Sprayers, Calibration, Nozzle Selection, Efficacy, & Drift Considerations for the No-Till Farmer Robert E. Wolf Extension Specialist Application Technology Biological and Agricultural Engineering Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Changes in the Application Industry! u Historically inefficient process u Increased cost of pesticides u Product rates are changing (< an ounce/acre) u More pest specific products u Biotechnology and GMOs (Roundup Ready, Bts) u More sophisticated equipment (electronics) $$$ u Variable rates u Site-specific u Focus on Drift Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Equipment today-$$$? Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Sprayer Components: u Tanks (contamination issues) u Pump, Strainers, Agitation u Pressure gauge u Hoses, Flow control assemblies u Electronics: monitors-computers- controllers (GPS/GIS) u Distribution system u Nozzles!!!!!!!!! Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzles are Important! Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration What about the cost of the nozzle? Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Regardless of the cost: u Without proper attention to the nozzle, you may end up with a Misapplication Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzles are important because: u Control the amount GPA. u Determine uniformity of application. u Affects the coverage. u Influences the drift potential. Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 1. Control the Amount applied: Nozzle Flow Rate is affected by: Orifice size Pressure Solution characteristics Page 9 - TeeJet Page 4 - Hypro Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Page 4 Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Rated Pressure = 40 psi for most nozzle types 10 psi for turbo flood nozzles Nomenclature: Stainless Steel Insert Orifice Trade Name Fan angle and flow rate- orifice size Extended Range VisiFlo Color Coding (S,H,P,K,SS) Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Typical nozzle numbering system Extended- range flat-fan XR 11004XRExtended-range degree fan angle psi Even flat-fan (Band applications) 8002EEEven spray pattern 8080 degree fan angle psi Turbo flood - (small capacity) TF- 4TFTurbo flood psi Turbo flood (Floater capacity) QCTF - 40 QCTFQuick attach turbo flood psi Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Calibration/Nozzle Selection u What is the first step? u Use label to select the application volume product rate u Choose an appropriate travel speed u Effective width of application nozzle spacing u Calculate GPM Flow rate per nozzle u Select the correct size of nozzle! Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Flow Rate Equation Equation # 2 u Calculates for amount of flow from one nozzle u Represents the size of nozzle to put on the sprayer u Calculates for amount of flow from one nozzle u Represents the size of nozzle to put on the sprayer Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Electronics/Rate Controllers u How does your system work when speed changes? u Is it pressure based? u What is the effect of going slower? u What is the effect of going faster? Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration 2. Set up for Uniformity Goal is to put the material on evenly from nozzle to nozzle, end of boom to end of boom, and across the entire field. 20-inch spacing requires 17-19 above target for 50-60% overlap. Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Coverage: u Need knowledge of the product being used. Systemic Contact u What is the target? Soil Grass Broadleaf (smooth, hairy, waxy) Leaf orientation time of day Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Will affect drift: u Movement of spray particles off-target. u Creating smaller spray drops will result in increased drift. u Is it Coverage vs Drift? u What is the answer? $64,000 Question? Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Spray Characteristics are Important to Understand: Demonstrates Turbo Flat vs TurboDrop-5 MPH Wind Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Nozzle Technology? How to use?? u Nozzles designed to reduce drift u Improved drop size control u Emphasis on Spray Quality Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Extended Range Flat-fan: u Tapered edge pattern u 80 and 110 degree fan u Requires overlap - 50 to 60% u psi range 110 80 Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Turbo Flood Nozzle vs Old Style Flood u Pre-orifice design u Turbulence chamber u Uniform spray distribution with tapered edge 50-60% overlap u Large, drift resistant droplets TF Flood Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Turbo Flat-fan l Turbulence chamber as in the Turbo Flood l Tapered edge, wide angle flat pattern l Designed to work in flat-fan nozzle holder l Uniform spray distribution, 50-60% overlap l Wide pressure range, 15 90 psi l Large, drift resistant droplets l Plastic with superior wear characteristics XR TT Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration XR Flat-fan compared to Turbo Flat-fan in 5 MPH wind: 40 psi Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Air-Induction/Venturi Nozzles u Where air is drawn into the nozzle cavity and exits with the fluid. Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Air/Induction Venturi Nozzle: u Greenleaf TurboDrop u Air intake venturi section u Mixing Chamber - air and spray solution blended u Pattern tip forms large air- bubble drops u Exit tip flow 2X venturi orifice u Better Penetration? u Reduced run-off? u Improved coverage? u Adequate efficacy? u Reduced drift? Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration XR Flat-fan and Turbo Flat-fan compared to Venturi Style Nozzle 5.0 MPH wind at 40 psi XR vs TurboDropTurbo Flat vs Turbo Drop Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Driftable Droplets: Spraying Systems-2000 Nozzle Type (0.5 GPM Flow) Approximate % of Spray Volume < 200 Microns 15 PSI40 PSI XR %22% XR 80056%12% DG 11005N/A11% DG 8005N/A7% TT 11005