safe use initiative start spray vineyard sprayer calibration use water only water only when...

Safe Use Initiative

START

Spray

Vineyard sprayer calibration

UseUse water only water only

when calibrating when calibrating the sprayerthe sprayer

CHECK sprayer

and mend

Adjust SPRAY VOLUME if required

Calculate SPRAY

VOLUME

Adjust sprayer to the CROP

PrepareTANK-

MIX

1

Measure FLOW-RATE

Measure tractor SPEED

Picture source: Syngenta

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Estacas

Nozzle brush

Knife

Calibration Materials

Poles

Measuring jug 2 L

Calculator

Stopwatch

Measuring tape 20-50 mHoses 30 cm(as many as calibrated nozzles)

Logbook

2

Water sensitive paper & stapler

Flagging-tape


Roll measure 2-3 m

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Before calibration

CHECK sprayer and mend

Tank size (maximum volume of spray mixture) _______L

Hoses in good conditions

Nozzles Symmetrical on left and right sides All the same size All the same type Clean nozzles and filters

3


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Check with water (fill half tank with clean water)

Start sprayer pump and run tractor throttle at 540 rpm (PTO) Open valve to fill tubing and start spraying Clean nozzles (filters) producing distorted patterns Closed nozzles shall not drip Replace damaged nozzles Check and fix

Leaks Valves working properly Agitation working

Read pressure at pressure gauge bar (kg/cm2)

Before calibration

4


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Measure the tractor speed

1) Mark a test strip of e.g. 100 m2) Fill tank about half with water3) Set tractor speed (gear, throttle at 540 rpm

on PTO) as for spraying4) Reach selected speed and engine rpm

before entering the test strip. Maintain constant speed and record time to travel 100 m

5) Measure time: _____ sec. (example: 72 sec.)

6) Calculate tractor speed

Distance100 m

Conversion Factor 3.6X

=

Time measured72 sec.

5.0 km/h

Measuring tape 20-50 m

Poles logbook

Stopwach

Calculator

5


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Calibrate the flow-rate

There are two methods to determine the nozzles flow-rate:

• Precise method: Measurement of individual nozzle output during 1 min.

• Good estimation: Measurement of tank volume sprayed during 5 min.

6


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7

Measuring jug 2 L

Stopwatch

Notebook

Calculator

Measurement of individual nozzle output during 1 min.

1) Choose same engine rpm as used in speed measurement2) Open valve(s) to start spraying3) Collect the water from each nozzle (via hose on nozzle) during

1 minute in a measuring jug4) Record the water output from each nozzle 5) Calculate the average flow-rate per nozzle (L/min)


Hoses 30 cm(as many as nozzles to be calibrated)

Nozzle LEFT RIGHT

1 lowest

2

3

4

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Total I

Total II L/ min all nozzle

L/min L/ min per nozzle

If required fix hoses on nozzles with clamps or O-rings

For uniform flow rate, variability between the nozzles should be < +/- 5% from the average flow rate

Nozzles differing > +/- 5% should be cleaned or replaced and flow rates checked again

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8

Measurement of tank volume sprayed during 5 min.

Refilled amount45 L

Spraying time in minutes

5 min

0.9 L/minper nozzle

X

Open nozzles

10 pieces

=

1) Fill the spray tank with water up to a clearly defined level, e.g. the top level (including pump, etc.)

2) Leave tractor running throughout the calibration process

3) Spray for 5 min.; pressure and engine rpm settings as for spraying

4) Measure the volume to refill the sprayer to the defined level

5) Calculate the flow-rate per nozzle


Step 1-3: do not change the position

of the sprayer!

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SpraySprayVolumeVolumeper haper ha

Flow-rate0.9 L/min

Factor600

Open nozzles10 pieces

Row width2.5 m

Tractor speed5.0 km/h

432 L/ha

Calculate the Spray Volume (L/ha)

9

X X

X

=


Row width

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Recommended spray volumes (L/ha)

10

If the calculated spray volume is within the recommended range of spray volumes, continue with ‘Adjustment of the sprayer to the crop’


crop width

Cro

p he

ight

row width

Recommended spray volumes

Follow pesticide label information

Indicative spray volume for tractor mist blower: 200-600 L/ha

There are models which take the row width and crop height, but also the crop width into consideration

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How to adjust spray volumes (L/ha)

11

Change nozzle size (large adjustment): For large adjustments, change nozzle size (check nozzle manufacturers

catalogue) See calculation next slides

Adapt tractor speed (medium adjustment): Application volumes can be adjusted by altering the tractor speed. See calculation next slides

Adapt spray pressure (small adjustment): Small adjustments in flow rate can be made by adjusting the pressure See calculation next slides


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Change nozzle size (large adjustment)

1) Calculate the required flow-rate per nozzle based on the calibrated tractor speed and targeted spray volume

2) Select appropriate nozzle size / colour, e.g. BROWN for 0.687 L/min.

Speed5.0 km/h

Row Width2.5 mX X

Spray Volume330 L/ha

X

=

Factor600

Open nozzles10 pieces

0.687L/minper nozzle

Targeted spray volume

Measured Measured

Countedkm/h – L/min

Required flow-rate

12


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Present tracor speed 5.0 km/h

X

Present spray volume 432 L/ha

Targeted spray volume330 L/ha

= New tractor speed 6.5 km/h

Adapt tractor speed (medium adjustment)

Slower speeds increase the spray volume (L/ha) and faster speeds reduce it (prerequisite : the distance between the crop rows is the same)

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Adapt spray pressure (small adjustment)

14

Present pressure 10 bar x

Targeted spray volume400 L/ha

Present spray volume 432 L/ha

New Pressure8.5 bar=

2


Optimal pressure range

Flat fan and hollow cone nozzles: 5-10 bar (kg/cm2)Air-injector (Anti-drift, ID nozzles: 10-14 bar (kg/cm2)

Always stay within the optimal pressure range of nozzles. Changes in pressure can change the droplet size and may cause drift or run-off.

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above crop: should not move

1) Prepare two poles, at least 50 cm higher than the crop

2) Place poles in rows and fix flagging tapes at 4 levels:

a) Above cropb) Hand width below top of

cropc) Bottom of cropd) Below crop

3) Adjust the air-flow with baffles so that the tapes move/do not move (see picture beside)

a) Top baffle (hand width below top of crop

b) Bottom baffle: bottom of crop

Bottom of crop:movement

Below crop:should not move

Hand width below top of crop:movement

Flagging-tape

Poles

Vineyard sprayer calibrationAdjustments to the crop

15

Roll measure 2-3 m

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Water sensitive paper & stapler

Dynamic spray-pattern and distribution testVineyard sprayer calibration

16

Staple water-sensitive paper onto a wooden lath and place the lath vertically in the crop rows

Water sensitive papers can also be stapled on leaves within the crop

Adapt nozzle setting if required, e.g. close top and/or bottom nozzles

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Calculation of how much pesticide to add to the spray tank

17


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Label indication: Use xxx L/ha or g/ha

Label indication: Use xxx L or g /100 L water in a specific spray volume, e.g. 1,000 L of water /ha

There are two possibilities how the product dose is indicated on the pesticide label:

Calculation of how much pesticide to add to the spray tank

18

Prepare tank mix

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Label indication (product per ha)

3 L / haX

Volume of water in spray tank

800 L=

Spray volume per ha432 L /ha

5.55 L

product

MeasuredPesticide label Product in tank

Calibrated

Example:1) Pesticide label indication: product use 3 L/ha2) Sprayer tank content: 800 L of water; the calibrated spray volume of the sprayer is 432 L/ha3)With 800 L of water 1.85 ha can be treated (800 L / 432 L/ha = 1.85 ha)4)Product needed in the tank is: 3 L /ha product x 1.85 ha = 5.55 L

Label indication: Use xxx L/ha or g/ha

19

Prepare tank mix

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Use rate300 g/100 L X

Volume of water in spray tank

800 L=

Spray volume per ha432 L /ha

5,556 gproduct

MeasuredPesticide label Product in tank

Calibrated

Conversion Factor100

Example:1)Pesticide label indication: use 300 g/100 L of water ..... Use spray volume of 1,000 L/ha2)Sprayer tank content: 800 L of water; calibrated spray volume per ha 432 L/ha3)If 1,000 L /ha are used then 300 g x 8= 2,400 g of product must be added to the tank4)If 432 L/ha are applied then the concentration needs to be 2.315 times higher, i.e. 1,000 L/ha / 432 L/ha = 2.315). (This because the same amount per cm² needs to be on leaves / fruits independent whether 432 L/ha or 1000 L/ha are applied). Product in sprayer tank = 2400g x 2.315 = 5,556 g

Label indication: Use xxx L or g /100 L water in a specific spray volume, e.g. 1,000 L of water /ha)

20

Prepare tank mix

Spray volume information1000 L/ha

Pesticide label

X

safe use initiative start spray vineyard sprayer calibration use water only water only when...

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