Pesticide Equipment Used in Field

1. Ground Application

Boom-type Sprayers: For many years, high-pressure, high-volume sprayers have been used to control row-crop pests. There is currently a trend toward the use of sprayers that use lower volumes and pressures.

Air blast-type Sprayers: In the vegetable industry, air blast sprayers are used to control insects and diseases. The proper operation of an airblast sprayer is more important than that of a boom sprayer. Under high wind conditions, do not use an airblast sprayer. Wind speeds of less than 5 mph are preferable unless it is necessary to apply the pesticide for timely control measures, but drift and nearby crops must be taken into account. Do not overextend the machine’s coverage.

A significant amount of visible mist from the machine escapes into the atmosphere and does not settle on the plant. If in doubt, place black plastic indicator sheets in the rows to determine deposit and coverage before a pest problem manifests itself. Use the appropriate gallonage and pressures to achieve proper droplet size and uniform coverage across the effective swath width. To achieve the best coverage, adjust the sprayer unit’s vanes and nozzles. Vanes must be adjusted in the field based on terrain, wind, and crop. Cross-drives in the field allow material to be blown down the rows rather than across them, which helps provide better coverage in some crops, such as staked or trellised tomatoes.

Air-boom Sprayers: These sprayers combine the characteristics of an airblast spray and a boom spray delivery system. Vegetable producers are increasingly using air-boom sprayers to achieve high levels of spray coverage while using minimal pesticide.

Electrostatic Sprayers: The spray droplets move through an electrical field created by these sprayers. Charged spray droplets deposit more effectively onto plant surfaces, resulting in less drift.

2. Aerial Application

Spraying should be avoided when the wind speed exceeds 6 mph. A slight crosswind during spraying is beneficial in equalizing spray distribution within and between swaths. Proper nozzle angle and boom arrangement are critical for achieving proper distribution at ground level. To determine deposit and coverage patterns, place black plastic indicator sheets in the rows. Cover a swath that is no wider than necessary for the aircraft and boom being used. Fields with irregular topography or shape, as well as those bounded by woods, power lines, or other flight hazards, should not be sprayed by aircraft.

Originally published at http://suzietheagronomist.com on January 21, 2022.