The document discusses the selection, use, and maintenance of pest control equipment for applying pesticides. It emphasizes that selecting the proper equipment, using it correctly, and performing regular maintenance are important for effective pest control. A variety of equipment types are described, and factors to consider like the pest problem, application method, and pesticide formulation. Guidelines are provided for operating equipment safely and cleaning it properly before and after use.

1. Selection operational and maintenance of pest
control equipment for application of pesticide
BY :
JAYANT YADAV, CCSHAU, HISAR, HARYANA

2. Plant Protection Equipment
 Selecting the right equipment for pesticide
application is important for successful pest control.
 The correct usage of equipment and its proper
maintenance are important factors which affect the
ability to place pesticides on target more
economically and effectively.
 The choice of equipment depends on its specific use
and the need of a particular pest control measure.

3. Role of pesticide application
 To cover the target with maximum efficiency and
minimum efforts to keep the pest under control as
well as minimum contamination of non-targets.
 The application techniques ideally should be target
oriented so that safety to the non-targets and the
environment is ensured. Therefore, proper selection
of application equipment, knowledge of pest
behaviour and skillful dispersal methods are vital.
 The complete knowledge of pest problem is
important to define the target i.e., location of the pest
(on foliage, under the leaves, at root zone etc).

4. To Enhance Safety and Benefits and to Get
the Most From Any Sprayer:
 Select the right equipment.
 Set it up correctly.
 Use proper operation procedures.
 Perform proper maintenance.
 The pesticide label
 Durable
 Convenient to fill
 Convenient to operate
• Easy to clean
• Non-absorbent
• Corrosion resistant
• Resistant to damage

5. Types of Plant Protection Equipment
 Hand sprayers and atomizers
 Hand compressed sprayers
 Knapsack sprayers
 Tractor-mounted sprayer
 Motorized knapsack mist blowers
 Ultra low volume or controlled-droplet applicators
(ULV/CDA)

6.  Fogging machines/fogair sprayers
 Hand-carried dusters
 Hand-carried granule applicators
 Power dusters
 Aerial application (Aircraft sprayers)
 Injectors and fumigation equipment
cont…

7. Types of Spray Equipment
Hand sprayer
Knapsack (LOK)
Battery powered

8. Low pressure hydraulic
High pressure
ULV
Chemigation or injection

9. Application Equipment:9
 Two basic types of application systems:
Liquid (sprayers)
Granular

10. Types of application devices:
10
 Centrifugal, rotary, or broadcast
 Drop
 Pendulum
 Pneumatic

11. Types of Application
 Foliage sprays (shrubs, trees)
 Area coverage (soils or lawns)
 Spot sprays
 LAWN
 Fertilization
 Weed control
 Insect/Fungi control
 HORT
 Fertilization
 Insect/Disease control
 Dormant oil treatments
11

12. Volume of pesticide solution applied
depends upon:
 Nozzle tips
 Pressure
 Speed
 Nozzle spacing

13. Nozzle Types
 Flat pattern
Uniform when
boom is at proper
height
 Broadcast pattern
Not uniform

14. Nozzle Types
 Flooding fan  Hollow cone
Best for
direct
spraying
not boom.
Not as
uniform
as flat
fan.

15. Importance of Droplet Size
 Droplet size plays a very important role in pesticide
application by minimizing environmental
contamination.
 Pesticide sprays are generally classified according to
droplet size.
 When drift is to be minimized, a medium or coarse
spray is required irrespective of the volume applied.

16. Pesticides Droplet
Description
Desired
Droplet Size
(microns)
Insecticides
Fungicides
Very Fine < 119
Fine 119 - 216
Herbicides:
Pre- and Post
emergent
Medium 217 - 353
Coarse 354 - 464
Soil
application of
Herbicides
Very Coarse > 464

17. Application Techniques
Apply only where pests are located.
Don’t allow activities to reduce
effectiveness:
Rain, not watering-in, etc.
Tailor applications to pest habits:
Water-in grub control materials

18. Type of Pest Controlled
 Insecticide
 Acaricide
 Nematicide
 Fungicide
 Rodenticide
 Avicide
 Herbicide
- Insects
- Mites and ticks
- Nematodes
- Fungi
- Rats and rodents
- Birds
- Weeds

19. Apply only the amount of pesticide
necessary to obtain the desired level
of pest control.

20. Selecting a Pesticide
 Labeled for the pest or site.
 Produces desired level of control.
 Least disruptive to the environment.
 Non - phytotoxic.
 Economically practical.
 Compatible with turf management.
 Acceptable to the public.

21. Selection and use of Spraying Equipment
Spraying equipment should be selected on the basis of:
 Frequency of pesticide application,
 Availability of diluent (water, oil, kerosene, etc.),
 Availability of labor (human or animal power),
 Area requiring treatment
 Durability of equipment,
 Cost of equipment,
 Availability of after sales service,
 Operating cost, and
 Speed required to treat an area (this will depend on type of
crop, stage of crop growth, and volume of spray solution to be
applied).

22. Pesticide Formulations
 When selecting, consider:
– Application method
– Ease of storage and mixing
– Risk when handling
– Risk of moving off target
– Cost

23. Problems Associated with Spraying
Equipment
Nozzle blockages
 Blocked nozzle should be cleaned and spares should be taken to
the field.
 Nozzle tip and filter should be replaced with clean points
Inefficient pumps
 Pumps are fitted with 'O' ring seals or leather or synthetic cup
washers
 Checked regularly
Leakage
 Compression spray equipment and certain motorized knapsack
mist blowers function properly provided they are airtight

25. Before Spraying
 Put on protective
gear.
 Rinse and clean
system.
 After filling, check
for leaks.
 Adjust equipment
according to
recommendations
and label.
 Limit drift.
 Check for uniform
output.

26. During Spray Applications
 Wear protective
gear.… label.
 Operate
according to
owner’s manual.
 Check for nozzle
clogging or
pattern changes.
 Clean nozzles
with a soft tool,
not metal.
 Never unclog a
nozzle by
blowing through
it.

27. After Spraying
 Flush hoses, tanks,
nozzles.
 Wipe off residues.
 Clean equipment
before:
Making repairs
Switching
pesticides
 Check operation and
repair.
 Re-use rinse water
 Do not use herbicide-
designated equipment
for other applications.

28. Installing and Maintaining Equipment
Once equipment has been installed:
• It must be maintained regularly
• Only qualified people should maintain
it
• Set up a maintenance schedule with
your supplier or manufacturer
• Check equipment regularly to make
sure it is working correctly
9-7

29. Care and Maintenance of Plant
protection Equipment
 General maintenance
 Care and upkeep of hand sprayer & duster
 Care and upkeep of power sprayers and dusters
 Care and upkeep of pp equipment when not in use
 Care and upkeep of pp equipment when taken to
field
 Care and upkeep of pp equipment in transportation

30. Maintenance
 Normal maintenance jobs include cleaning the
equipment and applying necessary lubricating oils
and greases to the rubbing and moving parts.
 If this normal maintenance is neglected the machine
gets rusted and moving parts wear out quickly
resulting in loss of efficiency, frequent replacement of
spare parts and finally uneconomical working.

31.  Special care has to be taken for maintaining the
plant protection equipment. The pesticide
formulations are chemically aggressive on metals,
etc.
 The cleaning and washing of the chemical tank,
discharge lines, nozzles, etc., are to be done
regularly after the day's spraying work is completed
otherwise the residues of chemicals used for
spraying acts on the parts and causes corrosion and
deterioration of materials.

32. Maintenance and safe handling
Daily maintenance
 Clean after use.
 Check pump, nozzles, etc., before operation with
water.
 Inspect mobile parts

33. Periodic preventive maintenance
 Pumps
 Pipes and connections
 Pressure gauges and pressure regulators
 Agitator
 Nozzles and booms
 Tank components
 Engine

34. Off-season maintenance and storage
 All plant protection equipment must be stored in a
cool and dry place and in the shade.
 Equipment should be washed thoroughly with plain
water before storage.
 Grease and lubricants should be applied to joints
and surfaces wherever required to protect from rust