A Research Plot Herbicide Application System¹

Abstract

A tractor-mounted, air-pressurized, herbicide application system was designed and constructed for use in weed management research on cropland, pastures, and rangeland. The spray system was designed to minimize wind-induced spray pattern distortion, to enable accurate application of multiple treatments, to withstand the stresses of use on uneven and rough terrain, to apply herbicide treatments reliably, to be easy to transport, to be constructed with readily available spray system components, and to enable quick diagnosis and resolution of operational problems. The spray system has a total shield frame length of 5.2 m. The shielded frame comprises three sections. The two outside sections are connected to the center section by hinges so that they can be folded up and over the center section for transport or storage. Four spray booms are mounted inside the shield with a 50-cm distance between nozzles. Herbicides are usually applied with the bottom of the shield placed 20 cm above the soil or plant surface. This height provides 100% overlap of the spray pattern between adjacent nozzle tips. The spray system has been a durable and reliable tool that accurately and quickly applies herbicide treatments.