Application Equipment
Proper equipment selection and calibration are critical for effective, legal pesticide application. This topic covers sprayer types (boom, airblast, backpack, granular), nozzle selection and patterns, pressure settings, calibration methods (the 1/128th-acre method and the known-area method), and equipment maintenance and decontamination procedures.
Study Guide: Application Equipment
Review these sample questions before starting the practice test.
Q1: What is the purpose of calibrating spray equipment?
- A. To make the equipment look professional
- B. To ensure the correct amount of pesticide is applied per unit area â
- C. To increase the speed of application
- D. To reduce equipment weight
Calibration ensures that the sprayer delivers the correct amount of product per unit area as specified on the label. Without calibration, you risk under-application (poor pest control) or over-application (waste, environmental damage, and legal violation).
Q2: Which nozzle type produces the LARGEST droplets with the least drift potential?
- A. Hollow cone nozzle
- B. Air induction (venturi) nozzle â
- C. Fine mist nozzle
- D. Fog nozzle
Air induction (venturi) nozzles draw air into the spray solution, producing larger droplets that contain air bubbles. These larger, heavier droplets fall more quickly and are much less susceptible to drift than fine droplets.
Q3: A broadcast application means:
- A. Applying pesticide to a specific spot
- B. Applying pesticide uniformly over an entire area â
- C. Injecting pesticide into the soil
- D. Applying pesticide only to the base of plants
A broadcast application treats the entire area uniformly, such as spraying an entire field or lawn. This differs from spot treatments (targeted areas), band applications (strips), or directed applications (aimed at specific plant parts).
Q4: When calibrating a sprayer, what three factors determine the application rate?
- A. Color, smell, and texture of the pesticide
- B. Nozzle output, ground speed, and nozzle spacing (or effective spray width) â
- C. Tank size, hose length, and pump brand
- D. Air temperature, humidity, and cloud cover
Application rate (gallons per acre) is determined by nozzle output (gallons per minute), ground speed (mph), and effective spray width (nozzle spacing in inches). Changing any one of these factors changes the application rate.
Q5: What type of application involves sealing a structure and introducing a gas pesticide?
- A. Broadcast spraying
- B. Fumigation â
- C. Drip irrigation
- D. Mist blowing
Fumigation involves sealing an enclosed space (building, container, soil under tarps) and introducing a gaseous pesticide (fumigant). Fumigation is highly effective but extremely hazardous and typically restricted to certified applicators.
Q6: Increasing the spray pressure will generally:
- A. Produce larger droplets
- B. Produce smaller droplets and increase drift potential â
- C. Have no effect on droplet size
- D. Reduce the volume of spray
Higher spray pressure forces liquid through nozzle openings more forcefully, breaking the spray into finer (smaller) droplets. Smaller droplets are more prone to drift. Reducing pressure and using appropriate nozzles produces coarser sprays.
Q7: A "spot treatment" involves:
- A. Treating an entire field uniformly
- B. Applying pesticide to a specific, limited area where pests are present â
- C. Spraying from an airplane
- D. Applying granules over a large area
Spot treatments apply pesticide only to specific areas where pests are detected rather than treating the entire site. This targeted approach reduces overall pesticide use, minimizes environmental exposure, and is a key component of IPM.
Q8: A hydraulic (boom) sprayer uses what to create spray droplets?
- A. Compressed air
- B. Liquid pressure forced through nozzle tips â
- C. Heat evaporation
- D. Ultrasonic vibration
Hydraulic sprayers use a pump to pressurize the spray mixture, which is then forced through nozzle tips that break the liquid into droplets. Boom sprayers have multiple nozzles mounted on a horizontal boom for uniform coverage.
Ready to practice all 100 questions? Start the interactive quiz below.