Spray Water Volumes

[solo]

I’m doing 10k. That’s enough without suspension for me….. and for my reaction time approaching poles.

If you change nozzles to 03 bear in mind you may well be spending the time saving cleaning nozzles instead. I went from 03 to 04 a couple of years ago and now hardly ever have to stop and clean nozzles in field. I just go faster for similar output. The job is more pleasant now.

 

[David.]

I did some glyphosate the other day at 7ha/1000litre load.
It felt very daring and cutting edge, I have to say.

 

[Steevo]

If you change nozzles to 03 bear in mind you may well be spending the time saving cleaning nozzles instead. I went from 03 to 04 a couple of years ago and now hardly ever have to stop and clean nozzles in field. I just go faster for similar output. The job is more pleasant now.

Did you change your pressure filter mesh when you dropped nozzle size?

 

[solo]

Did you change your pressure filter mesh when you dropped nozzle size?

No the pressure filter was original with the 03 nozzles. Nozzles didn’t block just fine specs distorting the spray pattern. The stainless steel water holding tank has to be pressure washed most years as scale builds on the tank sides. Toothbrush usually sorted them. Now on 04 and life improved

 

[Lothian]

If you change nozzles to 03 bear in mind you may well be spending the time saving cleaning nozzles instead. I went from 03 to 04 a couple of years ago and now hardly ever have to stop and clean nozzles in field. I just go faster for similar output. The job is more pleasant now.

Agreed, went from blue flat fans to red and amazing how many fewer blockages you get.

 

[Steevo]

No the pressure filter was original with the 03 nozzles. Nozzles didn’t block just fine specs distorting the spray pattern. The stainless steel water holding tank has to be pressure washed most years as scale builds on the tank sides. Toothbrush usually sorted them. Now on 04 and life improved

I always find the same this time of year after draining the sprayer down for winter. Any residue dries out and flakes off which then soon blocks the nozzles.

I'm on blues at the moment but this is making me think whether dropping the pressure filter mesh may help. I'm rather thinking that much of the trouble is in the spray lines as anywhere else and thus invisible.

Rest of the reason it's hunky dorey.

 

[solo]

I always find the same this time of year after draining the sprayer down for winter. Any residue dries out and flakes off which then soon blocks the nozzles.

I'm on blues at the moment but this is making me think whether dropping the pressure filter mesh may help. I'm rather thinking that much of the trouble is in the spray lines as anywhere else and thus invisible.

Rest of the reason it's hunky dorey.

I’ve already flushed the spray line settlement out and cleaned the nozzle bodies etc.
My bulk water tank is the one with what looks like salt crystals / fine scale flakes and needs washing out. Borehole water is hard here which is the source of the issue. Underground Rainwater tank is better but soon runs out.

 

[collywol]

When I used to spray I’d wash out after winter with milkstone remover, it dissolved anything in the lines, worked best with hot water, very rarely had blocked nozzles. Advantage of having cows, no real effort involved as washings went in the lagoon.

 

[warksfarmer]

Probably been discussed a million times but reviewing again to reduce overheads.
If I go down to 155 litres per ha instead of 200 I only need to visit each block of land once with my 2000 litre tank which is a big saving in time and clat factor.
Is 155 litres per ha adequate for fungicides etc rather than 200. Flat fans, 04, 2 barg, 10 kph.
I find 155 is very good for glyphosate but wonder if it’s enough for T2 fungicide etc.

Everything here at 200l and I think it allows us to use the older cheaper chemicals because we get better coverage.

 

[David.]

You will struggle to convince me 200L isn't better.
Maybe not as overall efficient, but surely better.

 

[SilliamWhale]

You will struggle to convince me 200L isn't better.
Maybe not as overall efficient, but surely better.

Why isn't 300 litres better than 200?

 

[David.]

It often is for grassland sprays and blight sprays where best coverage is required..

 

[ajd132]

In reality there is no work that actually says fungicides are better at anything over 100l. Even pre em residuals it is very meagre occasional results to suggest 200’ks better than 100. Far more important for those residuals is conditions and timeliness.

 

[Brisel]

100 l/ha is ok for a lot of spraying. It depends on the product, size and shape of the target, size of canopy and what you are trying to hit, droplet size, forward speed etc.

A blight spray that needs to coat all sides of a large canopy needs to have a decent volume of 300+ l/ha. Glyphosate works well at much lower volumes on a stronger concentration gradient. An eyespot fungicide at T1 will need to penetrate the canopy but an ear wash will not.

 

[alomy75]

All the trial work that goes into the data on typical cereal fungicide labels (rates etc) is done at 200 litres. Whenever I’ve asked the sponsor it usually boils down to ‘that’s the way they’ve always done it’! Having seen many trials at different water rates but also having my farmer hat on; I spray everything at 150 litres unless I’m making a tank fit. Forwards backwards nozzles are good but interestingly weren’t originally designed to do that; they were meant to face backwards to remove some of the forward speed from the droplets to aid penetration. Don’t forget guardian airs have a slight angle on them. I use the defy forwards backwards nozzle but they’re quite drifty (basically a flat fan). I use them for pre-ems. Guardian air for everything else.

 

[yellow belly]

used 100 l per ha for 30 odd years

sprayer with recirculation system helps reduce nozzel blockage but keeping sprayer clean and not letting it dry out on the inside

with an old sprayer i would use top at filters on each nozzle

using liquid fertiliser also keeps the inside clean
a few loads of roundup is also good at cleaning the inside

 

[Renaultman]

No the pressure filter was original with the 03 nozzles. Nozzles didn’t block just fine specs distorting the spray pattern. The stainless steel water holding tank has to be pressure washed most years as scale builds on the tank sides. Toothbrush usually sorted them. Now on 04 and life improved

I like my 035s comfortable at 150l but only have to slow down a bit for 200l. Normally do everything at 150 with defy or Guardian air nozzles but did pre Ems at 200 with defys this autumn as seedbeds were a bit cloddy and not rolled, must say I am very happy with the results.

 

[ollie989898]

Everything here at 200l and I think it allows us to use the older cheaper chemicals because we get better coverage.

I've had a few farmers say the same to me in the past. They were doing it because they thought the efficacy was better, not because they favoured any particular active over others.

I think more water volume really helps when you are trying to spray weeds out of grassland as you really do need the coverage for them. More water for residual chemistry also makes sense to me but I can't hand on heart say I've seen some massive benefit from where someone has done it.

I would say that you can tend to tell a steady and patient operator from someone in a rush though.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Surely you all read the labels on your chemicals in the mix and spray at the highest rate recommended as these are legal requirements

 

[alomy75]

Surely you all read the labels on your chemicals in the mix and spray at the highest rate recommended as these are legal requirements

Not necessarily…there’s all sorts of rules but it’s still legal IN SOME SITUATIONS to reduce water rates provided you reduce active rates too even if the label mentions a specific water rate.