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Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration. Basic Training Presentation. Changes in the Application Industry!. Historically inefficient process Increased cost per acre for crop protection Rates are changing (< an ounce/acre) More pest specific products (foliar)
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Crop Protection Equipment and Calibration Basic Training Presentation
Changes in the Application Industry! • Historically inefficient process • Increased cost per acre for crop protection • Rates are changing (< an ounce/acre) • More pest specific products (foliar) • Biotechnology and GMO’s – Issues???? • More sophisticated equipment (electronics) $$$ • Environmental impact (water and air) • Variable rates • Site-specific
R-U Ready Soybean Explosion 1996-1 Million Acreage of roundup ready ready (genetically modified) soybeans under cultivation in the United States. 199820-30 Million 19979 Million 199935 Million
Equipment cost today? How much do these machines cost? $150,000 - 200,000 +
Equipment cost today? How much does this machine cost? $250,000 - 300,000
Application Equipment and Calibration Outline • Discuss Misapplication • Basic Application Equipment • Components of a Sprayer • System Designs • Understanding Nozzles • Importance of Nozzles • Calibration and Nozzle Selection • Spray Solution Affect on Output • Ground Speed
Application is Important: • Many complaints to chemical company representatives involve improper application of chemicals. • Improper mixing procedures • Travel speed errors • Uniformity of coverage • Incorrect quantities added to the tank • Particle drift • Selection and maintenance of nozzles
Misapplication Facts: Farmland Insurance Based on insurance claim payouts!
Application Equipment: • Two basic types of application systems: • Liquid (sprayers) • Granular
Basic application devices: • Hand can pump sprayers • Backpack sprayers • Boom sprayers • High pressure sprayers • Air-assist sprayers • Aerial (spray and granular) • Granular
Sprayer Components: • Tanks (contamination issues) • Pump, Strainers, Agitation • Pressure gauge • Hoses, Flow control assemblies • Electronics: monitors-computers- controllers (GPS/GIS) • Distribution system • Nozzles!!!!!!!!!
Roller Pump Centrifugal Pump Diaphragm Pump Piston Pump Peristaltic Pump (Squeeze or hose pump – chemical injection) Types of Pumps:
Flat Spray Tips: Extended Range Flat-fan Drift Reduction Flat-fan Turbo Flood Flat-fan Turbo Flat-fan AI Flat-fan TurboDrop Cone Spray Tips: Raindrop Nozzle Types:
Selecting the proper nozzle: Legal issues!! Following the label!
Misapplication: • Without proper attention to the nozzle, you may end up with a • Misapplication
1. Control the Amount applied: Nozzle Flow Rate is affected by: • Orifice size • Pressure • Solution characteristics
Nomenclature: Extended Range Trade Name (S,H,P,K,SS) Stainless Steel Insert Orifice VisiFlo Color Coding Fan angle and flow rate-orifice size Rated Pressure = 40 psi for most nozzle types 10 psi for turbo flood nozzles
MATERIALS AND WEAR Percent increase in nozzle flow rate Flat-fan spray nozzles after 40 hour test
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.
3. Will determine coverage: • Need knowledge of the product being used. • Systemic • Contact • What is the target? • Soil • grass • broadleaf (smooth, hairy, waxy)
4. Will affect drift: • Movement of spray particles off-target. • Creating smaller spray drops will result in increased drift. • Is it Coverage vs Drift? • What is the answer? $64 Million Question?
Calibration/Nozzle Selection • What is the first step? • Use label to select the • application volume • product rate • Choose an appropriate travel speed • Effective width of application • nozzle spacing • Calculate GPM – Flow rate per nozzle • Select the correct size of nozzle!
Calculations #$!@&%! GPA= 5940
Calculations Ok, now I remember! GPA= 5940
Nozzle size - Variables • Nozzle flow rate (GPM) • Ground speed (MPH) • Effective sprayed width (W) • Application rate (GPA)
Application Rate Equation • Calculates for application rate • Represents total amount applied for an acre Equation # 1
Flow Rate Equation • Calculates for amount of flow from one nozzle • Represents the size of nozzle to put on the sprayer Equation # 2
Where: gallons per acre GPA = ______________________ GPM = ______________________ MPH = ______________________ W = ______________________ 5940 = a constant to convert gallons per minute, miles per hour, and inches to gallons per acre gallons per minute miles per hour nozzle spacing - inches
Variables 1. Nozzle Flow Rate - Gallons Per Minute (GPM) To double the nozzle output, the pressure must increasetimes 4 2. Ground speed - Miles Per Hour (MPH) 1/2 Doubling the ground speed reduces GPA rate by___ 3. Effective Sprayed Width (W) (Nozzle spacing, band width, number of nozzles on drop) Doubling the effective sprayed width per nozzle decreases the application rate by. 1/2
Electronics/Rate Controllers • How does your system work when speed changes? • Is it pressure based? • What is the effect of going slower? • What is the effect of going faster?
Application Nozzle type GPA MPH -INCH SPACING GPM = x x 5940 GPM = = The correct nozzle is used at psi.
GPM Example • You want to broadcast a foliar herbicide at 12 GPA traveling 12 MPHusing extended range flat-fan nozzles on 20-inch spacing. • Use equation to calculate for flow rate?
GPA Example Solution GPM=? GPA=? MPH=? W=? GPM=? GPA=12 MPH=12 W=20
GPM Example Solution .48 Answer
Selecting the proper nozzle…. Page 51 TeeJet Catalog
Calculate GPM (formula) Look under ‘Capacity of 1 nozzle in GPM’ column Match to pressure-psi Choose the size needed Operate at given pressure and speed used in formula to achieve GPA Selecting the proper nozzle…. .48
Spray Solution Characteristics A. Surface Tension B. Density C. Viscosity Effects droplet size, not flow • Weight/unit volume • density - flow rate decreases Resistance to flow
Spraying Solutions other that water:28% CONVERSION – see page 124, SS 28% = _______ lbs/gal Specific Gravity = Weight of 28%/gal divided by weight of water/gal =
28% CONVERSION 10.65 28% = _______ lbs/gal Specific Gravity = Weight of 28%/gal divided by weight of water/gal 10.65 1.28 = 8.34
Conversion factor = square root of specific gravity of 28% x =
Conversion factor = square root of specific gravity of 28% 1.13 x = 1.13
MEASURE SPEED (1 MPH = 88 Feet traveled in 60 seconds) Measure the ground speed in an area similar to the conditions of the area to be sprayed!