Welcome to Sprayers 101
Sprayers 101 is a non-profit resource describing best practices in safe, efficient and effective agricultural spraying. The site is based in Canada with content freely contributed by international authors. Browse our library of articles, videos, presentations, apps, calculators, tables and ePubs.
Our most recent articles:
Ecorobotix’s ARA Sprayer: A targeted sprayer that’s finding its place in Ontario vegetable fields
Targeted spraying is a technology that enables the site-specific application of plant protection products and liquid fertilizers based on sensor readings. Some of the latest machines incorporate computer vision and processing capabilities that can distinguish between different types of weeds and crops based on multiple adjustable criteria. The Swiss-made ARA Sprayer by Ecorobotix, has recently…
Circulating Spray Mix Through a Tank-Rinse Nozzle Maintains Nematode Concentration
This article was co-written with Jennifer Llewellyn, former OMAFA Nursery Crop Specialist With more and more bio-rational products on the market, crop protection methods may require reassessment. Certain products require exacting water quality, cannot tolerate residues, and have half-lives that are both time- and temperature-critical. We’ve been getting questions about sprayer compatibility with some of…
Strainers (aka Filters)
The level of filtration required for any given spray operation depends on the materials sprayed and the nuisance factor: That is, the balance between lost productivity from plugged nozzles and the effort required to address them during rinsing. There are opportunities to install strainers at the tank opening (usually a basket), the suction-side of the…
Past articles you might like:
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 you. We explore how to make them work properly. A rate controller needs to know the boom width (entered by the user), the total spray liquid flow rate (from a flow…
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 appear. To understand the reasons why, and help applicators use the right volume for a given situation, we briefly outline what happens to a spray cloud as it reaches the crop canopy. Basic Principles…
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, being responsible for metering the liquid, atomizing it into droplets, and distributing it across the boom. Review this list for what’s available, then follow these general recommendations. 1. Choose a Coarse…
