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Proper Calibration and Operation of Backpack and Hand Can Sprayers

FABE-531
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Date: 
01/10/2020
Erdal Ozkan, Professor and Extension State Specialist; Pesticide Application Technology; Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department

Manually operated sprayers (hand pumps, hand cans, and backpacks) are designed for spot treatment and for spraying smaller areas such as tree seedlings, small lawns, or flower beds not suitable for power sprayers. As is true for all sprayers used for application of chemicals, application accuracy with backpack and hand can sprayers is affected by travel speed, nozzle type, and spray pressure. Uniform distribution of sprays can be difficult even with training and regular calibration. The three rules of application accuracy apply to all the spraying equipment used, including manual sprayers:      

  1. Maintaining a uniform walking speed is essential to keeping the application rate relatively uniform throughout the operation. A higher travel speed will result in a lower application rate.      
  2. Maintaining a uniform spraying pressure is also essential both for keeping the application rate and the droplet size uniform during the application. Lowering the spraying pressure leads to higher application rates, and larger droplets.      
  3. Maintaining the optimum spraying distance between the nozzle and the target.
    man spraying weeds with a backpack sprayer and gloves orange backpack sprayer basic pump hand can

It is more difficult to keep travel speed, pressure, and spraying distance at optimum levels when using a manual sprayer than a motorized sprayer that moves at a set speed and has a set boom width. With manual sprayers, the travel speed will likely vary depending on the walking pace and the physical stamina of the person doing the spraying (at the beginning of a work day versus at the end of the day), and the topography of the area where the spraying is done (slopes, surface conditions, etc.). Having a metronome or beeper can help with keeping a walking speed constant.

Most of the manual sprayers do not have pressure gauges or pressure controls. The pressure drops continuously as you spray. If the sprayer is not repressurized through intermittent strokes of the pump, the pressure will drop, lowering the application rate. Conversely, if the pump is pressurized excessively, the application rate will be increased while creating smaller drift-prone droplets. Both will result in waste of pesticides or poor control of pests.

Lastly, with manual sprayers, it is difficult to keep the nozzle height uniform throughout the application. It is very likely that due to arm fatigue, the nozzle height will be closer to the target at the beginning of the spraying compared to at the end. To maintain uniform deposition of chemical on the target, either hold the nozzle steady at a constant height and walk back and forth, or swing the nozzle in a steady, sweeping, overlapping motion.        

Calibrating Manual Hand Can and Backpack Sprayers

The directions on the chemical container label tell a user which application rates give the best results. However, proper application rates will be attained only if sprayers are in proper working order and are calibrated correctly. If the sprayer is not accurately calibrated, too little or too much chemical may be applied, resulting in unsatisfactory efficacy or damage or death of the target being treated (such as tree seedlings, shrubs, or lawn).

This fact sheet describes the steps for calibrating manual (backpack and hand can) sprayers. Calibration of large boom sprayers for field crops, and small, tractor-driven sprayers for forestry and turf sprayers are discussed in two separate Ohio State University Extension fact sheets (FABE-520 and FABE 529, respectively). Use the following link to search using the publication numbers given above: ohioline.osu.edu/findafactsheet.

There are several ways to calibrate a manual sprayer. Use the one calibration method that you are accustomed to, if it happens to be different than the procedure outlined in this publication. Regardless of the method used to calibrate a sprayer, certain measurements will have to be taken, and some important operational principles mentioned in this publication should be followed to achieve maximum efficacy from the chemical applied.

Here is one way to calibrate manual sprayers:

Step 1. Measure and mark off an area equal to 1,000 square feet (such as 20 x 50 feet).

Step 2. Make sure the sprayer has been cleaned and thoroughly rinsed. Add a measured amount of water to the tank, spray the area and then measure the amount of water remaining in the tank. The difference between the amount in the tank before and after spraying is the amount used per 1,000 square feet.

refilling a backpack sprayer Man test spraying with backpack sprayer Man reading measurement cup to check remaining water in backpack sprayer

An alternative method is to record the time required to spray 1,000 square feet and later catch and measure the spray from the nozzle (or nozzles) used for the same time period.

Man recording time it takes to spray 1,000 square feet

Step 3. Compare the measured application rate with the recommendation on the pesticide label. If the difference between the recommended rate and the measured rate is greater than 5 percent of the recommended rate, adjustments should be made to bring the application error within +5 percent of the intended (recommended) rate.

How to Eliminate an Application Error

The most practical way to correct an application error is to change the walking speed. If needed, adjustments in spray pressure can also be done, but it may take larger changes in pressure to eliminate large application errors. Do not operate the nozzles outside the pressure range recommended by the nozzle manufacturer. If reasonable walking speed and/or pressure changes will not bring the application error below 5 percent of the intended (or recommended) rate, the only option left to achieve the desired application rate is to replace the nozzle with one that will produce the desired application rate under normal operating conditions (speed and pressure) of the sprayer. However, replacement of the nozzle may not be an option depending on the type of manual sprayer you are using.

EXAMPLE

You would like to spray a chemical at a rate of 1.5 gallons per 1,000 square feet (based on label recommendations). To determine the actual application rate, you marked off an area 20 by 25 feet (500 square feet). It took 2 minutes for you to spray this area. Then you sprayed into a bucket for 2 minutes and measured the amount of liquid in the bucket. It was 5.5 pints.

What is the application rate in gallons per 1,000 square feet and gallons per acre? 

What is the percentage application error?

First, convert 5.5 pints per 500 square feet to gallons per 1,000 square feet.

Formula for converting pints to gallons

OR

If the rate on the label was given in gal/acre (instead of gal/1,000 square feet), then you would need to convert 1.38 gallons per 1,000 square feet to gallons per acre as follows:

formula for converting acres in square feet
percent application error rate intended versus actual rate

Your application rate is 1.38 gallons per 1,000 square feet. It should have been 1.5 gallons per 1,000 square feet. This is an 8 percent application error, which is unacceptable (more than 5 percent of the intended rate).  

One way to remedy this problem is to slightly reduce your walking pace, and repeat the calibration steps outlined above until the application error (variation between the intended application rate and the actual measured rate) is less than 5 percent of the intended rate.

Although trial and error will eventually get you to the correct walking pace, you can also calculate the correct walking pace to cut down on time that may require to complete the trial and error approach. Here is how you do the calculations.

Since covering the 1,000 square feet calibration ground took you 2 minutes as in the previous example, resulting in an under application by 8 percent, to eliminate this error you need to reduce your walking pace by 8 percent. That means, instead of 2 minutes (or 120 seconds) it took you to cover the calibration ground, you now need to slow down by 8 percent of 2 minutes. That is equal to 9.6 seconds (120 x 0.08). So, the exact time it should take you to cover the calibration ground of 1,000 square feet is 110.4 seconds (120 – 9.6 = 110.4). Doing this should eliminate the application error, resulting in an application rate of 1.5 gallons per 1,000 square feet as recommended on the chemical label.

The second option to eliminate the application error of 8 percent, if changing walking pace is not practical, is to change the spray pressure. In the case of the example situation above, a slight increase in pressure (by repressurizing the tank) will be necessary to increase the application rate from 1.38 gallons per 1,000 square feet to 1.5 gallons per 1,000 square feet.

Remember to repeat the calibration steps outlined above each time you change either the walking pace or the pressure, until the difference between intended application rate and the actual measured rate is less than 5 percent of the intended rate.

Choose the Right Nozzle

The nozzle at the end of the spray wand is there to help you accomplish three things that determine success in pest control: volume of liquid flow required per minute; spray pattern (flat-fan, cone, spray angle); and droplet size. Chemical labels usually do not indicate the type of nozzle you need to use. Choosing the wrong nozzle may not only lead to waste of chemical applied, it may also lead to ineffective pest control. With backpack sprayers, most commonly used nozzles are either flat-fan or cone type, as shown in the picture below. There are fittings available to put two nozzles on a wand, and nozzles also available to produce a number of solid streams (the yellow nozzle shown in below).

Array of nozzle choices from two nozzles on wand to flat-fan and cone shaped

Variable pattern nozzles (shown in the figure on the left, below) are most popular with hand can sprayers, but they are also used with backpack sprayers. By twisting the nozzle in one or the other direction, the spray pattern can be changed from a single solid stream of large droplets with a narrow fan angle or smaller droplets with a wide spray angle, as shown in the figure on the right.  

Variable pattern spray nozzle popular with hand can sprayers Illustration of the full spray pattern versus the single stream achieved with the turning of the nozzle

A pressure check valve attached to the wand avoids dripping of the spray when the hand trigger is released to stop spraying. With the check valve shown in the picture above, no dripping occurs when the hand trigger is let go.

Nozzle choice is sometimes determined by the type of spraying you are doing. For example, if you are doing band spraying, meaning your target is in a row (like a row of vegetables, or tree seedlings) within a certain width, you would want to choose an “even flat-fan” nozzle that is designed to provide a uniform (“even”) coverage of the chemical sprayed across the complete band width. If you are doing broadcast spraying to cover a wide area, then a regular flat-fan nozzle is best for application of fertilizers and herbicides. A cone nozzle is likely to produce better results when applying fungicides or insecticides because it produces somewhat smaller droplets than a comparable size flat-fan nozzle. However, because it produces relatively higher number of small drift-prone droplets, you need to pay more attention to drift when using cone nozzles. For detailed information on nozzle selection (type and size) for different applications, read the OSU Extension fact sheet FABE-528 “Selecting the Best Nozzle for the Job” available online at ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/fabe-528

Maintain Proper Pressure

Spray pressure affects three things on a sprayer:

  1. Flow rate—the higher the pressure, the higher the flow rate of the nozzle; or inversely, lower the pressure, lower the nozzle flow rate in gallons per minute.
  2. Droplet size—the higher the pressure, the lower the droplet size, resulting in a higher number of drift-prone droplets (as shown in the photograph below.
  3. Spray angle—spraying at pressures lower than the recommended pressure for a given nozzle will likely result in narrowing of the spray angle, as shown in the figure below. This may cause streaks of untreated areas. For the reasons mentioned above, it is best to maintain the recommended spray pressure during the entire spraying time.
Photo of changes in spray pressure and droplet size Spray width differences between 40 psi and 10 psi. 10 psi has a more narrow spray pattern.

Changes in spray pressure cause changes in droplet size.

Operating nozzles at very low pressures causes narrowing of the spray angle.

Unfortunately, most manual sprayers don’t come with a pressure gauge attached somewhere on the sprayer, usually on the wand. Knowing if the pressure is maintained during the entire spraying time, or when making precise changes in the application rate, or spray droplet size will be very difficult without a pressure gauge. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you purchase a manual sprayer with a good quality (glycerin-filled) pressure gauge. As with any equipment part, pressure gauges don’t last forever. Therefore, purchase a spare, good quality pressure gauge to check, from time to time, the accuracy of the gauge on the sprayer.  

Backpack sprayer with pressure gauge Glycerin-filled pressure gauge closeup

Some labels may mention the most effective droplet size (fine, medium, coarse, etc.) for that product. Nozzle manufacturers provide information on droplet size classes for each nozzle under different pressure settings. Having a pressure gauge on the sprayer makes following the label recommendations about the droplet size much easier.

If a pressure gauge on the wand is not available or is difficult to mount, a small, inexpensive attachment called a constant flow valve (or CF valve) can be mounted just ahead of the nozzle on the spray wand (shown in red in the picture below) to avoid the undesirable effect of varying pressure on the flow rate. CF valve senses the changes in the spray pressure from the pump and modulates the size of the inlet orifice of the valve to maintain a constant flow at the nozzle tip, irrespective of the usual variations in pumping pressure. Valve will open fully only when the pre-set pressure is reached and close fully when the pressure drops below the pre-set pressure without causing any dripping of the liquid from the nozzle.

Yellow constant flow valve on a spray wand A constant flow valve disconnected to show proper placement Four nozzles in yellow, red, green and blue on slate background

The valve comes in four pre-set pressures—14.5 (yellow), 21 (red), 29 (blue) and 43.5 psi (green)—and is built with thread sizes to fit most sprayers. The yellow and red units are recommended for backpack sprayers because they provide optimum pressure zones that are high enough for most nozzles, but low enough to avoid fine particles and drift. Check the manufacturer’s website for additional information on the CF valve.

Uniformity of Spray on the Target

Getting the right amount of spray mixture and the active ingredients on the target is not enough to achieve effective pest control. Some other important factors, such as how the chemical is deposited on the spray target, is as important as the amount deposited. Uneven distribution of chemicals on the target is likely to cause streaks, as shown in the picture below, or generally unsatisfactory weed, insect, and disease control. The streaks shown in the picture are a result of not having sufficient overlap between spray passes, most likely caused by the nozzle being held too close to the ground.

uneven lines of pest control spray on a lawn

How Much Chemical to Mix?

Although your sprayer may be in top shape, and you may have calibrated the sprayer frequently, you could still end up with a less than satisfactory pest control if the correct amount of chemical was not put into the tank. Labels give two types of application rates: volume of spray mixture (pesticide and water) applied per unit area (gallons per acre, ounces per 1,000 square feet, etc.), and the amount of actual chemical applied per unit area (ounces, pints, or quarts per acre or square feet). The first requirement can be attained by proper calibration and operation of the sprayer. The second label recommendation not only requires proper calibration and operation of the sprayer, but it also requires that the spray mixture contains the right concentration of the actual product applied. That means, you need to know how much chemical to add to the sprayer tank, depending on the size of the sprayer tank. Sometimes a full tank is not needed to cover a small area. This requires much less chemical to add in the tank than when you are preparing the correct mixture of chemical and water for a full tank. If you need help in making the calculations to determine the chemical amount to add to the tank, read the OSU Extension fact sheet FABE-530 “How Much Chemical Do I Need to Add to My Sprayer Tank?” available online at ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/fabe-530.

Final Thoughts

The directions on the chemical container label tell a user which application rates give the best results. However, proper application rates will be attained only if sprayers work well and are calibrated correctly. If the sprayer is not accurately calibrated, too little or too much chemical may be applied, resulting in unsatisfactory efficacy or damage or death of the target being treated (such as tree seedlings, shrubs, or lawn). As it is true for all sprayers used for spraying chemicals, the amount of chemical applied per unit area (gallons per acre or quart per 1,000 square feet) with backpack and hand can sprayers is affected by travel speed and spray pressure. Uniformity of spray coverage on the target is as important as the accuracy in amount applied per unit area. So, here are some recommendations to achieve the most satisfying results from chemicals applied using manual sprayers such as a backpack or hand can sprayer:

  • Calibrate sprayers often to determine the correct walking pace and the pressure needed to satisfy the label requirements given for application rate. Follow the simple calibration procedures outlined in this publication.
  • Practice consistency of your walking speed. Walk the area you set several times for calibration (a known area) at the calibrated pace and record the time. Practice until you can consistently walk this area within a specific time needed to apply the correct amount of material. A ticking stop watch or timer will improve your pacing.
  • To avoid streaks of untreated horizontal target surfaces, tie a weighted cord or chain to the wand near the nozzle. This can serve as a height gauge to maintain a set distance from the nozzle to the target.
  • Attach a pressure gauge to the spray wand and check how fast the pressure drops. Count the number of seconds needed for the pressure to drop 5 psi. Count the number of pump strokes needed to return the pressure to the proper level.
  • For backpack sprayers with a gauge, determine how fast you need to pump to keep the gauge pressure constant while spraying.
  • If a pressure gauge on the wand is not available or is difficult to mount, a small, inexpensive attachment called a constant flow valve (CF valve) can be mounted just ahead of the nozzle on the spray wand to avoid the undesirable effect of varying pressure on the flow rate.

  • To avoid arm fatigue and pressure drop when using manually operated  backpack sprayers, consider purchasing one that has a built-in electric battery. No manual pump stroke is needed when using these sprayers.

Keep Safety in Mind

It is very important that safety must be kept in mind always when working with chemicals, especially pesticides. Although the pesticides in a spray mixture may slightly affect the flow rate and droplet size of nozzles, this affect is negligible. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is best to use clean water when calibrating sprayers. Even when using clean water for calibration, take all the safety precautions as when spraying pesticides. Always try to minimize oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure to chemicals. Wear protective clothing when calibrating, spraying, and cleaning equipment. Goggles and rubber gloves are standard equipment when handling pesticides. Some chemicals may require respirators. Therefore, check the label of each chemical you use, and follow the PPE (personal protective equipment) statements on all pesticide labels when mixing and applying pesticides. Also check the sprayer operator's manual for recommended procedures regarding safe use of equipment.

Acknowledgment

The author thanks Dr. Peter Ling, Associate Professor, Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Ohio State University; Dr. Dave Shetlar, Professor Emeritus, Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University; and Kathy Smith, Forestry Program Director, The Ohio State University Extension, for reviewing this publication and for their editorial contributions.

Originally posted May 4, 2018.
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