Find more things to consider when getting ready for spraying pasture weeds, like calibration when additives are used.
In our last blog, we shared tips from UF/IFAS concerning pasture weed management; the advice came from a UF/IFAS blog article, and it advised to first identify weeds and then choose the right product and rate. In this blog, we’re looking at the considerations for spraying pasture weeds concerning calibration and the use of additives. See the details below.
Considering Calibration When Spraying Pasture Weeds
The blog article shared that “calibration is a step that cannot be neglected. In order to know how much product needs to go into the spray tank, exact spray output per acre must first be known. In other words, you must know how many acres you can cover per spray tank. Correct rate cannot be achieved without proper calibration.” In prior blogs, we shared information on the importance of calibration and calibration basics and recommendations for calibration.
The UF/IFAS blog also shared tips concerning “the chemical aspect” of calibration, and it advised that “Understanding and addressing spray water characteristics and the correct use of adjuvants is crucial for effective product delivery. It is important to know the pH and hardness of all water sources you may use for mixing herbicides. Harsh spray water conditions can negatively impact the herbicide molecules prior to application, effectively altering the rate of herbicide being applied.”
The blog recommends a pH and water hardness test, because “These conditions impact specific herbicides differently.” The blog recommends following the product’s label concerning “sensitivity to a condition your water” or if it “recommends a water conditioner (like AMS)” then the user must “address the situation and/or follow the recommendation.”
The recommendation is similar if an adjuvant is needed. The blog shared that “Adjuvant use is much the same in that problems will be avoided, and products delivered effectively if label recommendations are followed.”
Read our last blog in the series on application timing.
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.