AT Reports: Spreaders / Sprayers / Seeders

You wouldn't hunt turkey with a howitzer or bear with a pellet gun. Likewise, it is important to use the right pressure when spraying turf. Here are some pressure selection tips from Marty Heyen, marketing and customer relations manager with Spraying Systems Co.

• Increasing pressure by four times doubles the flow rate
• Higher pressure decreases droplet size
• Higher pressure increases drift potential
• Higher pressure increases orifice wear
• Pressure impacts the spray angle and coverage, so operate nozzles within proper pressure range
• Catalog info on nozzle performance is based on spraying water. Denser liquids (like 28% liquid N) form smaller spray angles.
• Liquids less dense or lighter than water form wider spray angles.

Spreader/sprayer Buying tips:

• Is it easy to calibrate spray or spread pattern?
• Wide mouths are easier to fill.
• This is one place where lots of agitation is good
• Check ease of clean-up
• Is it easy to change settings?
• Ascertain the uniformity of spread pattern
• Does the unit throw material under trees and shrubs?
• Check the ergonomics

Vehicle-drawn and vehicle-based spreaders
	Walk-behind spreaders
Vehicle-drawn and vehicle-based sprayers
	Backpack-style sprayers
Seeder/aerator combos