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Pesticide Application and Spraying Tips

By Chris Humphrey MBPR FQA, Technical Manager

Part of my role with Collier Turf Care is to investigate any product complaints. Luckily we do not receive many and when we do my investigations rarely show any issue with the products. More often than not it comes down to an application problem. We all moan about the cost of chemicals but then so many people just throw them in the sprayer and hope that they will work.

Is your equipment up to the task?

All boom sprayers with a spray boom width of 3m or more need to be regularly tested and certificated.

Follow the NSTS flowchart below:

nsts chart

When did you last change your nozzles? How often do you check them? Are they correct for what you are going to apply?

Nozzles should be changed at a minimum of every 18 months, far more often if you are applying corrosive products such as Sulphate of iron of ammonia fertilisers.

How often do you check your flow?

Test your nozzles by spraying water at a set pressure (2 or 3 bar is ideal) and check the output per nozzle per minute against the nozzle chart. The National Sprayer Testing Scheme state that if there is more than a 10% variation across the boom then nozzles should be changed. Some chemical manufactures say that a variation of 5% more of less can seriously affect the efficiency of products such as fungicides.

nozzle chart

What’s your water like?

All pesticides are manufactured to be applied with water that is either fairly neutral or slightly acidic, however most mains water is alkaline.

Some common pesticides and their ideal water pH:

Heritage & Heritage Maxx	pH 6	It is important to add a pH buffer to the spray mix if the spray water is not the required pH
Medallion TL	pH 7.5
Instrata Elite	between pH 5 to pH 9
Holster XL	pH 6.5
Glyphosates	pH 5
Grazon Pro	pH 7

Most spray tanks have a gauge on the side to indicate the water volume. However, that is just what they are, a gauge! They can sometimes be out by quite a lot and it is always wise to measure the water you put into the spray tank. A water metre is a great investment.

When was the last time you calibrated your sprayer? Are you just relying on what you have always done?

I am often told “I spray everything with white nozzles at 600Lt/Ha, whatever the pesticide is”! Remember that it is your legal duty to read and adhere to the label, not just spray everything at the same rate. If you want it to work then you need to spray as directed.

calibration chart

Don’t waste pesticides or money. Before you spray ask yourself a few questions:

What are you spraying for?
What are you treating and have you got the correct product?
Is the product in date and authorised for the field of use?
Have you got the appropriate sprayer and is certificated, clean and serviceable?
Have you got the correct nozzles?
Have you checked the nozzle output?
Is the operator qualified?
Have you carried out a risk assessment for spraying?
Have you carried out a COSHH assessment for the product you are using?
Have you carried out a LERAP?
Do you have a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet? – Available from www.collier-turf-care
Have you calibrated your sprayer?
Are the weather and ground conditions suitable?
Have you put out warning notices to inform service users that you are spraying, or have your closed the area for spraying?
Do you have the required PPE and is it in good order?
What is the water pH?
Do you have a pH buffer?
Do you have bout marker fluid or spray Patten dye?
Do you have a spray tank cleaner to clean the tank after spraying?
Have you got your chemical record book to complete after spraying?

For any help or advice contact you Collier Turf Care BASIS qualified advisor.

Collier Turf Care have released another of their great information wall charts which includes a lot of helpful references to help with accurate application.

cultural chart