Sprayer Nozzling Guide 7 December 2011

Transcription

1 Sprayer Nozzling Guide 7 December 2011 Introduction The bactericides and biological controls available for Psa-V disease-management require full canopy coverage to be effective. Spray deposit experiments on open spring 1 canopies have shown wellcalibrated and well-setup kiwifruit sprayers can deliver effective coverage and chemical dose. This is achieved by using either: conventional (dilute) spray volumes; or as two times concentrate sprays (which deliver the same amount of chemical/ha but in half the water volume) with the addition of super spreader adjuvants. Different growth stages of the vines (canopy densities) require different spray application volumes and sprayer calibration settings. This is to maximise the potential for the sprayer to evenly cover the canopy target. For optimal sprayer calibration, consideration must be given to the following. Sprayer configuration number of nozzle positions location of nozzle positions size of pump fan type, fan pitch, fan gears agitation system 2 Tractor capability gear options available engine speed options available to deliver required power take-off (PTO) speed potential for wheel slip Canopy configuration row spacing training method stage of growth density Spray target Where exactly does spray need to be delivered? What level of spray coverage is required? 1 Experimental confirmation of spray volumes required to achieve full coverage have not yet been undertaken on full season canopies post bloom. 2 Low volume concentrate spraying requires better agitation than traditional dilute spraying 1 Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc Sprayer Nozzling Guide, D Manktelow (FreshLearn), B May (SprayTec Ltd), 7 Dec 2011

2 This guide presents potential (theoretical) sprayer nozzle options for a range of: sprayer configurations (7,8 or10 nozzles/side) canopy configurations (pergola 3,4 and 5m row spacing and T-Bar 4.5-5m row spacing) application volumes (500,1000,1500 and 2000l/Ha). options are theoretical and based on a travel speed of 5km/hr. (Experience shows travel speeds of 4-6 km/hr allows most sprayers to achieve good coverage in most canopies). Users of this guide must: confirm sprayer speed and adjust the spraying pressure (upwards if speed increases and downwards if speed reduces); and/or nozzle options to ensure the sprayer is actually delivering what is expected. Sprayer calibration and calibration checks should be carried out. These require measurement of: travel speed (km/hr) row width (m) sprayer (l/min) as well as: operating pressures (kpa or Bar, or sometimes PSI) PTO speed and air settings As a minimum calibration check, users should confirm that the area covered per tank of spray, matches the expected application volume. This guide uses combinations of the following: Massotti Article 58 discs and cores; Spraying Systems D-series discs and cores; and Albuz ATR fine droplet ceramic hollow cone nozzles. Other brands of nozzles can be substituted. Refer to the nozzle comparison tables (Figure 1 and Figure 2) to determine options if switching between: fine droplet hollow cone nozzles (Figure 1); and disc and core cone nozzles (Figure 2). 2 Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc Sprayer Nozzling Guide, D Manktelow (FreshLearn), B May (SprayTec Ltd), 7 Dec 2011

3 comparison tables Figure 1 Comparative s between the three main types of fine droplet hollow cone nozzles available in New Zealand. Notes - Two different types of Tee Jet nozzles with different colour coding are now available in New Zealand. It is important not to confuse the TX-VK with TXA or TXB nozzles their s are very different. - These nozzles usually all have 80 o s. However, the HCI nozzles are also available with a 40 o. A 60 o ATR nozzle should be available in NZ from D series type nozzles Article 58 nozzles D series type nozzles Article 58 nozzles Ceramic disk and cores Ceramic tips + stainless steel cores Ceramic disk and cores Ceramic tips + stainless steel cores Outputs predicted at nozzle pressure = 1000 kpa Predicted Predicted Output Predicted Predicted Output 1 D Medium 14 D Medium M Medium 2 D Medium M1.0-nch 1.4 Wide 15 D Narrow M Narrow 3 D Medium 16 D Narrow M Narrow 4 D Narrow M1.2-nch 1.8 Wide 17 D Wide M Narrow 5 D Medium 18 M Narrow 6 D Narrow M Narrow 19 D Narrow M Medium 7 20 D Narrow 8 D Narrow 21 M Narrow 9 D Narrow M1.5-nch 2.4 Wide 22 M Narrow 10 D Medium 23 M Narrow 11 M Narrow 24 M Narrow 12 M1.8-nch 2.9 Wide 25 D Narrow M Narrow 13 D Medium 26 D Narrow Figure 2 Comparative s between the main types of disc and core cone nozzles available in New Zealand Notes - Outputs from Albuz and Teejet ceramic disc and core (D series) nozzles can vary. - Outputs from Teejet Article 58 ceramic tip and stainless steel core nozzles vary from the older Teejet stainless tip and brass core nozzles. - The recommendation is to use Spraying System or Albuz disc and core (D-series) nozzles in preference to the Article 58 disc and core nozzles commonly used on kiwifruit. - If sprayers are fitted with Article 58 nozzles, new adaptor nozzle caps will be needed to take the smaller disc and core nozzles. 3 Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc Sprayer Nozzling Guide, D Manktelow (FreshLearn), B May (SprayTec Ltd), 7 Dec 2011

4 Sprayer setup General notes on setting up sprayers are given under each of the headings below. Specific nozzling guides for a range of sprayer configurations are available in tables to be used with this document. position and orientation Generally the performance of fine droplet hollow cone nozzles is better than conventional discs and cores. Use disc and core nozzles where you need high volumes and/or narrower s. Failure to hit part of the target canopy is the most common fault in spray application. This is usually due to nozzle s not being evenly directed across the target canopy. Leader zones provide the biggest challenge (this area is the farthest away from the spray nozzle). Sprayer checks Fill your sprayer with water. For each row spacing and training system (including different pergola heights), park your sprayer in a representative row and identify which nozzle reliably targets the canopy. Adjust nozzle choice and orientation to make sure the spray is directed correctly (especially into the leader zone). Recheck the set-up under normal travel speeds with the fan running. This allows adjustments for fan deflection to be made. (A second person walking behind the sprayer will need to make these fine adjustments). When setting nozzle orientations always ensure the roll-over nozzle bodies correctly align with the indent setting. Turning the roll-over partway, may turn the nozzle off (unless the nozzle type accommodates multiple positions). Adjustment may require loosening of the nozzle body lock nuts and movement of the whole nozzle body. Check adjustments to nozzle orientations at least twice during the season as the canopy develops. Rule of thumb 1 Turn on as many nozzles as practical to target canopies on different row spacings. 2 If you have pergola canopies at different heights you may need to adjust nozzle orientations between blocks. 3 Check fine adjustments on nozzle orientations at least twice during the season as the canopy develops. 4 Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc Sprayer Nozzling Guide, D Manktelow (FreshLearn), B May (SprayTec Ltd), 7 Dec 2011

5 Sprayer fans and travel speeds Left-hand side (LHS) Downward dumping effect makes it harder for nozzles on the LHS to push spray up through the dumped air. Adjust nozzles up. Right-hand side (RHS) Upward twist on the air causes leaders on the right-hand row to be missed. Adjust nozzles down. Figure 3 Air blast sprayer applying a late dormant application but missing the leaders on the right hand row in this case because the sprayer was not driving in the row centre and because of the upward twist on the right-hand side air. Most sprayers fitted with rear-entry single axial fans, rotate counter clockwise and dump to the lefthand side of the sprayer (when looking from the rear Figure 3). This dumping effect is seen more with some types of fans than others (eg Exel and Pearce fans show a more pronounced dumping effect). s may have trouble pushing spray upwards through the dumped air. Generally, it is necessary to make fine adjustments to the nozzle s to compensate for fan twist adjust the down more on the right-hand side of the sprayer and up more on the left-hand side. The sprayer air s required are a function of: row spacing (wider spacings require more air as the spray has further to travel); canopy density; air form (for example an airblast sprayer requires different air settings from a Quantum Mist); and travel speed (faster travel requires more air ). Visually assess the sprayer performance to optimise sprayer air s. Too much air can damage leaves and shoots and deposits closest to the sprayer will be reduced. Air speeds over 12m/sec (>40 km/hr) will tend to blow spray droplets past the target. Spray projecting much more than one metre beyond the target on the upwind side will likely compromise average deposits. Aim for a spray plume that carries approximately one metre beyond and above the leaders on the upwind row. Seen as: puffs of spray through gaps in a full leaf canopy; or as a constant plume in a dormant canopy. Tractor speeds between km/hr give best results. Sprayer nozzles options for pergola canopies Adjust nozzle s and proportion of through each nozzle to match sprayer nozzle configuration (7, 8, 10 nozzles/side) canopy configuration (pergola 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5m row spacing. T-bar 4.5 5m spacing). 5 Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc Sprayer Nozzling Guide, D Manktelow (FreshLearn), B May (SprayTec Ltd), 7 Dec 2011

6 Sprayer nozzle options for pergola canopies Figure 4 Sprayer configuration for pergola canopies should be visually assessed to check overlap and ensure coverage out to the leader zone. Figure 5 Sprayer configuration for T-bar canopies should be visually assessed to ensure side curtains and leader zones each receive adequate coverage. General recommendations for s, and proportion of from different nozzles required for pergola canopies on different row spacings, are given in Tables 1, 2 or 3 for sprayers with 7, 8 or 10 possible nozzle options per side. Sprayers with greater numbers of nozzle options available provide the greatest flexibility and can deliver more reliable overlap than sprayers with fewer nozzle options. The use of more nozzles to deliver a given volume enables the use of lower nozzles. This tends to produce smaller spray droplet sizes. Smaller droplet sizes (ideally around 100 microns in diameter) generally provide better coverage and spray retention. 6 Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc Sprayer Nozzling Guide, D Manktelow (FreshLearn), B May (SprayTec Ltd), 7 Dec 2011

7 Table 1. s and proportion of recommended for pergola canopies on different row spacings 7 nozzle sprayer. nozzle # 5m row 4.5m row 4m row 3.5m row 3m row (1=top) 1 Wide 12 wide 12 wide 16 wide 16 wide 23 2 wide 16 wide 16 wide 21 wide 21 wide 32 3 medium 21 medium 21 medium 28 medium 28 medium 45 4 narrow 27 narrow 27 narrow 35 narrow 35 off 1 5 narrow 24 narrow 24 off off off 6 off off off off off 7 off off off off off 1 This nozzle may be required if so, use 3.5m recommendations. Table 2. s and proportion of recommended for pergola canopies on different row spacings 8 nozzle sprayer. nozzle # 5m row 4.5m row 4m row 3.5m row 3m row (1=top) 1 wide 9 wide 12 wide 12 wide 16 wide 16 2 wide 12 wide 16 wide 16 wide 21 wide 21 3 medium 15 medium 21 medium 21 medium 28 medium 28 4 medium 20 narrow 27 narrow 27 narrow 35 narrow 35 5 narrow 24 narrow 24 narrow 24 off off 6 narrow 20 off off off off 7 off off off off off 8 off off off off off Table 3. s and proportion of recommended for pergola canopies on different row spacings 10 nozzle sprayer. nozzle # 5m row 4.5m row 4m row 3.5m row 3m row (1=top) 1 wide 5 wide 8 wide 8 wide 8 wide 8 2 wide 7 wide 10 wide 10 wide 11 wide 11 3 wide 9 wide 12 wide 12 wide 15 wide 15 4 wide 11 medium 13 medium 13 medium 18 medium 18 5 medium 16 medium 17 medium 17 narrow 24 narrow 24 6 medium 16 narrow 20 narrow 20 narrow 24 narrow 24 7 narrow 18 narrow 20 narrow 20 off off 8 narrow 18 off off off off 9 off off off off off 10 off off off off off 7 Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc Sprayer Nozzling Guide, D Manktelow (FreshLearn), B May (SprayTec Ltd), 7 Dec 2011

8 Sprayer nozzle options for T-Bar canopies (and side curtains on pergolas) To achieve even coverage on T-Bar canopies it is necessary to direct some of the spray plume right through the canopy to hit the back sides of canes in the curtain across the row from the sprayer. It is generally necessary to turn off the top nozzles when spraying T-Bar canopies, as spray from these tends to be directed into the air above the canopy where it can be lost as drift. Canopy target zone for each nozzle is given in Table 4. Table 4. target zone, s and proportion of recommended for T-Bar canopies ( metre row spacings) for sprayers with 7, 8 or 10 nozzle options per side. # (1=top) target zone 7-nozzle Sprayer 8-nozzle Sprayer 10-nozzle Sprayer 1 off off 0 off 0 2 off 1 off 0 off 0 3 Adjacent canopy shoulder narrow 25 narrow 20 narrow 16 4 Leader medium 32 medium 25 medium 22 5 Opposite shoulder medium 25 medium 23 medium 22 6 Adjacent and far shoulder canes narrow 18 medium 20 medium 16 7 Adjacent and far shoulder canes off narrow 12 medium 12 8 Adjacent and far shoulder canes off narrow 12 9 Adjacent and far shoulder canes off 10 Adjacent and far shoulder canes off 1 This nozzle may be required with a wide to cover upright spring growth. Sprayer calibration and calibration checks To deliver your required litres per hectare, the mechanics of sprayer calibration requires you to confirm your: travel speed (km/hr); row width (m); and sprayer (l/min). Additional calibration checks require you confirm your: operating pressures (kpa or Bar usually, some people still work in PSI); and PTO speed and air settings. The Sprayer Nozzling Guides are theoretical calibrations. Wherever practical, you need to measure each of the above variables to confirm the sprayer is actually delivering what is expected. The minimum calibration check is to confirm the area covered per tank of spray matches the expected application volume. Operating pressures and pressure adjustments for different travel speeds It is possible to adjust sprayer operating pressures to achieve target litres per minute at different travel speeds. However, it is important to recognise increasing or decreasing pressure produces a relatively small change in nozzle s. The nozzling guides given in this document are for a travel speed of 5km/hr. Adjust pressures to maintain target s for speeds within plus or minus one kilometre per hour of this speed. As a rule of thumb, use nozzle pressure adjustments to maintain target sprayer volumes for speeds within plus or minus 20 per cent of the mid-range speed for a particular nozzling. 8 Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc Sprayer Nozzling Guide, D Manktelow (FreshLearn), B May (SprayTec Ltd), 7 Dec 2011

9 Monitoring sprayer performance Many variables affect spray application performance. The final check should be done using water applied to each type of canopy to be sprayed. Stand back from the stationary sprayer, preferably with the sun on the far side of the spray plume, and check that the from each nozzle is correctly directed towards the different parts of the target canopy. Small adjustments at this stage should avoid gaps or overlaps that would cause under or over-dosing. Get someone to drive the sprayer and watch how and where the spray plume moves. Confirm the spray plume reaches approximately one metre beyond the leader on the upwind side of the row. If not, slow spray speed or increase air. If the plume is pushing well beyond the leader and more than about two metres into the air above the sprayer, consider covering the fan with shade cloth to reduce the air. Check wetting and coverage on canes, leaves and/or fruit just after the sprayer has passed. Look for the following. Gaps in coverage on any surface. Points that appear to be over-sprayed (dripping wet). Adjust nozzle s as necessary. If coverage appears poor, consider dropping the travel speed and/or using a higher application volume and/or adjusting sprayer air s. Observe the sprayer interaction with your canopy, especially on the upwind side of the sprayer. Look for potential misses or gaps in coverage and adjust nozzles to reliably target the canopy. Assess coverage on target tissues water sensitive papers are an excellent feedback tool. For more information see This publication has been prepared based on information available at the time of publication which is inherently preliminary in nature and subject to change. No party, including without limitation, Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated, the New Zealand Government, Plant & Food Research and ZESPRI Group Limited, makes any warranty, representation or guarantee as to the accuracy and/or completeness of the information regarding Psa, potential treatments and/or best treatment practice, or any other material contained in this publication ( Published Material ) and none of those parties shall be liable to any person for any loss arising from that person s reliance on the Published Material and/or for any damages arising out of or connected with the use of the Published Material. No obligation is accepted or undertaken to update this or any other information or publicly released revisions to this document to reflect additional information, circumstances or changes in expectations which occur after the date of this document. Some of the Published Material may be subject to copyright and shall not be reproduced in any manner without first obtaining the written consent of Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated. 9 Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc Sprayer Nozzling Guide, D Manktelow (FreshLearn), B May (SprayTec Ltd), 7 Dec 2011