See recommendations from UF/IFAS on calibrating equipment like sprayers, fertilizer applicators, and planters.
In our last blog, we shared information on the importance of calibrating equipment like sprayers, fertilizer applicators, and planters to protect yield, save on inputs, and head off problems down the road. Information came from a UF/IFAS blog article that maintained that calibration “remains one of the cheapest and most effective ways to protect yield, stretch input dollars, and avoid problems later in the season.” We’re sharing tips from the article on calibrating equipment correctly. See the details below.
Checklist for Calibrating Equipment
The blog article shared the following checklist, advising that “Before the season gets busy, it helps to walk through a short checklist:
- Inspect and replace worn or damaged nozzles
- Match pressure settings to nozzle specifications
- Perform a bucket test across the boom
- Check for leaks, clogs, and uneven spray patterns
- Confirm ground speed with a stopwatch
- Calibrate seed meters and fertilizer systems
- Update rate controller settings after any equipment changes”
Calibrating a Sprayer With a Bucket
The blogs shared that “With all the electronics on today’s equipment, it is easy to assume everything is working correctly. The traditional bucket test is still one of the best ways to verify that assumption.” It advised that “Electronics can drift or misread. A bucket gives you a direct answer. This test often reveals worn nozzles, pressure issues, or differences between boom sections that would otherwise go unnoticed.”
The bucket test is simple. According to the article, it consists of “Catching output from each nozzle for a set amount of time and comparing it to expected flow rates gives a real-world check on performance.”
Other Calibration Concerns
Sprayer accuracy isn’t the only area to calibrate. The ground speed of equipment should also be checked. The blog article advises “Timing a known distance with a stopwatch is still one of the most reliable ways to confirm actual ground speed.”
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.