Pesticide Storage, Handling, and Application - Application Troubleshooting Key

Table of Contents

1. Mechanical Maintenance and Failure
2. Nozzles and Output
3. Monitoring
4. Monitoring and Minimizing Impacts on Non-Target Organisms and Habitats
5. Checklist for Reducing the Effects of Pesticides on Wildlife
6. Keeping Records
7. When Applying Pesticides, Be Professional
8. Available in Published Version of Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application

Mechanical Maintenance and Failure

Problem: Spray tank empties on its own

Cause:

• sprayer contents backflow into water source
• drain valve open, missing or damaged

Solution:

• install anti-backflow device
• replace drain valve

Problem: Cannot pump out last 200 L in tank

Cause:

• flow restrictor missing
• pressure relief allowing bypass into tank

Solution:

• install correct size orifice in agitator line
• adjust flow to agitator nozzles

Nozzles and Output

Problem: Uneven spray pattern

Cause:

• nozzle screen plugged
• nozzle tip damaged
• pressure too low
• nozzles too small, worn or damaged
• mismatched nozzles in boom
• boom too low
• uneven terrain
  

Solution:

• clean or replace screen
• replace tip with new one
• check pressure on boom end with a gauge
  • pressure should be within 10 to 16 kPa of main guage - if not, check size of fittings and hoses for restrictions
• replace nozzles
• raise boom or rotate ahead or back slightly
• slow down, install boom wheel, readjust directional vanes (orchard air-blast)

Figure 1. Uneven spray pattern.

Problem: Pulsing spray output

Cause:

• waterlogged pressure accumulator
• diaphragm ruptured in pulsation dampener

Solution:

• drain pressure accumulator or fix leak
• replace diaphragm

Monitoring

Problem: Crop damage increases as you proceed down the field

Cause:

• ineffective agitation
• soluble package dissolves too slowly

Solution:

• check agitation equipment; don't use bypass line for agitation
• review product mixing instructions

Problem: Pest escapes in top inside of fruit trees

Cause:

• improper dosage
• excessive canopy growth obstructs deposition
• water volume too low
• improper nozzle configuration
• poor timing

Solution:

• follow label directions
• prune for better penetration
• increase water volume, monitor prior to application
• re-nozzle or reconfigure nozzles
• monitor prior to application

Monitoring and Minimizing Impacts on Non-Target Organisms and Habitats

Perhaps the best way to reduce impacts off-target is by using practices for pesticide application so the product hits the target pest.

It's a good management idea to make notes on the product used, the location of pest/weed infestations, application rates, weather conditions at time of and after application, effectiveness of application, and environmental effects. This will help you determine whether the product is staying on the crop, or if it's moving off target.

Environmental effects of pesticide applications outside the crop can provide clues to improper equipment calibration or poor application conditions.

Checklist for Reducing the Effects of Pesticides on Wildlife

• Application techniques that reduce wildlife exposure to pesticides are the same as those used to reduce human exposure, environmental damage, crop damage, and waste of expensive chemicals through over-application.
• When purchasing products, read the label, and watch for warning statements about environmental hazards.
  •  Statements to look for include:
             "This product is toxic to birds and other wildlife."
             "This product is toxic to fish."
             "This product is highly toxic to bees."
  • Choose alternatives if possible
• Never wash spray equipment near lakes, ponds, or rivers.
• To avoid pesticide drift into non-target areas, use the pesticide formulation and
  application equipment that keeps the application on target.
• Avoid spraying on windy days; early morning and late afternoon are usually the least windy. If you must spray when windy, make some changes to nozzles, water volumes or droplet size.
• Don't apply pesticides if there's a potential for heavy rainfall soon after application. Heavy rains can cause pesticide runoff into bodies of water and excessive leaching of chemicals into soil and groundwater.
• If you are applying pesticides near water, leave at least a 15-metre buffer strip between the pesticide treatment area and the body of water to avoid contaminating the water and aquatic organisms.
• Be extremely cautious when applying granular insecticides. Many of the insecticides that are most toxic to birds are also attractive to birds, who probably mistake them for food or grit. Careful soil incorporation of granular insecticides is required to reduce this wildlife hazard. Clean up spills that may occur at the end of rows or in rough terrain.
• If there is a choice, select pesticides that are less toxic to fish and wildlife.

Keeping Records

Farmers should monitor and keep records on the type and prevalence of pests in a crop. At application, growers should record:

• pest stage
• crop stage
• wind speed and direction, temperature, soil temperature, relative humidity at time of spraying
• date, time of day, field location
• product and rate applied (including adjuvants)
• water rate (volume)
• level of control achieved
• weather conditions for two or three days following application

This information is invaluable should you have a product performance complaint. Sometimes the number of pests is not large enough to need control, or the pests may become established in the crop when they can no longer do it any harm. The cost of a pesticide application may be more expensive than the damage that could be done by the pests.

Records will prove useful later when trying to decide on:

• re-entry
• harvest dates
• time of next application
• equipment settings
• application rates
• trouble areas

Figure 2. Record book.

Keep records of pesticides applied and conditions that existed during application

Records of pesticide use will help to protect you and your investment by providing documentation if a question or problem arises from an application. Just as important is the task of observing any effects on nearby plants, animals, and natural environments.

Pesticide application records will help you to:

• evaluate your results
• improve your pest management practices and efficiency
• avoid pesticide misuse
• purchase only what you need
• establish proper use in case of a residue or crop damage question
• solve application problems
• document your use of pesticides in case of lawsuits
• plan your pesticide needs for the next season, e.g., rotation of pesticides for resistance management

When Applying Pesticides, Be Professional

It's simple to make positive changes to your pesticide application system, and the benefits far outweigh the small investment of time and effort. A safe and effective pesticide application system includes structures, equipment, devices and record-keeping for each job, as well as sound management practices. Following the best management practices in this book will help you to produce crops safely and economically while protecting the environment.

Available in Published Version of Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application

• Troubleshooting Key - complete chart with 25 common application problems
• Backsiphoning
• Determining Pesticide Effectiveness: How to monitor in-field performance
• Monitoring and Minimizing Impacts on Non-target Organisms and Habitats
  • pre-application monitoring
  • post-application monitoring

| Best Management Practices - Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application |