Application Decisions for the New Millennium? Robert E. Wolf Extension Specialist Agrichemical Technology Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept.

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

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Million Million Million Million R-U Ready Soybean Explosion Acreage of roundup ready ready (genetically modified) soybeans under cultivation in the United States.

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Application Equipment: u Two basic types of application systems: 4 Liquid (sprayers) 4 Granular

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Equipment cost today? How much do these machines cost?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Equipment cost today? How much does this machine cost?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Equipment cost today? How much do these machines cost?

What are the trends today! Who should spray?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Decisions about who sprays: u Time/busy? u Tractor available? u Knowledgeable of crop protection products? u Pesticide safety concerns? u Pros and cons for custom application vs. self-application? u Technically up to date on sprayers and the proper application techniques?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Options to consider on a sprayer: u How many acres to spray/acres per hour? 4 What tank capacity and type of tank material? 4 Type and size of pump? 4 What boom width and style? 4 Gallons per acre desired? u Adjustable or fixed axle? u Tire style-radial or bias? u Boom plumbing options (spacing, nozzle bodies)? u Boom controller–how many sections? u Controller options-with or without radar? u Foam marker, rinse system, batch meter, chemical inductor, joy stick controller? u Water source, tender system and driver?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Sprayer Cost Options: u Buy the sprayer outright u Leasing programs 4 $3,000 – $6, years, low interest 4 New or modern system u Partnership purchases(neighbors) 4 Commercial sprayers 4 Scheduling critical

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Cost per acre summary table:

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Liquid systems: 4 What are the considerations? 4 Should you upgrade or start new?

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

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Types of Pumps: u Roller Pump u Centrifugal Pump u Diaphragm Pump u Piston Pump u Peristaltic Pump (Squeeze or hose pump – chemical injection)

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Plumbing Diagram

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Plumbing Diagram

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Plumbing Diagram:

What about the cost of the nozzle?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzle Types: Flat Spray Tips: u Extended Range Flat-fan u Drift Reduction Flat-fan u Turbo Flood Flat-fan u Turbo Flat-fan u AI Flat-fan  TurboDrop Cone Spray Tips: u Raindrop

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Spray Characteristics are Important to Understand: Demonstrates Turbo Flat vs TurboDrop-5 MPH Wind

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Selecting the proper nozzle: Legal issues!! Following the label!

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Misapplication: u Without proper attention to the nozzle, you may end up with a 4 Misapplication

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Application is Important: u Many complaints to chemical company representatives involve improper application of chemicals. 4 Improper mixing procedures 4 Travel speed errors 4 Uniformity of coverage 4 Incorrect quantities added to the tank 4 Particle drift 4 Selection and maintenance of nozzles

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Misapplication Facts: Farmland Insurance Based on insurance claim payouts!

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzles are important because: u Control the amount – GPA. u Determine uniformity of application. u Affects the coverage. u Influences the drift potential.

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 1. Control the Amount applied: Nozzle Flow Rate is affected by:  Orifice size  Pressure  Solution characteristic s

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 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)

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 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 - (small capacity) TF- 4TFTurbo flood psi Turbo flood – (Floater capacity) QCTF - 40 QCTFQuick attach turbo flood psi

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzle Selection Chart:

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzle Selection Chart: Turbo Flood

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration MATERIALS AND WEAR Percent increase in nozzle flow rate Flat-fan spray nozzles after 40 hour test

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 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.

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 3. Will determine coverage: u Need knowledge of the product being used. 4 Systemic 4 Contact u What is the target? 4 Soil 4 grass 4 broadleaf (smooth, hairy, waxy)

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

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Calibration/Nozzle Selection u What is the first step? u Use label to select the 4 application volume 4 product rate u Choose an appropriate travel speed u Effective width of application 4 nozzle spacing u Calculate GPM – Flow rate per nozzle u Select the correct size of nozzle!

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Safety Concerns:

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Calculations GPA= 5940

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Calculations GPA= 5940 Ok, now I remember!

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzle size - Variables u Nozzle flow rate (GPM) u Ground speed (MPH) u Effective sprayed width (W) u Application rate (GPA)

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Application Rate Equation Equation # 1 u Calculates for application rate u Represents total amount applied for an acre u Calculates for application rate u Represents total amount applied for an acre

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Flow Rate Equation Equation # 2 u Calculates for amount of flow from one nozzle u Represents the size of nozzle to put on the sprayer u Calculates for amount of flow from one nozzle u Represents the size of nozzle to put on the sprayer

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration GPA = ______________________ GPM = ______________________ MPH = ______________________ W = ______________________ 5940 = a constant to convert gallons per minute, miles per hour, and inches to gallons per acre miles per hour nozzle spacing - inches Where: gallons per acre gallons per minute

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 1. Nozzle Flow Rate - Gallons Per Minute (GPM) To double the nozzle output, the pressure must increase times 2. Ground speed - Miles Per Hour (MPH) 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. 4 1/2 Variables

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Electronics/Rate Controllers u How does your system work when speed changes? u Is it pressure based? u What is the effect of going slower? u What is the effect of going faster?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 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? GPM Example

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration GPA Example Solution GPM=? GPA=? MPH=? W=? GPM=? GPA=12 MPH=12 W=20

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration GPM Example Solution Answer.48

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Selecting the proper nozzle…. Page 51 TeeJet Catalog

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

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Electronics/Rate Controllers

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 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!

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration A.Surface Tension B.Density C.Viscosity Effects droplet size, not flow Weight/unit volume  density - flow rate decreases Resistance to flow Spray Solution Characteristics

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 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 =

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 28% CONVERSION 28% = _______ lbs/gal Specific Gravity = Weight of 28%/gal divided by weight of water/gal =

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Conversion factor = square root of specific gravity of 28% x =

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Conversion factor = square root of specific gravity of 28% x = 1.13