1. Sprayers Ride-On-Sprayers Tank Sprayers
Calibration
Sprayers
Ride-On-Sprayers
Tank Sprayers
Presentation by: Pete Cavallaro

3. Importance of calibrating your equipment
Properly Calibrated Equipment
Effective product performance
Reduced potential for plant injury
Environmental Stewardship
Regulatory Compliance
Economic Efficiency
Reduced callbacks from customers

4. Backpack/Hand Sprayers
Step 1 – Prep your area for Calibration
Measure out and mark 1,000 sq. ft.
Example: 20’ x 50’ area = 1,000 sq. ft.
Fill hand can or sprayer with 2 gallons of clean water

5. Backpack/Hand Sprayers
Step 2 – Determine your spray rate
Apply in water in the marked off area
Apply in this area just as you would when applying a product
Consistent walking speed
Consistent pattern, including height from ground
Determine the amount of water sprayed
Result is your spray rate per 1,000 sq. ft.
I.E. = 1 gallon per 1,000 sq. ft.

6. Backpack/Hand Sprayers
Step 3 – Determine Coverage of Sprayer
Divide the tank capacity by spray rate
4 gallons ÷ 1 gallon = 1,000 sq. ft.
Determine the amount of water sprayed
Result is your spray rate per 1,000 sq. ft

7. Backpack/Hand Sprayers
Step 4 - Determine the amount of control product to be used
Label rate for a herbicide calls for 1.5 oz. per 1,000 sq. ft.
Multiply the rate by sprayer coverage (4 gallons) 4 x 1.5 oz. = 6 oz.
6 oz. of herbicide for 4 gallons of water
Calibrate your backpack sprayer with the nozzle tip you plan to use for each application

8. Backpack/Hand Sprayers
Important that calibration is completed for each person using the sprayer
For Example:
Spray Rate is now 2 gallons per 1,000 sq. ft.
Backpack has a 4 gallon capacity
4 ÷ 2 = 2 (2,000 sq. ft. coverage
2 X 1.5 oz. = 3 oz.
Use 3 oz. of chemical in 4 gallons of water
Use ½ the amount of chemical as in previous example.

9. Many factors can influence the application rate
Application Speed
Weather Conditions
Age and condition of sprayer, general equipment wear
Maintain the same application speed used while calibrating
Swing your forearm, not your wrist
Keep pressure in the tank at a consistent level
Try not to overlap or under-lap too much
Use a dye colorant if possible

10. What you need to Calibrate your Ride-on-Sprayer

11. Ride-on-Sprayer Calibration
Step 1 – Determine effective Spray Width
Use plain water to start and fill the tanks
Measure the effective width of spray
Divide 1,000 sq. Ft. by spray width
Example: 1000 ÷ 10 = 100
Using a measuring wheel, mark off the distance with cones or turf marking paint
Example: Mark off 100 ft. Start and finish

12. Ride-on-Sprayer Calibration
Step 2 – Time the application
Make a timed application in this area
Consistent speed
Start to apply 20’ prior to the starting line
Step 3 – Collect water
Collect water from each nozzle the same amount of times from Step # 2
Always keep your RPM on your equipment the same
Record each amount from each nozzle

13. Ride-on-Sprayer Calibration
Step 4 – Total
Add up the total amount of water collected from Step 3
Example = 30 oz.
While collecting water at the nozzles check for any issues , such as a clogged nozzle.
Take the total amount of water and divide by the number of nozzles, this will give you an average output per nozzle
Example: 30 ÷ 2 = 15 oz.
If the variance between nozzles is up or down by 10%, check your nozzles and screens for debris and replace as needed
Go through the last two steps until under a difference of 10%

14. Ride-on-Sprayer Calibration
Step 5 – determine your ride-on-sprayer tank coverage
Multiply total gallons of your unit by 128 oz. (1 gallon)
Determine the number of ounces
Example 20 gallons = 2,560 oz.
Divide the total capacity in ounces by the water collected in Step 4
Example: 2,560 ÷ 30 = 85.3
20 gallons will cover 85,300 sq. ft.

15. Ride-on-Sprayer Calibration
Step 6 – Determine the amount of control product being used
Always refer to the product label for the correct application rate
Example: a herbicide has a rate of 1.5 oz. per 1,000 sq. ft.
Multiply the tank coverage by application rate
Determine the correct amount of control product to add
Example 85.3 (coverage) x 1.5 oz. = oz. (128 oz.)
Use 128 oz. for one tank, or 64 oz. for two tanks

16. Ride-on-Sprayers
Nurse tanks
Clean filters

17. Ride-On-Sprayer Granular Spreader Calibration
Step 1 – Determine the effective spread width
Place catch devise 12” wide on a paved surface with room to let your equipment pass
Set the hopper opening to the manufacturers recommendation on the product label
Fill the hopper ½ full of product and make multiple passes over the catch pans
Speed is important so keep it close to 3 mph

18. Correct application for granular products
Step 2 – Collect the granular fertilizer in the pans and put into vials – look for variations on the spread pattern.

19. Granular Spreader Calibration
Step 3 – Determine the distance to travel
Divide 1,000 by the effective spread width
Example: 1,000 ÷ 8 ft. = 125 ft. (8’ X 125’ = 1,000 sq. ft)
Using a measuring wheel and marking paint of stakes, mark off 125 ft. from start to finish .

20. Granular Spreader Calibration
Step 4 – Determine the application Rate
Weigh out 15 lbs. of product and pour into the hopper
Set your spreader according to mfg. Setting
Ensure a constant speed from sprayer calibration over the 125 ft. area
Weigh the product left un the hopper
Subtract end amount from the beginning amount.
Started with 15 lbs. and we have 10 lbs. left, we spread 5 lbs over 1,000 sq. ft. Fine tune the spreader opening to meet your recommended label requirements, close it some to apply less lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft

21. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers
Importance of Calibration
Under applying a product will cause poor or non performance to the application area
Call backs will increase (under apply a pre-emergent and costs will increase during the season for rescue)
Unhappy customers
Over applying a product can cause
damage to the target area
End up costing $$$ for repairs

22. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers tools for calibrating
Tools needed for Calibrating a Sprayer
1. 5 gallon bucket
Stop watch
Stakes, cones, or turf marking paint
Measuring wheel or tape measure
Calculator

23. Sprayer Calibration – Nozzles & bucket test
Step 1 - Determine nozzle application rate
- 1.5 – 2 GPM = Blue
- 2 – 3 GPM = Yellow
- 4 – 5 GPM = Green
Step 2 Bucket Test – determine flow
Fill sprayer with 25 gallons of water
Spray into the 5 gallon bucket for one minute
Amount in your bucket should match the nozzle – 1.5 GPM = blue nozzle
Adjust pressure on your pressure gage to get the 1.5 gallons to one minute

24. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers width
Step 3 – Effective spray width
Spray a area with water only and measure effective width
Divide 1,000 sq. ft. by the spray width
Example: 1,000 ÷ 8 = 125 ft
Mark off 125 ft. start to finish

25. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers rate
Step 4 - time your application over the 1,000 sq. ft area
Use a stop watch to determine how long it takes to spray this area
Step 5 – Multiply the timed application by nozzle output
Determine the amount being applied over 1,000 sq. ft.
Example: 1 minute x 1.5 gallons = a rate of 1.5 gallons per 1,000 sq. ft.

26. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers coverage
Step 6 – How much will a tank of product cover?
Divide the total capacity in gallons of spray tank by the rate per 1,000 sq. ft
Examples: 50 gallon tank ÷ 1.5 gallon rate = 33,300 sq. ft.
Example 100 gallon tank ÷ 1.5 gallon rate – 66,000 sq. ft.
What if we have a 200 gallon tank and we are applying at 2 GPM – What is our coverage for a full tank of product?
100,000 sq. ft. correct!

27. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers
Coverage – area we will be applying to, now we need to make the mix for the correct application of the control products being used
Always Read & Follow the label instructions
Herbicide is calling for 1.5 oz. of product per 1,000 sq. ft
Using a 200 gallon sprayer at 2 GPM, how many oz. of product would we use?
Tank coverage is 100,000 sq. ft at 2 GPM, so multiply 100 x 1.5 oz. = 150 oz. of the herbicide is needed to have accurate coverage on 100,000 sq. ft.

28. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers
Accuracy is so important
Under apply and we will have limited control and call backs are almost a given!
Over apply and we could damage the non-targeted plants
Bottom line could hurt the reputation of the application company

29. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers
Additional factors to remember when making any application –
Walking speed or speed of the equipment is critical for Accuracy
Wind – weather conditions
Age and condition of the equipment being used
Type of gun, nozzles, and wear all effect the application

30. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers good tips
When servicing a property, start at the farthest point from your vehicle and work back to it
Maintain the same speed all day
Limit overlapping the application
Keep your forearm parallel to the ground while spraying
Swing forearm, not the wrist
Use additives to limit drift, add colorants to see patterns better

31. Sprayer Calibration – Sprayers
Check and clean filters regularly
Check and clean nozzles
Replace diaphragms with heavy use
Rinse sprayer after change of products
Check pump, filters, hoses after each round
Calibrate your sprayer regularly and when a different applicator uses this equipment
Winterize – use RV Anti-freeze throughout the system
Change oil, O-rings, diaphragms, as recommended by the manufacturer

32. Questions? Resources online
yers/0_hf9le2ii (Oregan State – backpack sprayers)
20Calibration%20FINAL.pdf (STMA backpack & hand-held sprayer calibration)
(Sprayer calibration – Grounds maintenance)
(Perdue Extension Services - How to calibrate your ride-on-sprayers)