10
Safely prepare pesticides for application.
•
Use protective clothing and recommended safety
equipment; the exposure hazard is greatest
during mixing.
•
Follow the mixing instructions.
•
Use the specified amount and quality of water.
•
Use recommended rates (tank mix rates may be
different from each pesticide used alone).
•
If specified, add adjuvants.
•
Record the following: rates used, mix order,
pesticides and adjuvants used as well as water
quality for future reference.
Apply pesticides using:
•
Recommended safety precautions and equipment.
•
Proper application equipment.
•
Recommended rates of pesticides, adjuvants
and water.
•
Proper time (e.g. growth stage, time of day, season).
•
Recommended techniques (e.g. ground speed,
pressure, incorporation).
•
Record weather conditions at time of application,
techniques used, growth stage of crop and pests
for future reference.
Sprayer Operations
A summary of sprayer operations is presented in this
publication.
Getting the sprayer ready:
•
Preliminary maintenance, adjustments and settings
must be made according to the operator’s manual.
•
The entire sprayer system should be cleaned
and rinsed.
•
Ensure that all nozzles are the same size and spray
angle by checking the code number on the nozzle tip.
•
Partially fill sprayer tank with clean water.
•
Check the pump for adequate output. If the desired
spraying pressure can be achieved with the agitator
and boom valves open, the pump output is okay.
•
Check accuracy of main sprayer gauge by installing
a new gauge on the boom end temporarily and
compare the pressure readings. The readings
should be identical.
•
Inspect spray patterns and replace tips that have
streaky patterns. Flat fan nozzles should be aligned,
so the patterns do not interfere with each other.
Sample Nozzle Chart
Nozzle
Pressure
Litres
Litres per acre (50 cm spacing)
number
kPa
per minute
6
km/h
8
km/h
9
km/h
10
km/h
11001
275
0.38
30
22
20
18
110015
275
0.57
45
34
30
27
11002*
275
0.75
60
45
40
36
*
Standard tips for 40 L/acre at 275 kPa and 9 km/h. For nozzles not included, refer to manufacturer’s data.
Note: If spray charts are not available for your nozzles, the following formula may be used to establish the
ground speed required to apply the desired litres per acre.
Formula:
Example:
Average nozzle output (L/min) x 240 = km/h
0.75
L/min x 240 = 180 = 9 km/h
Litres per acre x nozzle spacing (m)*
40
L/acre x 0.5 m 20
*
Standard nozzle spacing is 0.5 m.