Nozzle Damage From Improper Cleaning Can Cause Sprayer Problems
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Fanning Staff
EAST EARL (Lancaster Co.)
Improperly cleaning a sprayer
nozzle can cost a lot of money in
misapplied pesticide applications,
according to a recent demonstra
tion provided as part of an after
noon series of workshops con
ducted midweek at various Lan
caster County sites.
In one case, a few seconds spent
cleaning debris out of a brass flat
fan nozzle with a nail caused a 25
percent disparity in distribution of
spray material, according to a
demonstration at the John Zim
merman farm in East Earl. The
demonstration was provided Wed
nesday afternoon to 16 farmers by
Jeff Stoltzfus, adult farmer instruc
tor for the Eastern Lancaster Coun
ty School District
The workshops, sponsored by
the Lancaster County Conserva
tion District, showed the workings
of an array of different types of
nozzles and some of the important
steps applicators can take to ensure
their nozzles are proper for the
application and are clean and ready
to use.
Sprayer testing should be con
ducted after nozzle inspection.
According to Stoltzfus, applicators
should use either pressurized air to
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spray to determine correct calibration. “There are a number
of different ways to calibrate sprayers,” said Stoltzfus.
To measure flow, a simple measuring cup can be used, or
bottles can be placed under each nozzle to determine vol
ume. Here, applicators hold measuring cups underneath
the boom.
clean the nozzles or a simple tooth
brush. Using a piece of wire or
nail, according to Stoltzfus, can
damage the nozzle and effect the
spray rate significantly.
Applicators have a wide range
of nozzle types to choose from,
including brass, stainless steel,
plastic, or ceramic. On most appli
cations, the stainless steel, which
costs a little more, will last longer.
But the ceramic will last up to 20
times longer under normal applica
tions, according to a sprayer manu
facturer representative at the
meeting.
Sprayer calibration is necessary
and vital, especially in light of new
herbicides that have applications
down to the fraction of the ounces
per acre. In all cases, when cali
brating the sprayer, applicants
should use only water to determine
accuracy of delivery (speed of
sprayer) and pressure.
Appicators need to ensure that
the pattern of spray is uniform and
overlaps about 40-50 percent
Also, die nozzle should be set 10
degrees off the boom in order to
ensure no heavy streaks where the
two sprays come together. Inspect
the spray delivery on asphalt or
fine gravel.
The heighth of the sprayer is sig
nificant For foliar application
with smaller droplets, the sprayer
needs to be positioned at a lower
height. For applications requiring
a larger droplet the boom can be
set a little higher if there is no wor
ry about wind and sprayer drift
according to Stoltzfus.
Stoltzfus and applicator John
Zimmerman provided a demon
stration of how to check sprayer
calibration. A 14-row boom spray
calibration was done. ‘ ‘There are a
number of different ways to cali
brate sprayers,” said Stoltzfus.
Stoltzfus said that according to
a recent survey, 70 percent of
For backpack sprayers, the same applies for checking nozzle spray area (10 Inches
recommended) and hoses for even pressure and flow rate. Bob Anderson, Lancaster
crops agent, left, checks the starting time for Travis Martin, conservation technician.
To calibrate a sprayer, a straight line Is marked at 204 feet. John Zimmerman Is on
the tractor driving a boom sprayer with nozzles on 20-Inch centers. The tractor Is In
full throttle at a speed of 5 miles per hour.
Dan Marini, Zeneca technical sales representative, provided information on cali
brating pesticide hoppers. Marini emphasized the Importance of taking the right steps
to ensure safety when applying pesticides.
tion problem. A high percentage
showed great variability across die
boom for whatever reason, he said.
To calibrate a sprayer, first mark
a straight line measuring 204 feet.
The boom sprayer, with nozzles on
20-inch centos, is towed by tractor
at full throttle at a speed of 5 miles
per hour. If the sprayer is set right
and the speed is maintained for that
distance, about 16 ounces should
be collected at exactly 26 seconds
of flow time. This works out to a
16-gallon-per-acre application
rate.
To measure flow, a simple mea
bc used, ' ' bottle
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can be placed under each nozzle to
determine volume. Another
method would be to use a tip flow
meter, also called a tip tester,
which measures flow from the
nozzles in gallons per minute.
Applicators should keep in mind
that if calibrating for liquid nitro
gen, flow rates should be adjusted
because of the greater density of
liquid nitrogen compared to water.
Applicators should check for
blocked, cracked, or otherwise
damaged hoses. Pressure should
be consistent up and down the line,
said Stoltzfiis.
(Turn to Pago A 33)
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