TURF (3B): PESTICIDE APPLICATION
EQUIPMENT - TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Name6some6of6the6things6that6affect6the6efficacy6of6a6pesticide6application.6-6--
The6effects6of6a6pesticide6application6depend6on6a6number6of6things6.6Some6important6fa
ctors6are6proper6timing6(to6treat6susceptible6pest6stages),6favorable6treatment6conditions6
(temperature,6humidity,6moisture,6time6of6day,6and6plant6condition),6and6thorough6covera
ge.6Pesticides6must6be6delivered6to6the6target6at6the6correct6rate6to6do6their6job.
What6are6some6things6to6consider6before6choosing6a6piece6of6application6equipment?6-
6--When6evaluating6equipment,6ask6yourself6these6questions:
-6Is6the6equipment6well6suited6for6the6target(s)6you6need6to6treat?
-6Will6it6apply6the6formulation(s)6you6wish6to6use?
-6Is6it6affordable?
-6Is6it6sturdy6and6durable6enough6to6do6the6job?
-6Is6it6easy6to6fill,6operate,6and6clean?
-6Will6it6apply6pesticides6in6an6environmentally6sound6manner?
What6are6some6advantages6and6disadvantages6of6spray6applications?6-6--
Most6spray6applications6use6water6as6a6carrier.6Many6types6of6spray6equipment6are6on6t
he6market.6However,6some6pesticide6formulations6cannot6be6applied6as6a6spray.6Others6
must6be6agitated6to6keep6insoluble6particles6from6settling.6Liquid6spray6particles6can6drift6
if6not6managed6properly.
Name6the6major6parts6of6a6spraying6system.6-6--
The6common6components6of6any6spraying6system6are6a6holding6tank,6a6nozzle6(or6sever
al6nozzles),6a6hose6or6tube6(or6system6of6hoses)6connecting6the6tank6with6the6nozzle(s),6
and6the6device6or6system6that6provides6pressure.6In6addition,6some6sprayers6have6a6way
6to6agitate6the6spray6mixture.
Why6is6sprayer6configuration6(set-up)6important?6-6--
A6sprayer6must6be6configured6properly6(and6used6correctly)6to6produce6a6uniform6applica
tion.
Describe6the6function6of6the6spray6tank.6-6--The6tank6holds6the6mixed6liquid6pesticide.
How6should6you6care6for6a6spray6tank?6-6--
To6keep6tanks6in6good6condition,6handle6them6with6care.6Careful6handling6and6proper6st
orage6can6help6to6prevent6cracks6and6leaks.6Keep6spray6tanks6clean.6Debris6from6a6dirty
6tank6may6block6narrow6passages6in6hoses6or6tubes,6screens,6and6nozzles.6Contaminant
s6may6affect6a6spray6solution,6resulting6in6incompatibility6or6phytotoxicity.6For6example,6h
, erbicide6residue6from6a6previous6application6in6a6tank6may6harm6the6plants6an6insecticid
e6or6fungicide6application6is6supposed6to6protect.6For6that6reason,6plant6health6managers
6should6have6at6least6two6spraying6systems6-
6one6dedicated6to6herbicides6and6another6for6applying6fungicides6and/or6insecticides.
What6do6the6hoses6do?6-6--
Hoses6carry6the6liquid6from6the6tank6to6the6nozzle.6Like6all6sprayer6components,6they6sh
ould6be6chemical-
resistant.6This6will6prevent6them6from6swelling6or6breaking6down6when6exposed6to6organi
c6solvents6like6those6found6in6many6liquid6pesticide6formulations.6Check6them6on6a6regul
ar6basis,6to6be6sure6there6are6no6cracks6or6leaks.
What6is6the6function6of6the6nozzle?6-6--
Pressure6forces6the6spray6liquid6through6one6or6more6nozzles.6The6shape6and6size6of6th
e6nozzle6orifice6affects6the6flow6rate6and6the6spray6pattern.6Nozzles6are6made6for6many6
different6spraying6requirements.6Manufacturers6of6sprayer6nozzle6tips6supply6data6sheet
s6for6the6delivery6rate6(usually6in6gallons6per6minute6within6a6range6of6pressures)6and6pat
tern.6However,6these6specification6sheets6cannot6give6the6actual6application6rate.6This6is
6because6application6rate6is6also6dependent6on6speed6and6pressure.
Why6is6it6a6good6idea6to6have6some6sort6of6filter6or6screen6in6your6spraying6system?6-6--
Filters6or6screens6will6trap6particles.6Particles6in6the6system6can6cause6problems6by6plug
ging6hoses6and6damaging6the6pump.6Proper6use6of6filters6protects6the6working6parts6of6t
he6sprayer6and6reduces6nozzle6wear.
What6are6the6parts6of6a6complete6nozzle6assembly?6-6--
A6complete6nozzle6assembly6consists6of6the6body,6screen,6cap,6and6tip6or6orifice6plate.6T
he6nozzle6tip6is6an6atomizing6device.6It6produces6liquid6droplets6that6form6the6spray6patte
rn.
Why6is6it6important6to6match6the6pressure6of6a6sprayer6with6the6nozzle(s)6used?6-6--
Nozzles6have6a6prescribed6pressure6range.6If6the6pressure6is6too6low,6the6pattern6the6no
zzle6is6supposed6to6produce6will6not6form6properly.6Spray6distribution6will6not6be6even6or6
as6expected.6High6pressure6increases6the6rate6of6nozzle6wear6and6the6drift6hazard.
What6is6the6difference6between6a6flat6fan6and6a6cone6nozzle?6-6--
Nozzle6tips6are6classified6according6to6the6spray6pattern6they6produce.6A6fan6nozzle6prod
uces6a6fan-
shaped6spray.6The6liquid6released6is6narrow6at6the6nozzle6and6becomes6increasingly6wid
er6as6the6distance6from6the6nozzle6increases.6A6regular6flat6fan6nozzle6makes6a6narrow6o
val6(elliptical)6pattern6with6lighter6edges.6The6orifice6(opening)6in6this6type6of6nozzle6is6als
o6elliptical.6Cone6nozzles6produce6circular6patterns.6The6hollow-
cone6nozzle6delivers6most6of6the6material6to6the6circumference6of6the6circle.6The6full-
cone6nozzle6delivers6liquid6droplets6to6the6entire6area6of6the6circle.6Both6types6of6nozzle6t
ips6have6circular6openings.
EQUIPMENT - TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Name6some6of6the6things6that6affect6the6efficacy6of6a6pesticide6application.6-6--
The6effects6of6a6pesticide6application6depend6on6a6number6of6things6.6Some6important6fa
ctors6are6proper6timing6(to6treat6susceptible6pest6stages),6favorable6treatment6conditions6
(temperature,6humidity,6moisture,6time6of6day,6and6plant6condition),6and6thorough6covera
ge.6Pesticides6must6be6delivered6to6the6target6at6the6correct6rate6to6do6their6job.
What6are6some6things6to6consider6before6choosing6a6piece6of6application6equipment?6-
6--When6evaluating6equipment,6ask6yourself6these6questions:
-6Is6the6equipment6well6suited6for6the6target(s)6you6need6to6treat?
-6Will6it6apply6the6formulation(s)6you6wish6to6use?
-6Is6it6affordable?
-6Is6it6sturdy6and6durable6enough6to6do6the6job?
-6Is6it6easy6to6fill,6operate,6and6clean?
-6Will6it6apply6pesticides6in6an6environmentally6sound6manner?
What6are6some6advantages6and6disadvantages6of6spray6applications?6-6--
Most6spray6applications6use6water6as6a6carrier.6Many6types6of6spray6equipment6are6on6t
he6market.6However,6some6pesticide6formulations6cannot6be6applied6as6a6spray.6Others6
must6be6agitated6to6keep6insoluble6particles6from6settling.6Liquid6spray6particles6can6drift6
if6not6managed6properly.
Name6the6major6parts6of6a6spraying6system.6-6--
The6common6components6of6any6spraying6system6are6a6holding6tank,6a6nozzle6(or6sever
al6nozzles),6a6hose6or6tube6(or6system6of6hoses)6connecting6the6tank6with6the6nozzle(s),6
and6the6device6or6system6that6provides6pressure.6In6addition,6some6sprayers6have6a6way
6to6agitate6the6spray6mixture.
Why6is6sprayer6configuration6(set-up)6important?6-6--
A6sprayer6must6be6configured6properly6(and6used6correctly)6to6produce6a6uniform6applica
tion.
Describe6the6function6of6the6spray6tank.6-6--The6tank6holds6the6mixed6liquid6pesticide.
How6should6you6care6for6a6spray6tank?6-6--
To6keep6tanks6in6good6condition,6handle6them6with6care.6Careful6handling6and6proper6st
orage6can6help6to6prevent6cracks6and6leaks.6Keep6spray6tanks6clean.6Debris6from6a6dirty
6tank6may6block6narrow6passages6in6hoses6or6tubes,6screens,6and6nozzles.6Contaminant
s6may6affect6a6spray6solution,6resulting6in6incompatibility6or6phytotoxicity.6For6example,6h
, erbicide6residue6from6a6previous6application6in6a6tank6may6harm6the6plants6an6insecticid
e6or6fungicide6application6is6supposed6to6protect.6For6that6reason,6plant6health6managers
6should6have6at6least6two6spraying6systems6-
6one6dedicated6to6herbicides6and6another6for6applying6fungicides6and/or6insecticides.
What6do6the6hoses6do?6-6--
Hoses6carry6the6liquid6from6the6tank6to6the6nozzle.6Like6all6sprayer6components,6they6sh
ould6be6chemical-
resistant.6This6will6prevent6them6from6swelling6or6breaking6down6when6exposed6to6organi
c6solvents6like6those6found6in6many6liquid6pesticide6formulations.6Check6them6on6a6regul
ar6basis,6to6be6sure6there6are6no6cracks6or6leaks.
What6is6the6function6of6the6nozzle?6-6--
Pressure6forces6the6spray6liquid6through6one6or6more6nozzles.6The6shape6and6size6of6th
e6nozzle6orifice6affects6the6flow6rate6and6the6spray6pattern.6Nozzles6are6made6for6many6
different6spraying6requirements.6Manufacturers6of6sprayer6nozzle6tips6supply6data6sheet
s6for6the6delivery6rate6(usually6in6gallons6per6minute6within6a6range6of6pressures)6and6pat
tern.6However,6these6specification6sheets6cannot6give6the6actual6application6rate.6This6is
6because6application6rate6is6also6dependent6on6speed6and6pressure.
Why6is6it6a6good6idea6to6have6some6sort6of6filter6or6screen6in6your6spraying6system?6-6--
Filters6or6screens6will6trap6particles.6Particles6in6the6system6can6cause6problems6by6plug
ging6hoses6and6damaging6the6pump.6Proper6use6of6filters6protects6the6working6parts6of6t
he6sprayer6and6reduces6nozzle6wear.
What6are6the6parts6of6a6complete6nozzle6assembly?6-6--
A6complete6nozzle6assembly6consists6of6the6body,6screen,6cap,6and6tip6or6orifice6plate.6T
he6nozzle6tip6is6an6atomizing6device.6It6produces6liquid6droplets6that6form6the6spray6patte
rn.
Why6is6it6important6to6match6the6pressure6of6a6sprayer6with6the6nozzle(s)6used?6-6--
Nozzles6have6a6prescribed6pressure6range.6If6the6pressure6is6too6low,6the6pattern6the6no
zzle6is6supposed6to6produce6will6not6form6properly.6Spray6distribution6will6not6be6even6or6
as6expected.6High6pressure6increases6the6rate6of6nozzle6wear6and6the6drift6hazard.
What6is6the6difference6between6a6flat6fan6and6a6cone6nozzle?6-6--
Nozzle6tips6are6classified6according6to6the6spray6pattern6they6produce.6A6fan6nozzle6prod
uces6a6fan-
shaped6spray.6The6liquid6released6is6narrow6at6the6nozzle6and6becomes6increasingly6wid
er6as6the6distance6from6the6nozzle6increases.6A6regular6flat6fan6nozzle6makes6a6narrow6o
val6(elliptical)6pattern6with6lighter6edges.6The6orifice6(opening)6in6this6type6of6nozzle6is6als
o6elliptical.6Cone6nozzles6produce6circular6patterns.6The6hollow-
cone6nozzle6delivers6most6of6the6material6to6the6circumference6of6the6circle.6The6full-
cone6nozzle6delivers6liquid6droplets6to6the6entire6area6of6the6circle.6Both6types6of6nozzle6t
ips6have6circular6openings.
