Evaluating weed control: sprayer calibration
Weed control relies in proper weed identification, proper method of control, herbicide selection (if applicable), time of application and proper delivery of the herbicide. Must of the weed control is more successful when weeds are small, but weeds are harder to identify when immature. Also, high temperatures and older weeds require more herbicide to accomplish the goal. At this time of the year, must of our producers have completed must of the spring herbicide application and are evaluating their success or failure and often the equipment (quality, current usage, etc) become a question specially if the weeds are not controlled. In herbicide- based weed control methods, sprayer calibration is important. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, if you apply too much herbicide, costs can become excessive; you may be in violation of the label; and you might cause environmental damage. If you apply too little herbicide, the weeds may not be controlled adequately. Many sprayer calibration methods are available and can be used successfully. The Weed Busters procedure is relatively fast and simple and can be used for most spray systems. To properly calibrate your sprayer, follow the four simple steps below.
1) Determine Speed: If your tractor speedometer is accurate, you can skip this step.
The speedometers of most “standard equipment” all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are inaccurate at low speeds. If the spray vehicle is equipped with a tachometer, you can use it to set and hold an accurate speed. If not, you may need to buy an after-market speedometer. To determine the correct number of miles per hour (mph), set two stakes 88 feet apart on terrain similar to application site. Hold the throttle at a defined rpm (revolutions per minute) and gear, and record in seconds the amount of time it takes to drive 88 feet. Repeat this procedure at least once, then calculate the average number of seconds to travel 88 feet. To calculate mph, divide by 60 the number of seconds required to drive the course. Be sure to record the speed, rpm and gear for later reference.
Example: It takes 12 seconds to drive 88 feet. 60 ÷ 12 = 5 mph
2) Determine the Sprayer Swath Width: For boom sprayers, simply multiply the number
of nozzles by the distance in inches between each nozzle and divide by 12.
Example: You have nine nozzles spaced 20 inches apart. (9 x 20) ÷ 12 = 15 feet effective swath width. For boomless sprayers, operate the nozzle at the desired pressure on a dry surface. Measure the width of the spray swath. Then subtract 10 percent to calculate
the effective swath width. Example: The boomless nozzle has a swath width of
20 feet.
Example: 20 feet – (20 feet x 0.10) = 18 feet of effective swath width
3) Calculate the Amount of Time to Spray 1 Acre:
Using the swath width and speed as determined above, calculate the amount of time needed with the following formula:
43,560 ÷ swath width (feet) = minutes/acre / (mph x 88)
Example: Sprayer will travel at 3 mph and deliver a 15 ft swath.
43,560 ÷ 15-foot swath = 11 minutes to spray 1 acre / (3 mph x 88) gallons per acre the sprayer
4) Determine the Number of Gallons/Acre
If the spray tank is marked in gallons, fill it with water to a specific level and record that number (such as 20 gallons). Operate the sprayer at a set pressure (20 to 30 pounds per square inch, or psi) for the number of minutes you calculated it takes to spray 1 acre. Record the volume of water remaining (such as 5 gallons). The difference between the starting number of gallons
and the remaining number of gallons is the number of gallons per acre the sprayer delivered (such as: 20 gallons to start – 5 gallons remaining = 15 gallons per
acre delivered). The sprayer is now calibrated. If the spray tank is not marked and you are using a spray boom, use the procedure above in terms of setting pressure and time, but capture the spray from one nozzle. To determine the number of gallons per acre, measure the amount of the spray collected and then multiply that amount by the number of nozzles on the
spray boom. Repeat this procedure on several nozzles and average
the results. The sprayer is now calibrated.
Example: 1.5 gallons collected from one nozzle on a
nine-nozzle spray boom. 1.5 gallons x 9 nozzles = 13.5 gallons per acre
If the spray tank is not marked and you are using a boomless nozzle, you will have to shroud the nozzle with a plastic bag or similar product to direct the spray into a collection container. The total volume of liquid collected over the amount of time to spray 1 acre is equal to the number of gallons per acre that the sprayer is delivering. The sprayer is now calibrated. For any of the above spray systems, if you wish to increase the number of gallons per acre (gpa), you can either decrease speed of travel or increase the pressure and recalibrate. The reverse is true if you wish to decrease the gallons per acre. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
