SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/282941
pack_sprayer.pdf 38 SportsTurf | April 2014 www.sportsturfonline.com Field Science ounces. The third amount collected after 46 seconds is 44 fluid ounces. The average output of the nozzle is 44 fluid ounces. Example: 44 fluid ounces is the average nozzle output. Therefore, the sprayer is calibrated to deliver 44 gallons per acre. Remember: The concept of the 128th method is based on the time it takes to spray 128th of an acre with a single nozzle. That time requirement is then used to collect fluid ounces from a single nozzle. Since there are 128 fluid ounces in a gallon, the simple conversion or result is in gallons per acre (GPA). MULTIPLE NOZZLES If there is more than one nozzle being used, check the unifor- mity of all nozzles on the boom. Collect the water sprayed from each nozzle individually for the time (in seconds) it took to spray the predetermined area. After catching the spray from each nozzle individually, add the amounts collected and divide by the number of nozzles to get the average output per nozzle. If the flow rate of any spray tip is 7% greater or less than the average nozzle output, clean or replace the nozzle tip. If any of the nozzles need to be cleaned or replaced, recheck the output from all nozzles and recal- culate the average. Example: Nozzle Test Output collected from each nozzle after 46 seconds: Nozzle 1 – 44 fluid ounces Nozzle 2 – 45 fluid ounces Nozzle 3 – 44 fluid ounces Total output from all nozzles: 133 fluid ounces Determine average output for each nozzle: Remember: Check that all nozzles are within 7 percent of the average noz- zle output. The acceptable range for nozzle output is between 40.9 to 47.1 fluid ounces. All of the nozzles in the example fall within the ac- ceptable range. If they do not, clean or replace the spray tips and repeat this step. 133 fluid ounces = 44.3 or 44 fluid ounces average nozzle output 3 nozzles Sum of total fluid ounces = average nozzle output in fluid ounces Number of nozzles 0.07 x 44 fluid ounces = 3.08 Backpack and hand-held sprayer calibration worksheet Color-coded squares are meant to help in entering repeated numbers. Remember: Step 1: Determine application pressure and timing. Mark off an area 18.5 feet by 18.5 feet. Turf paint or flags can be used to establish boundaries. Measure the time in seconds it takes to uniformly spray the 18.5 feet by 18.5 feet area. Remember to walk at a comfortable, steady speed and maintain consistent pressure while spraying. Total: ________ seconds to spray the 18.5 feet by 18.5 feet area. Step 2: Measure nozzle output. Operate the sprayer with water in the tank at the desired pressure. Using a stop- watch and measuring cup marked in fluid ounces, collect water from the nozzle for the time (in seconds) it took to spray the predetermined area. Collect water output for ________ seconds. Amount collected: 1) ________ fluid ounces 2) ________ fluid ounces 3) ________ fluid ounces Total output from the nozzle (sum of the 3 collections): ________ fluid ounces Determine average output: Average nozzle output: ________ fluid ounces is equal to _______ GPA The sprayer is calibrated to deliver _______ gallons per acre. Multiple Nozzles If there are multiple nozzles, check that all nozzles are within 7 percent of the average nozzle output by determining the range. The acceptable range for individual nozzle output is between _____________ fluid ounces to _____________ fluid ounces. If a nozzle does not fall within the acceptable range, clean or replace the nozzle and repeat this step. Once nozzle output falls within the acceptable range, the sprayer is cali- brated. Remember, the concept of the 128th method is based on the time it takes to spray 128th of an acre with a single nozzle. That time requirement is then used to collect fluid ounces from a single nozzle. Since there are 128 fluid ounces in a gallon, the simple con- version or result is in gallons per acre (GPA). Average nozzle output: ________ fluid ounces is equal to _______ GPA The sprayer is calibrated to deliver _______ gallons per acre. _________ - amount of time in seconds it takes to spray the 18.5 feet by 18.5 feet area _________ - sum of fluid ounces collected from the nozzle _________ - average nozzle output measured in fluid ounces _________ - number used to determine acceptable range for nozzle output _________ - minimum number of fluid ounces that is acceptable from each nozzle _________ - maximum number of fluid ounces that is acceptable from each nozzle 1 acre = 43,560 square feet 1/128th of an acre = 340.31 square feet 1/128th of an acre = 18.5 feet by 18.5 feet 1 gallon = 128 fluid ounces fluid ounces = fluid ounces for average nozzle output 3 nozzles 0.07 x ________ fluid ounces = __________ (range) Minimum acceptable fluid ounces that can be collected from each nozzle: ________ fluid ounces - __________ = _____________ fluid ounces Maximum acceptable fluid ounces that can be collected from each nozzle: