Crop protection ::Plant protection equipments :: Introduction

• Sprayer should be well maintained

during the spraying season.
• Checking and preparation should
commence well before the beginning of
the season.
• It is of paramount importance to clean
both inside and outside of sprayer after
each day’s work, even if the same
chemical is being used the next day.
Sprayer should be lubricated thoroughly
and regularly, especially all moving
parts, before starting the work.
• No matter how well the sprayer is
designed and equipped, even if it is
new, all sprayers wear out and
deteriorate.
• All parts should be inspected. Worn out,
broken and damaged parts should be
replaced.
• These costs are nominal, compared with
the value of the chemicals to be used.
The nozzle is the most neglected,
precision component of sprayer.

• If nozzle is worn out and delivers a 10 % overdose, chemical wastage in a couple of

hours would cover the cost of a new one.
• A detailed instruction book giving simple advice and illustrated drawing of
component and assemblies are provided with each new sprayer.
• To avoid guess work and waste of time, it is necessary to specify correct name and
code number of the part specified in the manual. Parts that are likely to be needed
should be kept in stock.
• Extra time should be devoted to the sprayer at the end of the spraying season, before
it is kept in the store.
• Sprayer should be cleaned thoroughly, since residual chemical if left over for several
months will corrode parts of sprayer. Filters and Nozzles should also be cleaned
thoroughly.
• Corroded parts should be painted. The pump should be greased and operating /
moving parts should be well oiled.

Crop protection ::Plant protection equipments :: Classification

• Pests and disease incident on the crops / plants are to be overcome by the application of
poisonous chemicals.
• As the technology advances and newer crop varieties are introduced newer insects, pests and
diseases are also growing up and methods are deviced to control them.
• Many chemicals used for plant protection cannot be handled by human operators directly.
 • Also, that needs to be applied in fine particles.
• This necessitates the use of suitable machines.

Sprayers

• The Sprayer is one which atomises the spray fluid (which may be a suspension, an emulsion
or a solution) into a small droplets and eject it with little force for distributing it properly.
• It also regulates the amount of pesticide to avoid excessive application that might prove
wasteful or harmful.
• The mechanical appliances that are used for distributing the dust formulations of pesticides
are called as dusters.

Types of sprayers

• Sprayers are classified into four categories on the basis of energy employed to atomise and
eject the spray fluid as
• hydraulic energy sprayer
• gaseous energy sprayer
• centrifugal energy sprayer and,
• kinetic energy sprayer

Hydraulic energy sprayer

• Hydraulic Energy Sprayer is one which the spray fluid is pressurised either directly by using a
positive displacement pump or by using an air pump to build the air pressure above the spray
fluid in the air tight container.
• The pressurized fluid is then forced through the spray lance, which controls the spray quantity
and pattern.

Gaseous energy sprayer

• In Gaseous Energy Sprayer high velocity air stream is generated by a blower and directed
through a pipe at the end of which the spray fluid will be allowed to trickle by the action of
gravity through a diffuser plate.

Centreifugal energy sprayer

• In the Centrifugal Energy Sprayer the spray fluid fed under low pressure at the centre of a high
speed rotating device (Such as flat, concave or convex disc a wiremesh cage or bucket, a
perforate sieve or cylinder or a brush) is atomised by centrifugal force as it leaves the periphery
of the atomiser.
• The droplets are carried by the air stream generated by the blower of the sprayer or by the
prevailing wind, if the sprayer is not provided with a fan.

Kinetic energy sprayer

• In Kinetic Energy Sprayer the spray fluid flows by gravity to a vibrating or oscillating nozzle
which produces a coarse fan shaped spray pattern.
• This is used for application of herbicides.

Types of sprayers

• Depending on the source of power it can be classified as manually operated and power
operated dusters.
 • The manually operated dusters are (i) package duster (ii) plunger duster (iii) bellow duster and
(iv) rotary duster.

(i) Package dusters

• In some pesticide dusts are packed in containers that serve as a hand applicators and may
be discard after use.
• They are mostly provided with rubber, leather or plastic section which, on getting squeezed,
provides a puff of air that emits the dust in a small cloud.
• The simplest type of package duster is worked by pressing it between the fingers.

(ii) Plunger dusters

• The consists of an air pump of the simple plunger type, a dust chamber, and a discharge
assembly consisting of a straight tube or a small exit pipe whose discharge outlet can be
increased or decreased by moving a lid provided at the end of the dust chamber.
• The air from the pump is directed through a tube into the container where it agitates the dust
and eject it from a discharge orifice or tube.
• The amount of dust can be controlled by the speed of the operation of the pump.
• These are useful for spot application in restricted areas and for controlling ants, poultry pest
and pest of farm animals.

(iii) Bellow duster

• In the below may be made from rubber, leather or plastic.

• On squeezing, it puffs the air that expels the dust in a small cloud.
• Hand held bellow duster has containers of capacity from 30 g to 500 g.
• The bellows can be operated either directly by hand or by handle provided for that purpose.
• The knapsack duster has the container capacity of 2.5 to 5.0 kg.
• The air blast developed by the bellow draws the dust from the hopper and discharges through
the delivery spout intermittently.
• These dusters are suitable for spot treatments.

(iv) Rotary duster

• A consists basically of a blower complete with a gear box and a hopper. It is operated by
rotating the crank.
• The cranking motion is transmitted through the gear box to the blower.
• A drive is taken for the dust agitator located in the hopper.
• The rotary duster may be hand carried type or shoulder mounted or belly carried type.
• The feed is controlled by a feed control lever, which operates a slide to control the aperture at
the bottom of the hopper.

Some of the recommendation of WHO (1974) for this duster are

• The sheet hopper should not be less than 0.63 mm thick.

• The concave bottom of the hopper permits all the dust to move towards the feeding aperture.
• The fan should be capable of displacing 0.84 m3 of air per minute at a speed of 35 rpm.

(v) Power dusters

 • The resemble the rotary duster is construction, except that
the power to drive the blower through the gear box is tapped
from an external power source which may be an engine or
P.T.O. shaft of the tractor or flywheel of the power tiller.
• The power operated centrifugal energy knapsack sprayer
also can be converted into a power duster, by allowing the
dust fluid into the air stream, near the point of attaching the
pleated hose, in the blower elbow.

Uses of spraying and dusting equipments

• The spraying and dusting equipments are used for the following purposes
• For the insecticides application to control insect pests on crops and in stores, houses, kitchen,
poultry farms, barns, etc.
• For the insecticides application to control insect pests on crops and in stores, houses, kitchens,
poultry farms, barns, etc.
• For the acarices application to control phytophagous mites.
• For the fungicides and bactericides application to control the plant diseases.
• For the herbicides application, to kill the weeds.
• For the harmone sprays application to increase the fruit set or to prevent the premature
dropping of fruits.
• For the application of plant nutrients as foliar spray.
• For applying the powdery formulation of poisonous chemicals on the crops and for any other
purposes.

Hand sprayer

• The hand sprayer is a small, light and compact unit.

• The capacity of the container varies from 500 to 1000 ml.
• This is generally used for spraying small areas like kitchen garden
and experimental laboratory plots.
• It is a hydraulic energy sprayer.
• It has a hydraulic pump inside the container, with cylinder, plunger
and a plunger rod.
• By operating the plunger up, the spray fluid in the container is
sucked into the cylinder through a ball valve assembly and then
pressurised during the downward stroke.

• The pressurised fluid is then let out through a nozzle, and sprayed into fine droplets.
• If the pressure to be built inside the container an air pump with cylinder, plunge and plunger
rod is required.
• When the plunger is pulled up, the air is sucked into the cylinder and when pushed down the
air bubble is releases into the container with 80% of its volume filled with the fluid.
• The air reaches the space above the free fluid surface and presses the fluid.
• The pressurised fluid is drawn up through a trigger cut of valve to the nozzle, where is atomized
and sprayed.
• In some other type, air pump and the container are separate pieces and the pump is attached
to the container is such a way to release the pressurised air through an orifice at the top of the
container.
• The fluid is lifted through an office at the top of the container.
 • The fluid is lifted through a capillary tube due to surface tension developed by the high velocity
air at the outlet and sheared away by the air and sprayed as droplets.

Knapsack sprayer

• Any sprayer which is carried on the back of the operator is

called a knapsack sprayer.
• The commonly used manually operated knapsack sprayer will
have one hydraulic pump working inside the container.
• The plunger works inside the replacement well attached at the
bottom of the container, for easier maintenance.
• The pump can be operated through the appropriate linkages
by oscillating the handle, with the sprayer carried on the back.

• An agitator is also provided with the pressure chamber to agitate the fluid so that the particles
in suspension will not be allowed to settle down.
• A delivery tube is attached on the other end of the pump which carries the pressurises fluid to
the spray lance.
• The flow to the nozzle is controlled by a trigger cut-off valve.
• In the case of compression knapsack sprayer, an air pump is used to build air pressure above
the free surface of the spray fluid in the container and normally the pumping of the air will be
done by keeping the unit on ground and then sprayed til the air pressure comes down.
• The unit is again brought back to the ground for pumping air and then the spraying is contained
as before.
• The spray fluid, which does not enquire any agitation only can be sprayed by using this type
of sprayers.

Rocker sprayer
 • The rocking sprayer has a pump assembly, fixed on a wooden
platform with an operating lever, a valve assembly with two ball
valves, a pressure chamber, suction hose with strainer, and
delivery hose with spray lance.
• When the plunger is pulled behind by pulling the lever way from
the pump, the spray fluid from the container is sucked through the
strainer and pushes the bottom ball valve above and enters the
pump.
• The movement of the lower ball valve is arrested by the upper
valve seat.
• When the lever is pushed towards the pump, the sucked fluid is
forced to enter the pressure chamber by opening the upper ball
valve.

• The operation is continued till the entire suction pipe, ball valve assembly, delivery hose and
a portion of pressure vessel is fitted with spray fluid and the pump operator finds it difficult to
push the piston forward, due to the downward pressure developed by the entrapped
compressed air in the pressure vessel.
• Thereafter, the trigger cut off valve will be opened to allow the spray fluid to rush through the
nozzle and get atomized.
• Usually 14 to 18 kg/cm2 pressure can be built in the pressure chamber and hence can be
conveniently used for free spraying.

Bucket sprayer

• The bucket sprayer is designed to pump the spray fluid directly from,
the open container, usually a bucket.
• The hydraulic pump will be put inside the bucked and held properly
with the help of foot rest.
• As the plunger is pulled up, the fluid enters through the suction ball
valve assembly and when the plunger is pressed down, the suction
valve closes and the fluid enters the pressure chamber through a ball
valve assembly.
• As the plunger is continuously worked, pressure is built in the pressure
chamber and the delivery hose.
• As soon as the required pressure is built up, the spraying will be done.
• A pressure of 4 kg / cm2 is developed in most of the models.

Foot sprayer
 • This is a modified version of rocker sprayer.
• The pump is fixed in a vertical position with necessary braces.
• The plunger moves up and down when operated by the pedal.
• A ball valve is provided in the plunger assembly itself to allow
the fluid to cross the plunger and getting pressurized in the
pressure vessel.
• During the upward motion of the piston fluid is sucked in and
pressurized into the pressure vessel and during downward
movement, the sucked fluid crosses the plungers and enter the
pump.
• The pressure developed is about 17-21 kg/cm2.

Power sprayer

• All the sprayers which impart the mechanical energy developed

by an I.C. Engine, on the spray fluid before spraying is called as
a power sprayer.
• The most commonly used type of power sprayer in India is a
gaseous energy type knapsack sprayer.
• In construction, it has a back pack stand on which a blower with
a S.I.
• Engine of 1.2 to 3 hp capacity, the spray fluid tank and the petrol
tank are fixed rigidly.
• A pleated hose is attached to the blower elbow to carry the high
velocity air and at the end of that a shear nozzle is fixed to allow
the spray fluid to trickle in from the spray fluid storage tank, with
a valve control.

• From the top of the blower casing, an air hose is taken into the spray fluid tank, which carries
little quantum of air to press the spray fluid during operation.
• In operation, the engine is started by keeping the unit on the ground and then carried by the
operator.
• The blower sucks the air behind the backrest and forces it into the pleated hose.
 • The valve of the shear nozzle is opened or the shear nozzle with selective opening and
discharged through the nozzle.
• The high velocity air shears off the droplets and atomizes by the impact of diffuse and delivers
it on the plant the surface.
• An air current of 2.7 to 9.1 m2 / minute is delivered at a velocity of 175 to 320 kmph.
• The spray fluid tank capacity varies from 7 to 12 litres.
• The fuel tank capacity varies from 0.75 to 2.25 litres.
• The spray fluid discharge can be varied from 0.5 to 5 lit / minute.

A power sprayer can be used as a power duster by making the following changes.

• Chemical filler cap is removed to dismantle that strainer with the air pipe.
• The liquid delivery pipe below the chemical tank is dismantled and removed with the shear
nozzle.
• The tank is thoroughly cleaned to remove possible traces of moisture left inside.
• The dust agitator tube is fixed at the bottom of the chemical tank.
• This tube has holes at the bottom to prevent the entry of dust into the agitator and clogging it.
• Dust intake tube is inserted into the chemical tank at the discharge and this tube has no. of
large size holes on its periphery.
• Dust intake tube and the blower elbow are connected by using the dust outlet pipe, which is a
pleated hose.

Battery or ULV sprayer

• ULV sprayer was invented as a result of the desire to reduce

the quantum of chemical carried by the man for application and
to eliminate the water as a medium to carry the chemicals.

The basic requirements of ULV spraying are

• The narrow and controllable droplet spectrum (100-250 µm for

fine sprayers, 50-100 µm for mist sprayers and 0.1 to 50 µm
for aerosols)
• The accurately controllable emission rate and
• The non-volatile pesticide formulation of suitable viscosity
and density.

• The reduction in volume of the spray fluid decreases the time spent in travelling to recharge
sprayer, in fetching water, in mixing the pesticide and filling the tank. In a day of 8 hour about
8 ha can be covered in ULV spraying against 3 ha with power sprayer.
• A battery operated ULV sprayer has a long handle at the horse power D.C. motor is fitted with
a spinning disc and a cover.
• A HDPE bottle is fixed close to the motor, in such a way that spray fluid is allowed to trickle at
the centre of the spinning disc in operation.
• Centrifugal energy imparted fluid comes out of the nozzle and atomizes.
• The hand held ULV applicators are so designed to release the spray droplets at 1 m away
from the body of the operator.
• Further, it is recommended that they should be operated only when the spray cloud would be
blown away from him by the breeze so as to minimize the risk of contamination.
• After spraying, the atomizer must be flushed with paraffin to remove the residual pesticide.
• Inefficient cleaning would leave the pesticide deposit in the feeder stem to completely of
partially block the flow of the pesticide.
Power sprayer operated suction trap

• This consists of a metal elbow matching the suction opening and the blower and the outer
diameter of the pleated hose.
• This unit is closely fitted with the blower suction opening with the help of an extension frame
work identical to the back pack stand.
• To the pleated hose attachment opening of the elbow a pleated hose is attached rigidly.
• In between the two pleated hoses a screen, an insect collector and valve to control the size of
the opening are provided in a Tee section.
• In operation the low pressure created at the blower inside is transmitted through the below
and pleated hose which helps in sucking the lighter objects like insects and dust from a
distance of 0.5 to 1.0 m away from it.
• The sucked insect of dust will be filtered by the screen and dropped into the collection bowl.

1. Drain off any liquid still in the tank.

2. Add 1 kg of washing soda per 45 litres of water, which will serve as a cleaning [Link]
this liquid through the nozzle on waste land.
3. Add fresh water in the tank and spray with and then without nozzle on the waste land.
4. Wash the outside of the [Link] the nozzle and filters and store safety after cleaning.
5. Ensure the absence of water in the pump and lubricate the parts.

Crop protection ::Plant protection equipments :: Types of nozzles

Nozzle

• The nozzle performs four basic functions

• Atomizes liquid into droplets.
• Disperses the droplets in a specific pattern.
• Meters liquid at a certain flow rate.
• Provides hydraulic momentum.

The Nozzle Tip is one of the most important and least expensive part of a spraying system.
Adjustable nozzle

• Most suitable for spraying targets which are not within the reach of a man.
• Gives a wide angle hollow cone to a straight solid stream that is, it gives a jet to a cone type
of spray pattern.
• Difficult to calibrate as the flow and droplet sizes vary widely with the nozzle angle.

Double swirl spray nozzle

• Used for spraying in two different directions simultaneously.

• Nozzles can be fitted with different types of tips like hollow cone, solid cone or flat fan.
• Suitable for high volume applications
• The shape and size of Nozzle Tip orifice controls the spray angel, discharge rate and spray
pattern. Spray angle influences the swath of a spray.
• And also:-Droplet size increases as orifice size increases (for any given pressure). Droplet
size decreases with an increase in fan angle (for any given nozzle size and pressure). When
it is desired to spray with more than one nozzle with the help of a spray rig or a spray boom,
care should be taken in mounting to avoid overlapping or [Link] causes double dose
Higher dose is harmful to crop Gap leaves untreated area Poor biological efficacy

Selecting a spray nozzle

 • The proper selection and use of spray nozzle is the most important part of pesticide
application.
• The nozzle determines the amount of spray that is generated over a given area, the uniformity
of the spray produced, the coverage obtained and the amount of drift that occurs.
• The nozzle selected must optimize coverage application rate and pressure and minimize loss
through drift. For each kind of application, dependent upto the physical conditions prevailing,
a different nozzle design is available.
• Nozzle tips are usually available in brass, stainless steel, and engineering plastic. Steel tips
are most resistant to corrosion and abrasion.
• Brass tips are very commonly used, but ear out more easily and can be corroded by some
chemicals. Engineering plastic is likely to become the most serviceable material for spray
nozzles, being highly resistant to wear-and-tear and corrosion.

Hollow cone nozzles-Disc and core type

• These are used primarily where plant foliage penetration is

essential for effective insect and disease control, and where
drift is not a major consideration.

• At pressures of 40 – 8- psi hollow cone nozzles give

excellent spray coverage to the undersides of reduces
penetration correspondingly.

Flat fan nozzles

• These are used largely for broadcast spraying, where foliar

penetration and coverage are not essential.
• The best operating pressure for flat fan nozzles is 15 – 30
psi, which produce coarser droplets that are not susceptible
to drift.

Floodjet nozzles

• These are ideal for high application rates and speeds, because
they produce a wide-angle, flat fan pattern.
• Operating flood-jet nozzles at 5-25 psi minimizes drift, but
pressure changes critically affect the width of the spray
pattern.
• Generally, the spray generated by the floodjet is not as
uniform as the flat-fan type.
Adjustable nozzles

• This model is capable of producing a cone spray in various angles, and also a solid or broken
jet spray.

Single swivel nozzles

• Here the joint of the nozzle and extension rod is capable of

swiveling without leakage, it can be locked for use at any
angle between 0 – 180 degrees.

Double swivel nozzles

• This has two swivel nozzles instead of one, capable of

independent movement.

Double fixed nozzles

• Double fixed nozzles are fixed on the ‘U’ bend, which is, in
turn, coupled with the end of a straight extension rod.
• NOTE: Single swivel, double swivel and double fixed
nozzles come in both cones-spray and flat fan varieties.

Spray boom

• This design consists of several nozzles mounted on a rod,

ideally suited to row crops, and can be operated with foot /
rocker / knapsack / power operated sprayers.

Spray guns

• Spray guns consist of cut-of-value extension rod and nozzle

and can be trigger or hand-operated.
• The spray pattern is adjustable from solid jet to hollow cone,
and are most widely used for tall trees.

Cut-off Valves

• These can be spring-activated (trigger control) or operated by means of a simple knob or trap.
• A strainer can be built into the control valve handle, and in the trigger type a pressure
regulating device can also be incorporated.

Every sprayer should have

 • A discharge Line consisting of a delivery hose with couplings and a spray lance.

Every Spray Lance must have

• A cut-off valve
• An extension rod-straight or goose-neck
• An appropriate nozzle

Extension Rod

• Comes in varying lengths, according to customer requirements but lengths longer than 90 cms
are difficult to handle.
• For tree spraying, bamboo lances i.e. brass tubes inserted into a hollow bamboo are
recommended.
• The larger diameter of the bamboo helps to off-set the length of the lance (up to 2.5 meters,
making it easier to handle).

Crop protection :: Plant Protection Equipments :: Working Principle

Working principle of spray equipment

• Conversion of spray liquid into droplets is achieved using some form of energies.
• Various forms of kinetic energies such as hydraulic, gaseous and centrifugal are utilized in
this process.
• The type of sprayer and nozzles or atomizers can be classified according to the energy
used.

Hydraulic Energy

• A reciprocrating pump operated mechanically by a

lever. Pressurised by compression.

• This pressure forces the liquid out of nozzle in the

form of spray particles.

Gaseous energy

• A blower generates high wind velocity air. A liquid or dust is

fed into air stream to be carried to the target.

Centrifugal energy
 • A high speed spinning disc (flat, concave or cage or
perforated cylinder atomizes the spray liquid to fine droplets.

Spray Volume

• Theoretically speaking if ideal droplet diameter and the

desirable droplet density are known, the minimum volume of
pesticide spray per unit area can be calculated. Such a
calculation of optimum droplet density is difficult because
the effectiveness of the droplet is dependent on many other
factors.

However, the following broad indications can serve a general guideline:

• 5-10 droplets/cm2 – for translocated herbicides.

• 20 droplets/cm2 – for most insecticides and systemic fungi-cides.
• 50-70 droplets/cm2 – for non systemic fungicides
• In case of insecticides, to achieve satisfactory biological efficacy atleast 20 droplets are
required per square centimeter irrespective of their size.
• To achieve effifient deposition a narrower droplet spectrum is needed to minimize losses
caused by the droplets which are larger than 300 microns and also which are smaller than
100 microns.
• Most wastage of pesticide is undoubtedly due to the largest droplets which have high
terminal velocity and fall rapidly.
• Even if large droplets fall on target they are liable to bounce off.
• A 400 micron droplet will contain 1000 times the dose to a 40 micron droplet. If this is not
retained on the target there will be considerable wastage.
• In actual practice, spray volume applied is always more than the value obtained from the
theoretical calculation, the reasons being the loss of spray volume due to drip and drift, the
deposition of spray on non-target areas and also due to erratic distribution of droplets on
target surfaces.

Spraying efficiency can be represented as follows:

Spraying efficiency (%) = Minimum spray volume required X 100%

Actual spray volume applied
Spray Application Area

• The target infested by an insect, pest, disease or weed needs to be sprayed.

• Generally the spray application area differs from the land area except in the case where pre-
sowing treatment is required on soil where land area equals the area to be sprayed.
• The area required to be sprayed varies with the distance between the rows of plants,
distance between the plants in the same row and growth of the crop.
• This is being illustrated diagrammatically.

Spray calibration

• In order to ensure uniform application of pesticide on crops, it is essential to carry out

sprayer calibration exercise before undertaking actual spraying work. Required spray volume
can also be marked out by sprayer calibration.
• The spray volume can be found out theoretically by using formula.
 • However, practical method known as Area/Volume (Volume used on marked area) is easier
for a normal farmer to follow.

Application Rate in Litre per Acre or Hectare = Plot Area X Spray Volume used for marked area
. Marked Area

Spray droplets

• Pesticides are mostly applied on the target in the form of spray droplets. Droplets produced
by hydraulic nozzle are not uniform in size.
• Sprays contain both fine and coarse droplets. They are defined in term of their diameter and
density on the target.

Coarse Droplets

• Narrow swath
• Less under leaf coverage
• More spray volume is required
• Particles coalesce and run off
• Poor penetration into the crop
• Less loss due to wind, thermal current.
• Poor biological efficacy
• Spray pattern like rain.

Fine Droplets

• Wider swath
• More under leaf coverage
• Less spray volume is required
• Particles do not coalesce and run off
• Good penetration into the crop
• More loss due to wind, thermal current
• Good biological efficacy
• Spray pattern like mist

• To understand how spray application equipment delivers pesticides to a target, it is

necessary to know a little about the physical properties and behaviour of droplets.
• Droplet size and density (number of droplets per unit area of target) are two important factors
for effective spraying.
• Knowledge of droplet diameter and density is important for efficient use of pesticides.
• The droplets diameter of a given spray can be measured as the median of either the volume
or number of droplets.

The Volume Median Diameter

 • The Volume Median Diameter (VMD) is defined as that droplet diameter which divides the
volume of spray into two equal parts i.e. the volume of spray with droplets of a diameter less
then VMD equals the volume of droplets with a diameter greater than the VMD.

The Number Median Diameter (NMD)

• The Number Median Diameter (NMD) is the droplet diameter where the number of droplets
above the NMD is equal to the number of droplets below the NMD.
• The NMD is usually smaller than the VMD because most pesticide sprays usually contain a
large number of very small droplets.
• The VMD is affected by relatively few large droplets whereas the NMD is more influenced by
small droplets.
• The more uniform the size of droplets, the closer the ratio of VMD and NMD approaches.
• In a normal course, the spray droplets are in a spherical shape.
• To understand the mathematical logic and for simplicity in calculations the droplets may be
considered in the shape of a cube and not a sphere.
• Imagine that the ideal spraying has been carried out which has produced all droplets of
same size in cube shape having all sides of equal dimensions say 2 mm.
• The volume of a droplet is the sum arrived at after multiplication of length, breadth and
height i.e. a cubic relation.
• If the droplet size is reduced from 2 mm to 1 mm, number of droplets produced will increase
by 8 times from the same volume.
• The area occupied by the droplets is the sum arrived at after multiplying length and breadth
i.e. a square relation.
• Similarly when the size of a droplet is reduced the contact area of droplets on the target
increases.
• Thus by reducing the droplet size from 2 mm3 to 1 mm3, double contact area can be
achieved from the same amount of spray volume.
• Conclusively, if the droplet size is reduced from 2 mm3 to 1 mm3 in other words by a factor
of two, from the same volume of pesticide:
• Eight times more droplets can be produced. This means number of droplets increase by the
cube of the factor of size reduction.
• Double contact area of droplets on targets can be achieved. This means the contact area
increases by the same factor of size reduction.
• Spray droplets density will be eight, time more, in other words, it increases by the cube of the
factor of size reduction.

Optimum Droplet Size

• Optimum droplet size for application of pesticide are generally specified within a range of
droplet diameter.
• More precise definition of optimum droplet size in application of pesticide on Agricultural
Pests may not be possible, due to biological complexity of target.
• Besides this, the fate of droplets from the time of their formation by a nozzle until their
deposition onto a target is influenced by several factors such as:
• Velocity of droplet ejection
• Gravitational force
• Wind velocity
• Air Turbulence caused by thermal movement
• Volatility of the spray liquid and
• Characteristics of target surface
• Droplet size is most important for efficient application with minimum contamination of
environment. A 500 micron droplet will contain 1000 times the Lethal dose of a 50 micron
droplet. To reduce wastage, narrow range of droplet spectrum is essential.
 • Coarse droplets are largely influenced by gravitational force and relatively unaffected by
turbulence. Fine droplets will be influenced by wind and turbulence and have a tendency to
drift.

Target Droplet sizes

(Microns)
Flying Insects 10-50
Insects on foliage 30-50
Foliage 40-100
Soil application (avoidance to 250-500
drift)

• Different spraying techniques like High Volume (HV), Low Volume (LV) and Ultra Low
Volume (ULV) are most commonly used.
• In these spraying techniques a range of droplets is produced as shown in the diagram.
• Droplet sizes more than 300 microns are lost by drip whereas the droplet sizes less than 100
microns are lost by drift.
• Loss of spray by drip and drift are more prominent in HV and ULV spraying technique
respectively.

Leaf Area Index (LAI)

• The target leaf area requiring treatment may be much greater than the ground area. The
Leaf Area Index (LAI) is the ratio of Leaf Area to Ground Area.

Leaf Area Index (LAI) = Leaf Area

Ground Area

• It will vary with different crops according to the plant growth.

• The LAI ratio seldom exceeds about 6 – 7 depending upon the crop.
• This is the reason why per acre requirement of water in a spray solution varies from crop to
crop depending upon the total leaf area to be covered.
• The total leaf area required to be covered with droplets depends upon the actual pest i.e.
whether it is the leaf of a weed, a highly mobile foliage insect or non-mobile fungus infection
on the leaf and the mode of action of the pesticides.

Theoretical droplet density from 1 litre of pesticide sprayed over 1 hectare (assuming even
distribution and no loss onto non-target surfaces)

Droplet Droplet density per cm2 at LAI values 1-7*

diameter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
10 19,100 9,550 6,364 4,773 3,818 3,182 2,717
20 2,380 1,190 795 596 477 398 341
50 153 77 51 38 31 26 22
100 19 9.5 6 5 4 3.2 2.7
200 2.4 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3
400 0.3 0.15 0.1 0.08 0.06 0.05 0.04

* If both upper and lower surfaces are considered, the droplet density per cm2 dhould be halved.
 • To demonstrate the relationships between droplet diameter, droplet density, LAI and spray
volume it is assumed that all droplets are of one size, distribution on the target is uniform and
that no loss of pesticide occurs on non-target surface. In practice, of course, this is never
achieved.

Plant protection equipments :: Types of appliances & application technique

Type of appliances

• Pesticides are available in various forms.

• Application Equipment are designed according to the types of formulations to be sprayed.
• Application Equipment are available in a variety of sizes ranging from small to big keeping in
view the application capacity and the source of energy.
• These application equipment may be either manually or power operated.
• They can be further classified into moveable and protable appliances.
• By ‘Moveable’ is meant that which can be moved around on wheels or lifted by two or more
persons.
• ‘Portable’ means equipment which can be carried by one person.

Selection of appliance

• Purchase of pesticide appliance is a long term investment. One needs to keep in mind the
type of job one wants to handle and check the appliance for the following
1. Suitability for the job
2. Ease of operation and maintenance
3. Good performance
4. Good serviceability
5. Easy availability of spare parts
6. Reasonable cost

Selection of equipment

• The wise farmer will use the following check-list when selecting his sprayer or duster:
• Carefully check the quality of all the raw material used in the equipment.
• Check welded joints and seams, and examine moving parts for smoothness and finish.
• Make sure detachable parts fit securely and are easy to assemble and take apart.
• Do not be put off by higher price – it usually means superior quality. Ensure that you get the
equipment most suitable for the job you wish to do.
• Select the Nozzle most suited for your purpose. Test the nozzle for discharge rate and
degree of spray angle.
• Ask for the equipment to be demonstrated and make sure you understand completely how it
works, before buying it.
• Check availability of parts and after-sales service. Always purchase genuine spare parts,
preferably from the manufacturer’s authorized dealer or stockist.

Application Technique

• Spray Volume : Depending upon the volume of spray required per hectare the application is
categorized

HV : High Volume = More than 150 l/ha.

• Suitable for insecticides, fungicides, herbicides.

 • Can be done woth knapsack sprayers, tractor mounted sprayers.

LV : Low Volume = Approx. 10-150 l/ha.

• Suitable for insecticides, fungicides.

• Can be done with motorized knapsack sprayer, air craft, (in other countries) low r.p.m.
Spinning Disc Appliances are also used.
• Various equipment and techniques being used in last three decades are shown
diagrammatically alongside.

ULV : Ultra Low Volume = Approx. 1-5 l/ha.

• Suitable for insecticides.

• Can be done with High r.p.m. spinning disc appliances, motorized knapsack sprayer fited
with special spinning disc with special spinning disc attachment and air craft.