Sprayers101 Archive
Search our archive of expert-written, data-driven analysis of spraying techniques, equipment, strategies, and more.
Capstan Calibration Chart (with Pressure Drop)
Pulse-width Modulated flow control allows you to change travel speed by a factor of about five without a change in spray pressure. This chart…
Measuring Pressure Drop
All sprayers experience a drop in pressure as the solution moves further away from the pump. Here’s why that’s important, and how to measure…
Off-Label Spraying: A Lose-Lose Situation
Submitted while Dustin was the Commercial Horticulture Specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Horticultural chemicals and pesticides often have the dubious distinction of being…
Debunking Sprayer Myths
Reproduced from an article written by Angela Lovell for Grainews, 2014 “The fundamental challenge of spraying is that it’s a compromise game,” said Tom…
Tank Rinse Dilution
If you have a limited amount of clean water to rinse your sprayer, this can help you decide how to make the best use…
Fungicide Application Basics
Fungicide use appears to be the fastest growing segment of North American crop protection. Here is some advice on how to get the best…
Water Quality and Spray Application
Water is one of the main inputs into a spray operation. The amount of water applied per acre is closely related to spray coverage…
Top Five Tips for the Spray Season
This article was originally written by @nozzle_guy as a guest blog for Farm At Hand, and is reproduced with permission. Spray season is here,…
How to Use a Nozzle Flow Chart, With a Surprising Twist
Undoubtedly, the number one question we get from operators is: “Which nozzle should I get”? Luckily there’s no simple answer, or we wouldn’t have…
An Easier Way to Clean Your Sprayer
Farming can be divided into pleasant and unpleasant tasks. Seeding is pleasant. Hauling oats or barley not so much. Sprayer cleaning is…not. And yet…
Increase Sprayer Productivity Without Driving Faster
Timing trumps most things in crop protection. A great spray applied at the wrong time isn’t nearly as valuable as a mediocre spray at…
How Fast Should I Drive My Sprayer?
It seems simple: The faster you drive the sprayer, the more area you cover. This makes higher travel speeds a seductive method for improving…
Water Sensitive Paper for Assessing Spray Coverage
Water Sensitive Paper Water-sensitive paper is a useful tool for assessing spray coverage. Here are a few tips for making it work for you.…
Pulse Width Modulation
Note: This article was written before significant changes occurred in the marketplace in 2016. While it still explains how the system works, a more…
Rate Controllers and Spray Pressure
Automatic rate controllers are standard equipment on almost all new sprayers. They ensure consistent application volumes, but they don’t do all the thinking for…
Selecting the Right Water Volume
Low water volumes can mean less effort to apply pesticides. But there is a limit to how low water volumes can go before problems…
Cleaning Your Sprayer
We all know the importance of cleaning out a sprayer. It protects a sensitive crop. It protects people working with the sprayer. It protects…
Four Rules of Nozzle Selection
Nozzle choice can be overwhelming due to the large selection available from many suppliers. But nozzles are the most important part of the sprayer,…
