Equipment, Calibration, and Tip Selection Considerations for the Application of Herbicides Robert E. Wolf Extension Specialist Application Technology Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Changes in the Application Industry! u Historically inefficient process u Increased cost of pesticides u Product rates are changing (< an ounce/acre) u More pest specific products u Biotechnology and GMO’s (Roundup Ready, Bt’s) u More sophisticated equipment (electronics) $$$ u Variable rates u Site-specific u Focus on Drift

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Equipment today-$$$?

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 Nozzles are Important!

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration What about the cost of the nozzle?

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

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 characteristics Page 9 - TeeJet Page 4 - Hypro

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration

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Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzle Selection Chart: Flat-fan Page 7 - TeeJet

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

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 Calculations GPA= 5940

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

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

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 GPM Example Solution Answer.48

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration u Calculate GPM (formula) u Look under 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 Page 7

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

Checking for accuracy!!!

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

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 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? $64,000 Question?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Why Interest in Drift? u Spotty pest control u Wasted chemicals u Off-target damage u More high value specialty crops u Urban sprawl and..... u Less tolerant neighbors u Litigious Society u More wind?? (Timing) u Environmental impact Water and Air Quality u Public more aware of pesticide concerns! ( Negative Perceptions) u Result-higher costs-$$$

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

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzle Technology? How to use?? u Nozzles designed to reduce drift u Improved drop size control u Emphasis on ‘Spray Quality’

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Extended Range Flat-fan: u Tapered edge pattern u 80 and 110 degree fan u Requires overlap - 50 to 60% u psi range 110° 80°

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Turbo Flood Nozzle vs Old Style Flood u Pre-orifice design u Turbulence chamber u Uniform spray distribution with tapered edge – 50-60% overlap u Large, drift resistant droplets TF Flood

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Turbo Flat-fan l Turbulence chamber as in the Turbo Flood l Tapered edge, wide angle flat pattern l Designed to work in flat-fan nozzle holder l Uniform spray distribution, 50-60% overlap l Wide pressure range, 15 – 90 psi l Large, drift resistant droplets l Plastic with superior wear characteristics XR TT

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration XR Flat-fan compared to Turbo Flat-fan in 5 MPH wind: 40 psi

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Air-Induction/Venturi Nozzles u Where air is drawn into the nozzle cavity and exits with the fluid.

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Air/Induction – Venturi Nozzle: u Greenleaf – TurboDrop u Air intake venturi section u Mixing Chamber - air and spray solution blended u Pattern tip forms large air- bubble drops u Exit tip flow 2X venturi orifice u Better Penetration? u Reduced run-off? u Improved coverage? u Adequate efficacy? u Reduced drift?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration XR Flat-fan and Turbo Flat-fan compared to Venturi Style Nozzle 5.0 MPH wind at 40 psi XR vs TurboDropTurbo Flat vs Turbo Drop

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Driftable Droplets: Spraying Systems-2000 Nozzle Type (0.5 GPM Flow) Approximate % of Spray Volume < 200 Microns 15 PSI40 PSI XR %22% XR 80056%12% DG 11005N/A11% DG 8005N/A7% TT 11005<1%<6% TF-2.5<1% AI 11005N/A<1%

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration XR 40, 80 PSI Turbodrop 40, 80 PSI Boom Drift

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Example Reference Graph Cumulative Volume Fraction Drop Size (microns) very fine/ fine fine/medium medium/ coarse coarse/ very coarse very coarse/ extremely coarse VF F M C VC XC u New Label language- EPA Reviewing Public Comments u Public ‘Listening Sessions’ planned u Sometime in 2003?? u Match the crop protection product to the target u Adhere to label guidelines based on an industry standard ASAE S-572 u Buffer Zones or No Spray Zones u Maximize Efficacy u Minimize Drift EPA Requested Changes Coming!!!!

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration ASAE DSC and Volume Median Diameter (D V0.5 ) From PMS* Laser Spectrometer u Very Fine (VF) < 182µm u Fine (F) µm u Medium (M) µm u Coarse (C) µm u Very Coarse (VC) µm u Extremely Coarse (XC) >656µm *USDA ARS College Station, TX Droplet Spectra Classification (DSC) Droplet Size Range

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration

Important Droplet Statistics: Operational Area

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Application Decisions?

Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration For more information contact: