Technical
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Accurate application starts with correct sprayer set-up. All sprayers should be maintained and inspected to the National Sprayer Testing Scheme standard - from November, it will be a legal requirement
Tyres are built in shock-absorbers. Make sure they are even, and typically run at the lowest a pressure recommended for the weight
n effective Integrated Turf Management programme can minimise the potential damage, coupled to a proactive fungicide
programme to see turf safely through risk periods. But, to get the best results, attention to the ‘Art of Application’ can make a significant difference.
Check your sprayer first
Accurate application starts with correct sprayer set-up. All sprayers should be maintained and inspected to the National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS) standard - from November this year it will be a legal requirement. Furthermore, regular in-season inspection - including tyre pressure, hose condition, pressure regulation and nozzle condition etc. - could prevent problems or delays during applications.
Calibrate and calculate
Many operators are not comfortable or confident with sprayer calibration, but it should be a routine and simple process.
There’s a video to help you with sprayer calibration set-up and information on all the calculations required on the GreenCast website, or using the free Syngenta Turf App for smartphones.
The two-step process should look to check the spray nozzle output for any given speed and operating pressure, and to check consistent nozzle output across the spray boom.
Always check calibration using a measuring cylinder, not a measuring jug - you need to be accurate.
If any individual nozzle is showing a +/- 5% difference from the average, attributed to wear, the whole set should be replaced.
As a useful guide, you can check the accuracy of your forward speed during spraying using one of the GPS apps available for smartphones.
Set the right height
Most nozzles are designed to work best at a height of 50cm from the target - with limited flexibility. Too low and the spray pattern uniformity can be affected - typically seen as stripes following fertiliser or iron application; too high and spray drift quickly becomes a serious problem.
The Syngenta XC Nozzle also works best at 50cm, but is designed to give far greater flexibility. It will still deliver a consistently even spray pattern as low as 30cm, and far advanced spray drift control if the boom height rises. This is particularly important on undulating golf courses.
Easy to fit ‘Spray Nozzle Height Indicators’ give you a constant visual check on the boom height.
Remember, always measure from the target to nozzle tip, not the actual boom; on some amenity sprayers, that could be 10cm or more different.
Spraying winter greens is usually a consistent height, but remember for autumn applications of Rescue in rough, for example, the target grass leaves may be higher and the sprayer should be adjusted accordingly.
Get the right angle
Conventional flat fan nozzles tend to coat one side of a leaf with significantly more spray than the other; for winter contact fungicides, that could mean areas of leaf left unprotected. XC Nozzles are designed to deliver the spray pattern at an angle, set to compensate for the forward movement of the sprayer, to achieve better all-round coverage of a vertical leaf surfaces.
These nozzles should be inserted into international standard sprayer bayonets*, fitted onto the boom with the ‘Syngenta’ facing forwards - so the spray pattern is delivered rearwards.
*If you have a Hardi sprayer, a readily- available converter will be required to enable any industry standard nozzles - including XC Nozzles - to be used.
Select the right nozzle size
Part of the nozzle calibration process will include selecting the right size nozzle for the water volume required. Understanding the activity of the fungicide treatment being used can help fine-tune water volume requirements.
For purely contact winter fungicides, it is essential to get good coverage and retention on the leaf. High water volumes or large droplet sizes have the risk of overwetting the leaf and rolling off. Reduced water volumes and the XC Nozzle spray pattern can increase the
Check for any signs of oil leakage around hydraulic hoses and joints
Keeping the sprayer washed and clean - inside and out - makes it easier to check for potential problems
Ensure the sprayer is correctly set-up for even pressure and consistent application across the boom
Check spray line hoses for signs of abrasion, especially where booms fold, for example
PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 I 135
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