15
Chlorine bleach should never be added to
ammonium or liquid fertilizer containing
ammonium as, when mixed together, the two
materials react to form toxic chlorine gas,
causing eye, nose, throat and lung irritation.
Oil-based solvents such as fuel oil are most effective
for removing oil-soluble herbicides, such as esters and
emulsifiable concentrates. The oil solvent should be
followed with a detergent rinse to remove the oil
residue.
Detergents remove many materials including water
and oil-soluble herbicides. Commercially available
sprayer cleaning agents normally perform better than
household detergents for cleaning sprayers.
The best source of information on cleaning
agents and procedures is the herbicide label
for the product used.
Activated charcoal de-activates organic herbicides.
A 3 per cent suspension of activated charcoal in water
can be added and circulated throughout the sprayer
system to tie up and de-activate any pesticide residue.
The charcoal must be removed by rinsing to prevent
the de-activation of a portion of the pesticide used in
the sprayer.
Sprayers should be cleaned as soon as possible after
use. Dried pesticide residues are much more difficult
to remove than pesticide in solution. Reduce waste
and excess application by only mixing the amount of
pesticide required, and apply the entire amount on
the field according to the label recommendations.
Thoroughly rinse the sprayer tank with water,
circulate the water through the sprayer system and, if
possible, apply the rinsate to the treated field.
Do not clean sprayers near creeks, dugouts, sloughs,
wells or any other water sources. Ensure that wash
water does not come into contact with any desirable
vegetation or its roots. Make sure discharged wash
water (especially from insecticides) will not be
accessible to children or animals. Do not contaminate
any watercourse or water body with wash water.
Note: Pesticides may have specific recommendations
for sprayer clean-out. Refer to product labels on the
container for recommendations.
There are three main methods for sprayer tank
clean-out depending on the pesticide used.
Method A
Drain contents of tank followed by 1 or 2 water
rinses, 2 ammonia rinses (NOT containing
chlorine) followed by 2 water rinses (one just prior
to next sprayer event). Products that can use this
cleanup method include 2,4-D, Accent, Ally, Atrazine,
Avadex, dicamba, dichlorprop + 2,4-D, DyVel, Escort,
Everest, Express, FlaxMax, Harmony Total, MCPA,
Muster, Muster Gold, Nuance, Payload, Poast Ultra,
Prism, Pursuit Ultra, Refine, Refine M, Rustler,
Sundance, Tordon 22K.
Method B
Drain contents of tank followed by 2 water rinses,
2
detergent rinses, then 2 more water rinses. Products
you use this method for include Axial, Liquid Achieve
SC*, Achieve Liquid Gold*, Basagran, Bromoxynil +
MCPA, clethodim, Gramoxone*, Liberty, Puma
120
Super, Reglone Dessicant*, Reward*, Sencor,
trifluralin products, Venture L*.
*
Manufacturers of these products recommend adding
a non-ionic surfactant such as All Clear, Agral 90 or
Agsurf at 0.6 L per 100 L water.
Method C
Drain contents of tank followed by several repetitions
of the water rinse with nozzles and screens removed
and checked for debris. Products that can use this
method are Amitrol 240, Assure II, Attain, Dual II
Magnum, Eclipse, glyphosate products, Horizon,
Horizon BTM, Lontrel, Odyssey, Prestige, Solo.
The above directions are general processes based on
similarities of tank cleaning recommendations
between products in each of the herbicide groups.
Always follow the specific instructions on the product
label. Follow these guidelines if label
recommendations don’t cover tank cleanup.
Products that are water based can usually be cleaned
from the spray tank using Method C. Products
formulated as an EC (emulifiable concentrate), SC
(
soluble concentrate), or F (flowable) or use a
petroleum-based adjuvant should at least use
Method B. The detergent breaks down the oil that
may be sticking to the sides of the tank. Most Group 2
herbicides have tank clean-out recommendations, but
those that do not should use Method A for tank
clean-out. If there is a tank mix of different pesticides,
use the appropriate combination of methods to clean
the tank.