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Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training
Program
University of Wisconsin Extension
Calibration
2014
Purpose of Calibration
To deliver the
correct rate of
pesticide
AND
Apply it uniformly
over the target
area
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Calibration
2014
Photo source: Syngenta
Purpose of Calibration
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Errors can lead to crop injury or
loss of money
Calibration
2014
Mini-Sprayers and Pattern
Each nozzle is a
“mini-sprayer”
1. Nozzle/boom
height
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Calibration
2014
2. Nozzle angle
3. Nozzle
spacing
Spray Rate
1.Nozzle flow rate
2.Speed of travel
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Calibration
2014
Spray Rate – Nozzle Flow Rate
1.Nozzle flow rate
2.Speed of travel
Pressure
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Calibration
2014
OK for small
adjustments
Have to increase
4x to double
output
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
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XR 80 03
Calibration
2014
80 degree angle
0.3 GPM at 40 psi
Spray Rate – Speed of Travel
1.Nozzle flow rate
2.Speed of travel
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Calibration
2014
• One to one
• Speed up
put less out
• Easy way to
make
changes
Spray Rate – Speed of Travel
1.Nozzle flow rate
2.Speed of travel
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Calibration
2014
Speed (MPH) = distance in feet x 0.68
time in seconds
The 4 steps to Calibration
1. Determine Required Flow Rate
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Calibration
2014
The 4 steps to Calibration
1. Determine Required Flow Rate
2. Actual Flow Rate – Uniformity of Flow
Rate
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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
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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
4. Determine how much pesticide and
water to add to the tank
Calibration
2014
1st Step – Determine Flow Rate
MPH - Decide speed
GPA - Gallons per Acre are given by label
W - Nozzle spacing in inches
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Calibration
2014
GPM = MPH x GPA x W
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1st Step – Determine Flow Rate
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 = MPH x GPA x W
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Calibration
2014
GPM = 8 MPH x 15 GPA x 15
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GPM = 0.3 This is your “required”
flow rate
2nd 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 . . .
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Calibration
2014
2nd Step – Actual Flow Rate
Required flow rate is 0.3
GPM
But if you are NOT within
5% of your required flow
rate then . . .
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You actually collect
8.5 fl oz in 20 sec  0.2 GPM
Calibration
2014
3nd Step – Adjust Flow Rate
1. Speed
GPM =
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Calibration
2014
MPH x GPA x W
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3nd Step – Adjust Flow Rate
1. Speed
MPH =
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Calibration
2014
5940 x GPM
W x GPA
3nd Step – Adjust Flow Rate
1. Speed
MPH =
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5.3 MPH
Calibration
2014
5940 x 0.2 GPM
15 inches x 15 GPA
3nd Step – Adjust Flow rate
1. Speed
2. GPA
GPM =
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Calibration
2014
MPH x GPA x W
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3nd Step – Adjust Flow rate
1. Speed
2. GPA
GPA =
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5940 x 0.2 GPM
15 inches x 8 MPH
10 GPA This is below the label
15 to 20 GPA rate range
Calibration
2014
4th Step – Amount to Add
You must know:
• The product rate
• The required spray rate (GPA)
• Tank capacity of or field size
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Calibration
2014
4th Step – Amount to Add
• 500-gallon tank
• Sprayer is calibrated at 20 GPA
• 32 fl oz Glyphosate 41 per acre
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Calibration
2014
4th Step – Amount to Add
• Step 1: how many acres will each
tankful spray
Acres per = 500-gal tank = 25 acres
tank
20 GPA
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Calibration
2014
4th Step – Amount to Add to a
Full Tank
• Step 2: how much Glyphosate 41 to
add to each tank?
Product per
tank
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Calibration
2014
= 25 acres x 32 fl oz/A
= 800 fl oz
 6 gal + 2 pt
4th Step – Amount to Add to a
Partial Tank
• 15-acre field
• Sprayer is calibrated at 20 GPA
• 12 fl oz/A of Headline fungicide
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Calibration
2014
4th Step – Amount to Add Partial
Tank
• Step 1: how much water to add to the
tank?
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Calibration
2014
Water per = 15 acres x 20 GPA
tank
= 300 gals of mix
4th Step – Amount to Add to a
Partial Tank
• Step 1: how much Headline?
Product per = 15 acres x 12 fl oz per acre
tank
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Calibration
2014
= 180 fl oz
 1 gal + 3.2 pt
4th Step – Adjuvant Rates
• Rate expressed as product per Acre
Amount needed
= product rate x acres
= 2 pts crop oil x 16 acres
= 32 pts (4 gals)
• Rate expressed as a percentage
Amount needed
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Calibration
2014
= percentage x gals spray mix
= 0.25% x 250 gals
100
= 0.625 gals adjuvant
 5 pts
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Calibration
2014
Granular Applications – Ounces
per 1000 ft of row
30” row  2.5 ft  43560 ft2 = 17,424 ft long
2.5 ft
for an acre
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2.5’
17,424 ft
Calibration
2014
Granular Applications – Ounces
per 1000 ft of row
1000 ft x
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8.8 lbs
= 0.5 lb  8 ozs per
17, 424 ft
1000 ft
2.5’
17,424 ft
Calibration
2014
Granular Applications – Ounces
per 1000 ft of row
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Calibration
2014
• 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
Granular Applications – Ounces
per 1000 ft of row
• Step 5: Weigh material from each unit
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Calibration
2014
Unit
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Weight (ounces)
8.2
8.4
7.6
7.9
8.1
8.2
8.6
6.0
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
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Calibration
2014
Recalibrate units whose output is:
less than 7.6 ounces or
greater than 8.4 ounces
Granular Applications – Ounces
per 1000 ft of row
• Step 5: Weigh material from each unit
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Calibration
2014
Unit
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Weight (ounces)
8.2
8.4
7.6
7.9
8.1
8.2
8.6 X
6.0 X
Why calibrate, I have one of
these?
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Calibration
2014
Why calibrate I have one of
these?
It is always a good idea to
check:
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Calibration
2014
• Equipment wears out
• Equipment can be off
• Constants in the computer may
be wrong
• Slippage can lead to the wrong
speed
• And . . .
Why not make sure it is working?
What DID you
do Father!?!
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Calibration
2014
The gizmo said
to turn RIGHT!
Main
Menu
Calibration
2014