By Matt Giese, M.S., technical services manager for Syngenta 

When was the last time you put fuel in your vehicle and wondered whether the fuel pump charged you the correct amount? Rarely do we think about the pump’s proper calibration and its ability not to charge more than was dispersed. If we think similarly about ride-on sprayers and rotary spreaders, can you afford to apply more product (fertilizer or other) than you think you are? Calibrating spraying and spreading equipment should be a normal task when considering a maintenance schedule for both new and existing equipment. Fortunately, online calibration guides are available to help—see the links below.

Equipment may not always show signs of daily wear, but mechanical wear over time can affect spread rate or spray pattern for any given application. Weather conditions such as high humidity can affect the gravitational flow of granular products in the hopper or walking pace. Additionally, stride length will likely be different from the settings highlighted on the packaging, which can impact the effective throw distance.

New equipment is not immune to deviation and should be calibrated to match an individual user. The volume output on ride-on sprayers may need to be adjusted to match the desired product recommendations, especially if application speed varies from one property to the next. Ensuring your output matches your desired application target optimizes your product performance, reduces callbacks, maintains turf safety and can offer peace of mind for controlling costs.

Where to find methods for calibration

Several simple online resources are available to assist with the calibration of ride-on spreaders and/or sprayers, walk behind rotary spreaders and hose-reel sprayers. Make time in your schedule to ensure your equipment is as accurate as possible. Here are a couple of guides to get you started:

• Calibrating Ride-on Pesticide Sprayers and Fertilizer Spreaders: Keys to Application Accuracy¹
• Calibrating the Hose Reel Lawn Care Sprayer²

For more information, contact your local territory manager.

¹“Calibrating Ride-on Pesticide Sprayers and Fertilizer Spreaders: Keys to Application Accuracy”. Purdue University Extension. Publication number PPP-104.
²“Calibrating the Hose Reel Lawn Care Sprayer”. Purdue University Extension. Publication number PPP-85.

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