Introduction:
If there is one part of your sprayer that could quite possibly change the whole success narrative of your objective chore, it would be the nozzle. It may seem like a small, cheap, and insignificant part of the sprayer, but this small thing can make or break the project you are working on. So it is very important to select the perfect nozzle based on your given application. With the varieties of nozzles present in the market of late, it can be difficult to select the perfect one for your chore. Time should be invested in selecting the perfect nozzle that will not only give you adequate coverage and ensure minimum waste. Even though the perfect nozzle selection depends on many factors, the requirements can be narrowed down to droplet size, the material of the nozzle, and the number of chemicals sprayed per unit area primarily. This article will discuss the necessity of choosing the perfect nozzle and how to select it.
The reason behind selecting the perfect nozzle:
The perfect nozzle makes the application of the chemical uniform and effective all while ensuring a minimum amount of waste. Browsing through all the different types of nozzles to find the perfect one might seem like a hassle and time-consuming but we can assure you that this time and effort will be paid back to you in due time. The perfect nozzle also helps you save money by cutting back the cost of reapplying chemicals because of wrong nozzle selection. Besides a wrong nozzle responsible for chemical drift might not only cause wastage and harm to the environment but also cost you a possible lawsuit. So it is better to invest time and money in finding the correct nozzle than using an ineffective one and regretting later.
Nozzle shape:
All the different types of nozzles available in the market can be narrowed down to three basic shapes. These are:
- Flat fan
- Flood
- Cone
Before determining the nozzle shape for your necessity, the nozzle catalog can be looked to for suggestions and some general factors should be taken into consideration. For example chemical type, type of crop, mode of action of chemicals, travel speed, etc.
Flat fan:
The flat fan is your go-to option if you need a nozzle for broadcast spraying. Flat fans can effectively distribute herbicides, fungicides, and germicides. It works best on contact chemicals. A flat fan nozzle creates fine droplets that are more vulnerable to spray drift. Some derivatives of flat fan nozzle are given below:
- Extended-range flat fan
- Drift guard flat fan
- Twin flat fan
- Even flat fan
- Twin even flat fan
Flood:
Flood nozzles are generally used to apply suspension fertilizers. In other nozzle shapes like flat fan and cone suspension fertilizers cannot be used effectively as clogging is a major issue. So in such cases, flood nozzles are used. Besides, it is also used to spray soil incorporated fertilizers and pre-emergence without contact with herbicides. This type of nozzle produces big droplets at a pressure of 15 to 25 psi. it causes an issue as the spray pattern is not uniform. So overlap should be kept into account. Flood nozzles are common of the following types:
- Turbo flood wide angle
- Wide angle full flood
- Flood nozzle wide angle
Cone:
Cone nozzles are used to spray insecticides or herbicides when full coverage of the leaf is needed. Cone nozzles are generally used when the chemical needs to be sprayed at a comparatively high pressure. The risk of spray drift is the most in these as extra fine droplets are produced. Some derivatives of cone nozzles are:
- Raindrop hollow cone
- Full cone
- Hollow cone
- Disc and core cone
Steps for selecting the perfect nozzle size:
If you are not consulting a chart to determine the nozzle size then you might have to take a few factors into account. You have to find the type of spray method for your work and select the perfect ground speed, the nozzle flow rate, and the application rate. Keep it in mind that the ground speed must be taken in miles per hour, the flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM), and the application rate in gallons per acre (gpa).
You will also have to determine the spray width (W). Now the spray width differs from method to method. Like:
- For band spraying, W = bandwidth in inches
- For broadcast spraying, W = distance between the two nozzles in inches
- For directed spraying, W = bandwidth divided by the number of nozzles on the band.
Now to determine the gpm of required for the nozzles we have to divide the product of mph, GPA, and W by 5940 (a constant to convert GPA, mph and inches to gpm) i.e
Gpm=
Now with the correct gpm determined you can match the flow rate of the nozzle with your gpm.
Conclusion:
The route to a successful harvest lies in the correct care for your crop by applying the nourishment it needs to grow and protection from factors that might harm them. To ensure good care for your crops, the timely application of pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizer with the correct method should be applied. The importance of the selection of the perfect nozzle goes is beyond measures here. Not just selection, the aftercare of your nozzle should also be a field of concern. Nozzles with just 10% wear and tear can reduce the effectiveness more than halfway. So correct upkeep and replacement can make the chemicals reach their mark and complete their task effectively. Apart from selecting the nozzle correctly, keeping an eye out for the substance sprayed, the favorable weather condition and the right time can be a complete game changer when raising crops commercially. Again some other additional factors should be kept in mind, like the spray drift of the nozzle, droplet size, and the air induction capability. with these tips in mind and the correct nozzle in hand, you will be unbeatable.
