1/128 Method Of Calibration Calibrating Hand Sprayers And High Pressure Hand Guns

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1/128 Method Of CalibrationCalibrating Hand Sprayers And High

Pressure Hand Guns• Because a gallon = 128 ounces and the

area to be sprayed is 1/128 of an acre, ounces collected = gallons per acre.

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Step 1

• Measure out an area equal to 1/128th of an acre. Approximately 340 sq. ft. or an area 18.5 by 18.5 ft.

18.5 ft

18.5 ft

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Step 1

• Maybe this shape would work better.

10 ft

34 ft

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Step 1

• Or maybe this shape.

1.5 ft228 ft

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• The shape of the calibration course is not important.– However, the size of the course must equal

340 sq ft. or 128th of an acre.

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Step 2

• Measure the time it takes to spray the measured area. Repeat several times and take the average time.

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Step 3

• Spray into a container for the same amount of time it took to spray the measured area. Measure the water collected, in ounces. The amount collected in ounces equals gallons per acre.

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• Step 1. Measure area. 18.5 by 18.5 ft = 340 sq ft

• Step 2. Time to spray = 51 seconds

• Step 3. Amount collected = 40 ounces

• Therefore; 40 ounces = 40 GPA

EXAMPLEHAND SPRAYER

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Determining How Much Pesticide To Add To The Spray Mixture

• Recommendation is to apply 1 quart of 2,4-D per acre

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• The sprayer is applying 40 gallons per acre. Therefore; You will need to add 1 quart of 2,4-D to each 40 gallons of water.

• Your sprayer only holds 1 gallon of spray mixture. So how much pesticide will you need to add to the gallon of water?

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• 1 quart or 32 ounces divided by 40 gallons means that each gallon of water contains 0.8 ounces of 2,4-D.

• 1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons. Therefore; You will need ~ 2 tablespoons of 2,4-D per gallon of water.

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• 1 fluid ounce = 30 (cc) or (ml). Therefore; If measuring in cc you would need 0.8 ounces X 30 cc/ounce = 24 cc per gallon of water.

–A plastic syringe is an easy and accurate way to measure liquid pesticides.

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• How large of an area will 1 gallon spray? There are 43,560 ft2/acre. If 40 gallons will spray one acre then one gallon will spray an area 1/40 that size.

• 43,560 ft2

40

• = 1089 ft2.

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1/128 Method Of Calibration

• This method of sprayer calibration gives sprayer output in gallons per acre when nozzle discharge is measured in ounces over a course length that = 1/128th of an acre or 340 ft2

MULTIPLE NOZZLE BOOM-TYPE SPRAYERS

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Step 1

• Adjust the sprayer pressure and check for uniformity. Operate the sprayer for 1 minute and measure spray from each nozzle. Clean or replace any nozzle that delivers + or - 5% than the output from a new nozzle in good condition.

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Step 2

• Measure the spray band width or nozzle spacing in inches on the boom to determine the course length.

• The area to be sprayed must equal 1/128th of an acre or 340 ft2

• If the nozzle spacing = 20" then the distance to travel would be 204 ft.

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• 20" (1.67 ft) X 204 ft = 340 ft2

204 ft

1.67 ft 340 ft2 or 1/128 of an acre

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Step 3

• Catch the spray from ONE nozzle while operating the sprayer under field conditions or for the time required to travel the needed distance at a desired speed.

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Step 4

• Measure the spray collected in ounces. The number of ounces collected is the same as the number of gallons per acre.

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Example

• You have a sprayer that has 15 nozzles on a 30 inch spacing. How would you calibrate it using the 1/128th method?

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Step 1

• Make sure sprayer is adjusted properly and nozzles are in good working order.

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Step 2• Measure nozzle spacing in inches on the

boom to determine the course length.• Using the formula:

• 4084 / 30 inches = 136 feet

• Or from table 1. W = 30 inches and D = 136 feet

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Table 1. Distance (D) to travel and seconds required for selected speeds when nozzle coverage is (W) inches.

W (in) D (ft) 2 mph 3 mph

20 204 70 seconds 46 seconds

24 170 58 39

26 157 54 36

28 146 50 33

30 136 46 31

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Step 3

• Time how long it takes to travel the 136 ft at a desired speed. Travel this distance several times and get an average time.

• Perhaps it takes an average of 31 seconds to travel the 136 feet.

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Step 4

• Collect the spray from ONE nozzle in a container for 31 seconds.

• Measure the water collected in ounces.

• The amount collected in ounces equals gallons per acre.

• If in 31 seconds you collected 20 ounces your sprayer output would be 20 gallons per acre.

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Determining How Much Pesticide To Add To The Spray Mixture

• The recommendation from the label is to apply 1 quart of 2,4-D per acre.

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• The sprayer is applying 20 gallons per acre.

• Therefore; You will need to add 1 quart of 2,4-D to each 20 gallons of water.

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• Your sprayer holds 200 gallons. So how much pesticide will you need to add to the 200 gallon spray tank?

–200 gallons divided by 1 qt 2,4-D per 20 gallons water = 10 quarts of 2,4-D per tank

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• How large an area can be sprayed by your 200 gallon tank?

–200 gallons divided by 20 gallons per acre = 10 acres