Proper application of pesticides and fertilizers, which protects water quality, is possible only with a sprayer or spreader that is accurately calibrated. Pesticides applied with equipment that has not been calibrated may be misapplied by more than 10 percent. That may lead to repeat applications, damaged plants, excess cost, and contamination of the environment. Sprayers Sprayer Calibration Nozzle Calibration Sprayer Maintenance Spreaders Spreader Calibration Factors Rotary Spreaders Drop Spreaders Spreader Operation Spreader Maintenance Sprayers Sprayers should be calibrated after every fourth application and the sprayer system and nozzles should be checked before every use. The time it takes to gather the information needed to calibrate a sprayer may more than offset losses due to an improperly calibrated sprayer.
Improper calibration can result in turf injury.
Before you can make any of the other calibration calculations you have to know the speed of the sprayer. Mark off a 200-foot course on terrain that is typical of your area. Extend the booms of the sprayer. Start far enough away from the course that the sprayer can attain the desired speed before reaching the first marker and maintain it through the run. Determine Miles Per Hour by driving the sprayer through a 200-foot course.