Whenever I give a presentation to growers about the need to calibrate a sprayer and how to do it, there is always someone asking this question:

“I have a rate controller in the cab that regulates the flow rate of the sprayer regardless of the changes in sprayer ground speed. I just enter the gallons per acre application rate, and the controller does the rest, just like cruise control in a car. So should I still calibrate the sprayer?”

The answer is: Yes, a calibration should be done. Although rate controllers do an excellent job with regulating the flow rate of nozzles to keep the application rate constant regardless of the changes in travel speed, a manual calibration at least once a year is needed to ensure the rate controller is functioning properly and that the rate controller is not forced to operate outside the pressure operating range for the nozzles on the sprayer boom. 

Why Sprayer Calibration is Critical

Let me elaborate on both points and share with you the reasons why a manual calibration of a sprayer is a good idea.

Without realizing it, you may find yourself in violation of the label. Make sure the nozzle size selected will allow the controllers to make the necessary changes in the flow rates while still staying within a safe, applicable, and allowable pressure range.

It usually doesn’t take more than 30 minutes to calibrate a sprayer. Only three things are needed: a watch or smart phone to record the time when measuring the nozzle flow rate or the travel speed, a measuring tape and a jar graduated in ounces.

Please look at the Ohio State University Extension publication FABE-520 for an easy method to calibrate a boom-type sprayer.

Click here for more No-Till News.

Get full access NOW to the most comprehensive, powerful and easy-to-use online resource for no-tillage practices. Just one good idea will pay for your subscription hundreds of times over.

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

Discover 2-days of cutting-edge ideas, techniques and strategies in Coralville, Iowa., July 28-29. Join the most innovative, forward-thinking minds in strip-till to raise your level of strip-till profitability, efficiency and efficacy.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing