Syngenta Turf XC Nozzles - a breakthrough in turf application technology
Accurate spray application is an essential element of getting the very best results from every fungicide, herbicide, insecticide and growth regulator application.
Achieving 90% is good but getting the last 10% can make the difference in delivering great quality turf. SpraySure is a package that provides turf managers and sprayer operators with the tools and advice to get sprays on target – the right product, at the right time, applied in the optimal way.
Syngenta Turf Nozzles are specifically designed for turf applications with specific nozzles that aim to maximise spray retention on the leaf for foliar applications and optimise spray penetration for soil treatments.
Syngenta Turf Nozzles are designed to work at lower water volumes compared to conventional flat fan nozzles, which increases work rates and enhances product performance. Being significantly less susceptible to drift enables more spraying days, which ensures application at the best possible timing. The nozzles retain spray pattern characteristics at faster operating speeds.
Syngenta nozzles have been specially designed to cope with and maintain even coverage even when spraying undulating areas.
Maintain spray pattern when boom dips below 50 cm
Maintain even coverage across boom despite variable boom-to-target height of right vs. left side due to angulation of ground
Reduce Drift
The combination of XC nozzles and air induction technology reduces the drifty component of the spray volume to some of the lowest levels achieved in turf to date.
All Round Cover
The rearwards spray angle compensates for the forward movement of the sprayer, delivering better all round coverage of turf leaves. Get the most out of contact fungicides and growth regulators with more consistent and predictable coverage.
Optimal Coverage
More droplets per mL of spray volume for optimised coverage. Earlier generation air induction nozzles reduced the drifty component of the droplet spectrum but to achieve this the penalty was often a reduction in droplets per mL of spray volume. XC nozzles regain the combination of optimal droplet size and number.
Sprayer Calibration for Accurate Application
Accurate sprayer calibration is essential to know what volume of spray is being applied. Calibration is a straightforward process that, once established as a routine, takes just a few minutes and can make a significant difference to accuracy and results.
Calibration is a three stage process:
Establish the accurate forward speed used when spraying
Identify the output per nozzle
Calculate the application rate per hectare
Checking sprayer speed
Accurately measure out a run of 100 m on a turf surface, using a stake to mark each end
Using a stopwatch, start timing as you drive past the first stake at full spraying speed; stop the clock as you drive past the second stake (it’s easier and more accurate if a colleague can assist with the timing)
Divide 360 by the time taken to drive the 100 m in seconds = speed in km/h
Repeat if different spraying speeds are used for different areas, e.g. greens and fairways
Calculating application rate
With the knowledge of the forward speed of the sprayer and the output from nozzles, the calculation to work out the volume of spray being applied per hectare is:
The Syngenta Turf Sprayer Calibration Checker has been specifically designed to enable quick and routine maintenance of sprayer output at optimum levels, with the minimum of down time.
The advantages:
Quick and easy to use
Works for all 0.5 m nozzle spacing booms
Requires no reference to calculations
How to use the calibration checker
Ensure you have already calibrated your sprayer as explained in “Sprayer Calibration for accurate Application”
To check your nozzle output at anytime after calibration, select your forward application speed from the left hand column of the table printed on the cylinder
Read off the calibration time in seconds from the right hand column for your chosen forward application speed
Collect the output of one nozzle for the specified time and read off the water volume per hectare that would be applied
If the output level is above* the required volume the sprayer operating pressure should be reduced. If the output level is below the required level the sprayer pressure needs to be increased
Adjust the sprayer pressure as required and recheck nozzle output
*If the application rate is significantly different to the required level, it may be necessary to change the size of nozzle used. Refer to nozzle manufactures output charts to select an appropriate size nozzle and recheck.
TOP TIP 1: Always use a calibration cylinder for checking nozzle output; measuring jugs are good for measuring product, but are not sufficiently accurate for checking nozzles.
TOP TIP 2: If you have collected nozzle output for 30 seconds in your nozzle check, don’t forget to double it to get the output per minute for the spray volume calculation.
Checking Nozzle Output
Check nozzle output at least quarterly, and possibly each month during busy spraying periods. First refer to the manufacturer’s nozzle output chart to establish expected flow rate. Check for visible signs of damage, then measure output from each nozzle.
Fill the tank with clean water, set the pump to the standard operating pressure and collect the output from each nozzle for 30 seconds, using a Syngenta spray calibration checker cylinder.
Note down the output from each nozzle. Add up the total and divide by the number of nozzles, to give the average output per nozzle across the boom.
Calculate the difference from average for each nozzle. If the output from any nozzle is +/- 4% of the average, nozzles are unacceptably worn and the complete nozzle set should be replaced.
