See how performing equipment calibration can help to protect yield, save on inputs, and head off problems down the road.
Equipment calibration “remains one of the cheapest and most effective ways to protect yield, stretch input dollars, and avoid problems later in the season,” shared a UF/IFAS blog. Essentially, calibration is checking that your sprayers, planters, and fertilizer applicators are doing what the settings say they are doing; it ties into the 4Rs of nutrient management in that calibrating your equipment ensure the equipment is delivering “the right product, at the right rate, and in the right place.” The blog advises that calibration “remains one of the cheapest and most effective ways to protect yield, stretch input dollars, and avoid problems later in the season.” See the details of the importance of calibrating equipment below.
When Calibration Goes Awry
The blog maintained that “Even with modern rate controllers, GPS guidance, and in cab displays, misapplication is still common. A sprayer that is only ten percent off can quietly create problems. Under application can lead to poor weed control or reduced nutrient availability. Over application wastes product, increases the risk of crop injury, and can raise environmental concerns.”
Equipment calibration ensures that you are neither under- or over-applying, and you are avoiding all of the pitfalls that come with using too little or too much product.
Similarly, “planters are just as important to calibrate,” advised the blog, adding that “Seed meters, downforce systems, and fertilizer attachments all influence stand establishment and early season growth.”
Calibration is even more important with newer equipment that has more that can go wrong, according to the blog. “As high-speed planters and variable rate systems become more common, calibration becomes even more critical,” it shared, explaining that “Sensors and software cannot correct for mechanical problems. Taking the time to check equipment setup ensures that those tools work as intended.”
Equipment Calibration Basics
According to the blog, “When it comes to sprayers, accuracy depends on three basics. Pressure, ground speed, and nozzle condition. If any one of these is off, the application will be off as well.
The blog provided the following explanations:
“Pressure affects droplet size, coverage, and drift risk. Higher pressure produces finer droplets that can move off target. Lower pressure produces larger droplets that may not provide enough coverage. The right pressure is not a guess. It should always be based on the nozzle manufacturer’s recommendations.
Ground speed is another common trouble spot. A sprayer calibrated at six miles per hour but run at eight miles per hour will under apply across the field. Speed changes easily due to field conditions, tillage, or surface roughness. Relying solely on the tractor display can be misleading. Timing a known distance with a stopwatch is still one of the most reliable ways to confirm actual ground speed.
Nozzles also deserve attention. Over time, nozzles wear and flow more product than intended. Spray patterns can become uneven, creating streaking or poor coverage. Checking nozzles for wear, clogs, or distortion and replacing them before the season is one of the simplest ways to improve spray accuracy.”
Read our next blog on recommendations for calibration.
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.