 4 Ft 300 Ft Min Acre Pattern Sprayer Flow 36 GPA Width Speed Rate Width Speed Rate

Example (2) You are treating 2 miles using a 3 ft. wide pattern on guiderail. How much acreage are you going to treat? A) 3.4 acres B) 1.5 acres C) 0.7 acres D) 2.5 acres E) 10 acres

Calculation 2 miles x 5,280 ft. = 10,560 ft mile Length x width = 3 ft. x 10,560 ft. x acre (ft) (ft) 43,560 ft 2 = 0.7 acres

Example (3) Product has 4 lb/gal active ingredient. Want to apply 1 lb active ingredient. How many quarts of product do you apply per acre? A) 2 qts B) 1 qt C) 4 qts D) 6 qts E) 8 qts

Calculation 1 lb a.I. x gal x 4 quarts = 4 lb a.I. gal 4 lb a.I. gal 1 quart

Example (4) You have 200 gallon spray tank and want to apply 20 gallons per acre. How many acres can you treat? A) 5 acres B) 10 acres C) 15 acres D) 3 acres E) 30 acres

Calculation 200 gal x acre = 10 acres 20 gal 20 gal

Example (5) Your sprayer holds 300 gallons and is calibrated to spray 60 gallons per acre. The herbicide you are adding is supposed to be applied at 8 oz/acre. How much herbicide do you add to the tank? A) 60 oz B) 8 oz C) 40 oz D) 9 oz E) 15 oz

Calculation 300 gallon / 60 gallon/acre = 5 acres 5 acres x 8 oz/acre = 40 oz

Example (6) Your spray truck is traveling at 10 miles per hour (mph) and applying 50 gallons per acre of solution. The truck slows to 5 mph without changing anything else. What is the amount being applied now? A) 15 gallons/acre B) 100 gallons/acre C) 25 gallons/acre D) 150 gallons/acre E) 50 gallons/acre

Calibration 10 mph / 5 mph = 2 2 x 50 gallons/acre = 100 gallons/acre

Example (7) You have a 150 gallon sprayer and are calibrated to spray 50 gal/acre. You want to apply Escort 60DF at a rate of 0.5 oz/acre? How much Escort do you add to a full tank? A) 3 oz B) 1.5 oz C) 5 oz D) 6 oz E) 2 oz

Calculation 150 gal x acre = 3 acres 50 gal 50 gal 3 acres x 0.5 oz = 1.5 oz Escort acre acre

Example (8) Your truck has a 150 gallon spray tank, and the product is to be applied at 6 lb/acre. How much product do you need to treat 5 acres at 50 gallons per acre? A) 50 pounds B) 6 pounds C) 10 pounds D) 30 pounds E) 2.5 pounds

Calculation 6 lb/ac x 5 acres = 30 lbs product

Example (9) You have a backpack sprayer that holds 2.5 gallons. The product you need to add to the sprayer calls for 4 quarts per 100 gallons. How much product do you add to your sprayer? A) 2 oz B) 6.4 oz C) 2.5 oz D) 3.2 oz E) 10 oz

Calculation 2.5 gallons/100 gallons = qts x 32 oz/qt = 128 oz x 128 oz = 3.2 oz

Example (10) You want to treat 6 acres with 4 oz/acre Oust XP. How many ounces do you need? A) 24 oz B) 12 oz C) 6 oz D) 8 oz E) 18 oz

Calculation 6 acres x 4 oz = 24 oz Oust XP acre acre

Example (11) The spray truck you are operating has a capacity of 1000 gallons. How many acres can you treat with an application rate of 50 gallons per acre? A) 30 acres B) 50 acres C) 40 acres D) 75 acres E) 20 acres

Calculation 1000 gallons / 50 gallons/acre = 20 acres

Example (12) The spray truck you are operating is traveling at 5 mph and applying 50 gal/acre (gpa). You increase the speed of the truck to 10 mph and change nothing else. What gpa are you applying now? A) 45 gpa B) 15 gpa C) 50 gpa D) 5 gpa E) 25 gpa

Calculation 10 mph = 2 X the speed. 5 mph 5 mph 50 gal/acre = 25 gal/ac 2

Example (13) You are going to treat a 2 foot wide area under a fenceline that is 2 miles long. How many acres will you be treating? A) 4 acres B) 5 acres C) 2 acres D) 1.2 acres E) 0.5 acres

Calculation 2 miles x 5280 ft/mile = 10,560 ft 10,560 ft. x 2 ft. = 21,120 sq ft 21,120 sq ft/43,560 sq ft/acre = 0.5 acres

Example (14) You are developing a native grass plot for wildlife and treat with glyphosate prior to planting. The area is 60 feet wide and 300 feet long. How many acres is the area? A) 2.2 acres B) 1.5 acres C) 0.4 acres D) 5 acres E) 2.4 acres

Calculation 60 feet x 300 feet = 18,000 sq ft. 18,000 sq ft. / 43,560 sq ft/acre = 0.4 acres