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Vol. 17, No. 3
Article 6 of 7
March 16, 2007
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Sprayer Calibration's Link to Energy Conservation and Production By Bill Casady What holds 1000 gallons of fuel, 100,000 gallons of water and special materials with a value of $75,000 that protect your crop from competition by other species? The answer is that this is your sprayer in a two-pass program covering 2,500 acres. Put your own estimates to these figures, but no matter how you report the inputs, spraying accounts for a significant chunk of a crop budget with a very important purpose. What's on the line? The answer is 'the effi ciency of a field to convert soil resources and sunlight to what could be an energy crop'. Controlling weeds could be compared to cleaning the surface of a giant solar collector. Weeds also tie up valuable resources in the soil including water and nutrients. With so much on the line, uniform and precise placement of crop protection materials is a critical aspect of farming. The window of opportunity for good weed control is short and there is only room for the most effi cient and precise application of herbicides to get the job done right. Many are familiar with statistics on spraying and the potential payback of sprayer calibration on the front page of the March issue of Successful Farming 'The $1,875-per-hour payback'. Sprayer calibration has the potential to save not only materials, but the energy used to create them, as well as the bottom line. Sprayer calibration also has the potential to improve the effi ciency of energy production when the crops we grow are used to produce ethanol or biodiesel. When sprayer calibration improves weed control, then calibration increases the energy balance for ethanol or biodiesel production. Proper calibration techniques are very important for accurate calibration. Details are available in MU publication G1270 on the University of Missouri extension Website at http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/agengin/g01270.htm. Sprayer configuration and nozzle selection and maintenance should also be considered when performing sprayer calibration. It matters little how well other components are functioning if nozzles have not been properly selected or if they become worn or partially plugged. Replace old nozzles and carefully inspect individual spray patterns and flow rates to ensure that each nozzle is performing properly. As you protect sprayer performance through calibration, remember also to protect yourself and nearby vegetation by wearing personal protective equipment PPE) and by spraying only when conditions are right. Have a safe and productive and energy effi cient 2007.
Bill Casady |
