Coverage | Sprayers 101

How airblast spray droplets behave, or misbehave

Spray_Guy Coverage, Drift, General Concepts, Nozzles & Droplets, Nozzles and Droplets, Speciality Sprayers

Some pesticide labels require or prohibit certain droplet sizes to reduce the potential for drift. But, even when labels are silent about size restrictions, operators should be aware of the potential for droplet size to affect coverage. In the case of airblast, droplets should ...Read More

Diagnosing airblast coverage

Spray_Guy Coverage, Rates and Calibration, Speciality Sprayers

Assuming there are no mechanical or maintenance problems, water-sensitive paper can be used to diagnose sprayer performance. Go here to read more about water-sensitive paper. Interpreting the results and knowing what changes to make is the critical part of the process. Observing no coverage, or a sodden paper, ...Read More

Spraying Sweet Corn

Spray_Guy Coverage, Speciality Sprayers

This article was written with information from George Hamilton, Field Extension Specialist with New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, and from Dr. Ben Werling, West Michigan Vegetable Educator with Michigan State University Extension. Commercial sweet corn growers must use spray application equipment capable of depositing spray ...Read More

Spraying Large Nut Trees – Part 2

Spray_Guy Calibration & Air Adjustment, Coverage, General Operation, Nozzles & Droplets, Speciality Sprayers

This article continues from Part 1. Droplet size Droplet size influences droplet behaviour. The following table lists the pros and cons to changing droplet size when overall spray volume (e.g. L/ha) remains constant. Relative Spray Quality Pros Cons Coarser Droplets Lower drift potential because ...Read More

Spraying Large Nut Trees – Part 1

Spray_Guy Calibration & Air Adjustment, Coverage, General Operation, Nozzles & Droplets, Speciality Sprayers

Introduction I’ve studied spray applications in a diversity of crops, both broad acre and specialty, but perhaps nothing is as challenging large tree nut canopies. Australia’s macadamia orchards can form >10 metre high, >4 metre deep canopy walls! So in writing this article I ...Read More

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