A generic way to deal with different tree sizes and spacings is to calibrate for the highest TRV / biggest trees block and then turn off nozzles not needed for smaller trees. Granted this simplistic method is much less accurate than block specific settings, but it allows spraying different blocks with same tankmix and sprayer setup. Further adjustments to travel speed (within suitable ranges) and as Peter mentioned, flip nozzles allow better alignment with block specific need. This approach can lead to application volume tuned for the bigger trees and more than required for the smaller trees but it's better than not doing the calculations.
The math to estimate each blocks tree row volume based amount of water per acre for a dilute 1X application is actually pretty simple, and it described in Extension tree fruit management guides. That provides the foundation for calculating how much water and spray material is needed per acre for the typical 2X to 8X application. Differences between TRV formulas are less important than doing the calculations to have that foundation to work from and then adjust as needed from field experience. A big ditto for Peter's recommendation for Jason Deveau's Sprayer101.com site. His emphasis on verifying coverage in addition to the TRV calculations is key. - Glen Glen Koehler University of Maine Cooperative Extension Pest Management Office Voice: Office 207-581-3882, Cell 207-485-0918 491 College Avenue, Orono, ME 04473 UMaine Apple IPM <https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/programs/apple/> Ag-Radar <https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/ag-radar-apple-sites/> On Thu, Mar 2, 2017 at 11:47 AM, Peter Werts <pwe...@ipminstitute.org> wrote: > Hal, > > > > Question. As an enclosed-cabbed tractor ages, will the seal around the > doors wear out, or better yet, how do you verify the enclosed cab is > providing the protection you are after? That might make an argument for > wearing the respirator in the cab, at some point during the life of the > tractor. > > > > Regarding the rest of calibration of the calibration discussion, you > should be able to separate tree-row volume from your calculations which use > row width, travel speed and gallons-per minute, to establish a gallon per > acre application rate. All the growers we work with have variability in > their row spacing. Three things we do to address this include minor > adjustments to travel speed, flipping over/turning on or off spray nozzles, > and use of spray control systems. So, lots of ways to skin that cat, but > we finish and think we have it set up correctly, we verify by hanging those > water/oil-sensitive cards in the trees and see if we are satisfied with the > coverage. > > > > I would never trust a site line on a spray tank and it is easy to put more > water in a tank than what a tank is labeled to hold. Think about any water > bottle, the 30 fl. oz. mark is about an inch below the top of the bottle. > As with a sprayer, if you fill it all the way up, there will be more water > in it, than what it is labeled to hold. A good way to check is to > calculate the GPM flow of the hose you use to fill your sprayer with, then > just set a timer to accurately fill your tank. This will help you be sure > you are putting the correct amount of water in the tank, before you run it > out through your control block. > > > > Another helpful website is http://sprayers101.com/airblast101/ > > > > Several years ago we had some money from EPA to go calibrate sprayers. We > worked on dozens of spray scenarios and found applicators were applying 52% > more water, on average, than what they were reporting. The number of > broken nozzles, missing screens, etc. was amazing. So at the very least, > regardless of what method you use, calibration helps address some of the > basic maintenance needs of a sprayer, which is helpful in preventing > breakdowns during that first primary scab infection at green tip. > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > Peter > > > > > > ============================= > > Peter Werts > > Specialty Crops Project Manager > > IPM Institute of North America, Inc. > > 211 South Paterson St. > > Suite #380 > > Madison WI 53703 > > Office: 608 232-1410 <(608)%20232-1410> > > Cell: 612 518-0319 <(612)%20518-0319> > > Fax: 608 232-1440 <(608)%20232-1440> > > pwe...@ipminstitute.org > > www.ipminstitute.org > > > > > > > > *From:* apple-crop [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.com] *On > Behalf Of *Con.Traas > *Sent:* Thursday, March 2, 2017 9:46 AM > *To:* 'Apple-Crop discussion list' <apple-crop@virtualorchard.com> > *Subject:* Re: [Apple-Crop] sprayer calibration debate > > > > Hello Hal, > > I don’t think an additional respirator should be needed. After all, the > respirator in the tractor cab is the same design (only larger) than the one > on the oral one. > > Regarding the theoretical calibration of sprayers, whenever an inspector > tells me they to do it with water, and to apply that result to a > water/chemical mixture I have a go at them. Only a regulator who never > applied products with different viscosities (due to temperature or > different mixtures) would pretend you can pre-calibrate with more than a > 90% accuracy. The fact is the same sprayer with different products in it, > or water of different temperatures, will put our at different rates. > > > > Con (Cornelius) Traas > > Room SR2-009, > > Department of Biological Sciences, > > University of Limerick. > > Ph: 061-202905 > > M: 086-6091998 > > T: @theapplefarmer > > > > *From:* apple-crop [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.com > <apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.com>] *On Behalf Of *Hal Wentzel > *Sent:* 02 March 2017 15:24 > *To:* Apple-Crop discussion list > *Subject:* Re: [Apple-Crop] sprayer calibration debate > > > > Since I upgraded my tractor this winter, I plan on recalibration and this > is the method I plan to use. Adjust the nozzles and the tractor speed > until I feel I get adequate coverage of the trees. I will then fill my > tank with 50 gallons of water, and spray it over a prescribed route. When > the tank is empty, I calculate the acres sprayed. From that I can > determine the number of gallons per acre. To that number of gallons, I > will add the chemical required per acre. Since we are high density, well > pruned, I multiply by .7 (captan: 6# x .7= 4.2 #). If I travel the same > route, I will get the required spray per acre. > > > > A different question: my new tractor has an enclosed cab (no more monkey > suit), with an activated charcoal filter. What is the opinion on the > necessity of also wearing a respirator. EPA would say yes, but are they > too cautious. > > Hal Wentzel > > Pleasant View Orchard > > Niagara, Wi > > 715-927-2050 <(715)%20927-2050> > > > > On Thu, Mar 2, 2017 at 8:16 AM John Bruguiere <j...@dickiebros.com> wrote: > > Hello all, need some healthy practical advice on sprayer calibration. > Specifically air blast sprayers. For decades we have measured a block of > trees to determine acreage, sprayed out tank and determined gallons per > acre based on what area was covered in tank. For example trees planted at 8 > x 18 spacing gave us 300 trees to acre, we sprayed out tank, counted trees > and determined that our sprayer puts out 2.5 acres per tank. we used this > to determine amount of material to put in the tank etc. All the calibration > formulas , I have seen require tree row volume(height x row spacing) to be > part of equation. I have 4-5 different spacings in 100 acres of orchard > which makes it more of a headache to constantly figure gallons per acre and > spray materials needed in each different block(thus the reason we simply > measured trees per acre). I know my speed , i know my gallons per minute > but can't find an equation that converts this to gallons per acre without > tree row volume. > > need a simple but effective solution...any takers? > > in Virginia we have plums in full bloom, fantasia and red gold nectarines > in pink and some open blooms, 21 degrees forecasted on friday and saturday > night. > > God Bless, > > John Bruguiere > > Dickie Bros. Orchard > > > > On 1/30/2017 6:36 PM, Arthur Kelly wrote: > > I agree Mo. We try and remove trees every year and plant every year. I > did use the word can to hedge the productive life of a block. > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Jan 30, 2017, at 5:48 PM, maurice tougas <appleman.maur...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > Art > > > > I agree that it's great to be out pruning. I disagree that you should > expect a longer productive life with high density systems. My goal here is > to be looking at replanting when the orchard reaches twenty years or so. > New varieties, strains of varieties and improved planting system encourage > 5% renewal in my opinion. > > > > My best to you > > Mo Tougas > > > > On Mon, Jan 30, 2017 at 1:27 PM, George Greene <cortla...@icloud.com> > wrote: > > Art: > > > > Your comment makes sense to me. Right now I have a cold and I fell on the > ice on Dec. 29th and I am still suffering. Pt may help but it may take a > while. > > > > I suppose that you are enjoying the warmer weather. > > > > Be well, George > > > > On Jan 30, 2017, at 12:43 PM, kellyorchards <kellyorcha...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > Ruminations after a morning pruning. The weather is ideal. The temps are > in the high 20's, the wind is light and the sun is shining. Weather like > this is why we live here. Permanent limbs ultimately and inevitably get > too large. This is why high density systems can have a longer productive > life than less dense orchards. > > > > > > > > > > Art Kelly > Kelly Orchards > Acton, Maine > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > George Greene > > 68 Willow Lane > > Wiscasset, ME 04578 > > 207-882-8074 <%28207%29%20882-8074> > > cortla...@icloud.com > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > > > -- > > Maurice Tougas > Tougas Family Farm > Northborough,MA 01532 > 508-450-0844 <(508)%20450-0844> > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > _______________________________________________ > > apple-crop mailing list > > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > -- > > Hal Wentzel > > Pleasant View Orchard > > W6050 Chapman Road > > Niagara, WI 54151 > > 715-927-2050 <(715)%20927-2050> > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > >
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