Ground Speed Ground speed should be determined after mounting the wick applicator to a sprayer or implement. Choose the RPMs and gear that will be driven in the field. As opposed to sprayer calibration where speed can be calculated and entered in an equation, the speed of the equipment for a wick application must simply be constant. Therefore, a speed which is acceptable for any other operation that is being performed and is comfortable for the driver should be chosen and remain constant during calibration and application. The wick applicator should be filled with water to the point of overflowing.
Air pockets can sometimes form inside the wick when filling.
These can be avoided by filling the wick with a water hose fed completely into the wick and withdrawing slowly. If a surfactant is to applied with mepiquat chloride, it is recommended that the surfactant be added for calibration on a volume per volume basis. Once the wick applicator has been filled to overflowing, the cap should be immediately replaced and the air-intake valve shut off. The wick applicator, mounted to an implement or sprayer at the desired height, should then be driven over a known area of cotton at the speed it will be operated. The amount of cotton to be driven over can vary, but it is recommended to be at least one-half acre.