Calibration 2014 Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training
Program University of Wisconsin Extension 1 of 40
Slide 3
Calibration 2014 Purpose of Calibration To deliver the correct
rate of pesticide AND Apply it uniformly over the target area Photo
source: Syngenta 2 of 40
Slide 4
Calibration 2014 Purpose of Calibration Errors can lead to crop
injury or loss of money 3 of 40
Slide 5
Calibration 2014 Mini-Sprayers and Pattern Each nozzle is a
mini-sprayer 1. Nozzle/boom height 2. Nozzle angle 3. Nozzle
spacing 4 of 40
Slide 6
Calibration 2014 Spray Rate 1.Nozzle flow rate 2.Speed of
travel 5 of 40
Slide 7
Calibration 2014 Spray Rate Nozzle Flow Rate 1.Nozzle flow rate
2.Speed of travel Pressure OK for small adjustments Have to
increase 4x to double output 6 of 40
Slide 8
Calibration 2014 Spray Rate Nozzle Flow Rate 1.Nozzle flow rate
2.Speed of travel For larger changes in output, consider changing
the nozzle Gallons per minute - GPM XR 80 0380 degree angle 0.3 GPM
at 40 psi 7 of 40
Slide 9
Calibration 2014 Spray Rate Speed of Travel 1.Nozzle flow rate
2.Speed of travel One to one Speed up put less out Easy way to make
changes 8 of 40
Slide 10
Calibration 2014 Spray Rate Speed of Travel 1.Nozzle flow rate
2.Speed of travel Speed (MPH) = distance in feet x 0.68 time in
seconds 9 of 40
Slide 11
Calibration 2014 The 4 steps to Calibration 1. Determine
Required Flow Rate 10 of 40
Slide 12
Calibration 2014 The 4 steps to Calibration 1. Determine
Required Flow Rate 2. Actual Flow Rate Uniformity of Flow Rate 11
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Slide 13
Calibration 2014 The 4 steps to Calibration 1. Determine
Required Flow Rate 2. Actual Flow Rate Uniformity of Flow Rate 3.
Adjust to Flow Rate 12 of 40
Slide 14
Calibration 2014 The 4 steps to Calibration 4. Determine how
much pesticide and water to add to the tank 1. Determine Required
Flow Rate 2. Actual Flow Rate Uniformity of Flow Rate 3. Adjust to
Flow Rate
Slide 15
Calibration 2014 1 st Step Determine Flow Rate MPH - Decide
speed GPA - Gallons per Acre are given by label W - Nozzle spacing
in inches GPM = MPH x GPA x W 5940 14 of 40
Slide 16
Calibration 2014 1 st Step Determine Flow Rate GPM = MPH x GPA
x W 5940 Example: Wish to spray Whoop-IT. The label says to apply
at 1 pt/A in 15 to 20 GPA. You wish to travel at 8 MPH GPM = 8 MPH
x 15 GPA x 15 5940 GPM = 0.3 This is your required flow rate 15 of
40
Slide 17
Calibration 2014 2 nd Step Actual Flow Rate Required flow rate
is 0.3 GPM If all your nozzles are within 5% error of 12.8 fl oz in
20 seconds... 16 of 40
Slide 18
Calibration 2014 2 nd Step Actual Flow Rate Required flow rate
is 0.3 GPM But if you are NOT within 5% of your required flow rate
then... You actually collect 8.5 fl oz in 20 sec 0.2 GPM 17 of
40
Slide 19
Calibration 2014 3 nd Step Adjust Flow Rate 1.Speed GPM= MPH x
x GPA W 5940 18 of 40
Slide 20
Calibration 2014 3 nd Step Adjust Flow Rate 1.Speed MPH= W x
GPA 5940 xGPM 19 of 40
Calibration 2014 3 nd Step Adjust Flow rate 1.Speed 2.GPA GPM=
MPH x x GPA W 5940 21 of 40
Slide 23
Calibration 2014 3 nd Step Adjust Flow rate 1.Speed 2.GPA GPA=
15 inches x 8 MPH 5940 x0.2 GPM 10 GPA This is below the label 15
to 20 GPA rate range 22 of 40
Slide 24
Calibration 2014 4 th Step Amount to Add You must know: The
product rate The required spray rate (GPA) Tank capacity of or
field size 23 of 40
Slide 25
Calibration 2014 4 th Step Amount to Add 500-gallon tank
Sprayer is calibrated at 20 GPA 32 fl oz Glyphosate 41 per acre 24
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Slide 26
Calibration 2014 4 th Step Amount to Add Step 1: how many acres
will each tankful spray Acres per = 500-gal tank = 25 acres tank 20
GPA 25 of 40
Slide 27
Calibration 2014 4 th Step Amount to Add to a Full Tank Step 2:
how much Glyphosate 41 to add to each tank? Product per= 25 acres x
32 fl oz/A tank = 800 fl oz 6 gal + 2 pt 26 of 40
Slide 28
Calibration 2014 4 th Step Amount to Add to a Partial Tank
15-acre field Sprayer is calibrated at 20 GPA 12 fl oz/A of
Headline fungicide 27 of 40
Slide 29
Calibration 2014 4 th Step Amount to Add Partial Tank Step 1:
how much water to add to the tank? Water per= 15 acres x 20 GPA
tank = 300 gals of mix 28 of 40
Slide 30
Calibration 2014 4 th Step Amount to Add to a Partial Tank Step
1: how much Headline? Product per = 15 acres x 12 fl oz per acre
tank = 180 fl oz 1 gal + 3.2 pt 29 of 40
Slide 31
Calibration 2014 4 th Step Adjuvant Rates Rate expressed as
product per Acre Rate expressed as a percentage Amount needed =
product rate x acres = 2 pts crop oil x 16 acres = 32 pts (4 gals)
Amount needed = percentage x gals spray mix = 0.25% x 250 gals 100
= 0.625 gals adjuvant 5 pts 30 of 40
Slide 32
Calibration 2014 31 of 40
Slide 33
Calibration 2014 Granular Applications Ounces per 1000 ft of
row 30 row 2.5 ft 43560 ft 2 = 17,424 ft long 2.5 ft for an acre
2.5 17,424 ft 32 of 40
Slide 34
Calibration 2014 Granular Applications Ounces per 1000 ft of
row 2.5 17,424 ft 1000 ft x 8.8 lbs = 0.5 lb 8 ozs per 17, 424 ft
1000 ft 33 of 40
Slide 35
Calibration 2014 Granular Applications Ounces per 1000 ft of
row Step 1: Mark a distance of 1,000 feet in the field Step 2:
Adjust each hopper unit to recommended settings Step 3: Ready the
hopper units for measuring output Step 4: Drive the measured
distance 34 of 40
Slide 36
Calibration 2014 Granular Applications Ounces per 1000 ft of
row Step 5: Weigh material from each unit Unit12345678 Weight
(ounces)8.28.47.67.98.18.28.66.0 35 of 40
Slide 37
Calibration 2014 Granular Applications Ounces per 1000 ft of
row Step 6: Adjust units not within 5% of the recommended rate of 8
oz Five percent of 8 ounces is: 8 ounces x.05 Recalibrate units
whose output is: less than 7.6 ounces or greater than 8.4 ounces 36
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Slide 38
Calibration 2014 Granular Applications Ounces per 1000 ft of
row Step 5: Weigh material from each unit Unit12345678 Weight
(ounces)8.28.47.67.98.18.28.66.0 X X Acceptable Range in output 7.6
8.4 ounces 37 of 40
Slide 39
Calibration 2014 Why calibrate, I have one of these? 38 of
40
Slide 40
Calibration 2014 Why calibrate I have one of these? It is
always a good idea to check: Equipment wears out Equipment can be
off Constants in the computer may be wrong Slippage can lead to the
wrong speed And... 39 of 40
Slide 41
Calibration 2014 Why not make sure it is working? GPS Gone
Wrong! What DID you do Father!?! The gizmo said to turn RIGHT! 40
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