Pesticide Storage, Handling, and
Application - Application
Table of Contents
- Best Management Practices
- Equipment Types
- Tips' for Tips
- Other Application Equipment
- Maintenance
- Sprayer Calibration
- Application Best Management Practices - Checklist
- Available in Published Version of Pesticide Storage,
Handling and Application
Best Management Practices
To do the job right, you need the right tool, and you have to keep that
tool in proper working condition. Nothing could be more true for pesticide
application equipment. It takes know-how to choose the right sprayer,
nozzle, and accessories. And it takes prudence and a few tips to keep
the equipment calibrated and working properly.
Properly selected and functioning application equipment will help you:
- know your precise rate of spray application (L/ha)
- hit the pest with the prescribed dose
- know you have the right output from the nozzle to do the job
- reduce product waste or leftovers (calibration)
- ensure that you get the droplet size to do the best possible job
- avoid off-target and off-site damage
- save time and money - fewer reapplications keep costs down!
Equipment Types
Figure 1. Hand-operated sprayer
Figure 2. Hose-end sprayer
Figure 3. Backpack sprayer
Figure 4. Ultra-low-volume sprayer (ULV)
Figure 5. Boom sprayer
Figure 6. Orchard sprayer
Figure 7. Motorized sprayer
Figure 8. Air-assist boom sprayer
Tips' for Tips
A farmer decides to buy a new sprayer. The dealer has told the farmer
that they will outfit the sprayer with one set of nozzles of the farmer's
choice. The farmer would like to pick the best nozzle that will be capable
of doing all spray jobs. The reality is that one set of tips, and only
one set of tips, will not do the best spraying job, when you take into
account factors such as: water volumes, weather conditions, whether the
product is a contact or systemic material, stage of development of the
crop, plant structure, etc. As you delve deeper into nozzle selection,
you will find that regardless of the nozzle type selected, it is always
a compromise. A nozzle that produces droplets to give you adequate coverage
may be very drift-prone.
In choosing a nozzle you have to determine the priority. Is it coverage,
penetration, deposition, drift, or distribution pattern?
Other Application Equipment
When using granular insecticides, ensure you:
- incorporate them into the soil to minimize exposure to birds
- clean up granule spills at the end of rows and in rough terrain
- use less toxic granular insecticides to reduce risk to birds.
Granular applicators are often used for field and vegetable crop application
of insecticides. Multiple gravity-fed outlets and disc openers place product
near seed. Proper applicators agitate the material and stop dispensing
when forward motion stops. Poor application rates and broadcasting of
granular pesticides pose direct health risks to beneficial wildlife -
especially birds. Incorporation or banding granular is a best management
practice.
Low-pressure fumigators are used to apply liquid, volatile soil fumigants.
Water or soil is used to keep fumigants from vaporizing. Soil injection
equipment places the fumigant 15-20 centimetres (6-8 in.) into the soil.
Poor Returns: Expensive reapplication of pesticides
together with losses in yield and quality can lower expected returns on
high value crops.
Pesticide Residues: Inconsistent application rates may
leave excessive residue levels on fruit and vegetable products.
Pest Escapes: Uneven application or improper dosage
can miss a sufficient number of pests at key stages.
Crop Damage: Uneven nozzle output will deposit too much
product on sensitive crops.
Maintenance
Many problems encountered with the use of sprayer equipment can be prevented
with planned, routine and seasonal maintenance. The published version
of this book gives Best Management tips for maintenance for pumps, pressure
regulators, pressure gauges, strainers, nozzles, tanks and agitators.
Implementing these practices can save time and money in the long run.
Sprayer Calibration
Most problems with pesticide application can be prevented if sprayers
are properly calibrated. Poorly calibrated sprayers can be the cause of
several problems.
The goals of sprayer calibration are to:
- verify that all equipment components are functioning properly
- ensure that sprayer output and volume applied give you the recommended
dosage
- accurately predict the number of tanks, trips, and total time of the
application, but most
- importantly determine the amount of pesticide per tankful
- 'recipe cards' - with all particulars (such as acres/tankful,
acres to spray, product/ tankful) should be done in advance, then
posted in pesticide storage building.
Application Best Management Practices - Checklist
-
Employ integrated pest management (IPM) principles before selecting
pest control methods: identify, monitor, and determine critical pest
and economic thresholds.
-
Read the label before making application.
-
Avoid pest resistance by practising IPM and pest product rotation.
-
Leave at least 15-metre buffer strips between your treatment and
sensitive areas.
-
Use proper water volume rates to ensure coverage and reduced drift.
Check the pH of your water - extremely high or low pH can be a problem
for some pesticides.
-
Use adjuvants where stated on the label.
-
Select nozzles to attain the droplet size spectrum that will bring
about proper coverage and drift reduction.
-
Verify nozzle output. Clean plugged nozzles. Replace worn and damaged
nozzles.
-
Adjust nozzle to target distance to minimize drift and maximize coverage.
-
Maintain and adjust your sprayer regularly.
-
Calibrate your application equipment before using it, and throughout
the season.
-
Weather: consider wind, humidity, temperature and rainfall events
before application. Adjust application practices accordingly.
-
Spray when temperatures range between 15-25°C and favour pest
susceptibility. Avoid temperature extremes. Do not spray heat- or
drought-stressed crops.
-
Consider nozzles that have coarse droplet spectrums during periods
of low humidity.
-
Generally, don't spray insecticides or fungicides if rain is predicted
and when drying conditions are poor. Washed off pesticides can cause
off-site damage. Reapplication is expensive.
-
Don't spray with conventional equipment during wind speeds greater
than 10 km/hr if you select a fine mist spray output. It may be tolerable
to spray in winds up to 20 km/hr if the spray droplets are mostly
large, and if there are adequate buffer zones around sensitive and
residential areas to prevent off-site damage, and if best management
practices are used to reduce drift.
-
Track your spray distribution. Use techniques such as water-sensitive
paper near sensitive areas or visual evaluation of off-target areas.
Know the fate of your spray for personal safety, crop safety, and
environmental protection. Keep accurate and detailed spray records
for future reference.
-
Explore new technologies to increase application efficiency and effectiveness.
Prevent resistance - employ IPM practices.
Spray when temperatures range from 15° - 25°C.
Explore new technologies to increase application efficiency and effectiveness.
Available in Published Version of Pesticide Storage,
Handling and Application
Best Management Practices
- Equipment types: how they work, uses, advantages and disadvantages
- Sprayer selection
- Sprayer equipment components: pumps, tanks and fittings, agitators
- charts
- Nozzles: full descriptions of each nozzle type
- Choosing the right nozzle for the job
- Volume mean diameter (VMD) - droplet size spectrum
- Nozzle selection for boom sprayers - chart
- Sprayer accessories
- Maintenance - problems & solutions for maintenance of pumps, pressure
regulators, pressure gauges, strainers, nozzles, tanks, agitators, and
many more
- Sprayer winterizing checklist
- Boom sprayer and orchard sprayer calibration details
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Management Practices - Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application
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