14
•
Follow label directions for preparing the mix.
•
Use only on crops or varieties registered for the
particular tank mix.
•
Apply at the recommended stage of growth or
development of crop and pest(s).
Sprayer Clean-out
Modern pesticides can affect susceptible crops at very
low concentrations. Proper sprayer cleaning is a
critical component for the maintenance of the sprayer,
reducing water contamination risks and eliminating
crop injury from equipment contamination.
Herbicide residue adheres to tank walls and crevices
and may be brought into solution by a subsequent
herbicide or a particularly effective spray adjuvant
acting as a solvent. Plastic or polyethylene tanks and
hoses tend to require more extensive cleaning than
stainless steel tanks. Post-emergent application
sprayed directly on crop foliage will have a greater
potential for crop injury than soil-applied herbicide.
Crop injury from sprayer contamination can occur
even several months after using the sprayer without
proper cleanup, and injury can occur even following
several subsequent applications.
Water is needed for dilution. The more often a
sprayer is rinsed out, the greater the dilution of
chemical left. You have a greater dilution by
repeatedly rinsing the tank with small quantities of
water rather than one rinse with a large volume of
water. Water is adequate to flush and rinse the
sprayer with some herbicides, but others need
additional cleaning agents. The additional cleaning
agents needed for cleaning will depend on the
herbicides used. There are common household
chemicals that can be used, but most producers use
commercial sprayer cleaning products. Sprayer
cleaning agents can have several functions including
dilution, solubilization and/or de-activation.
Cleaning agents can increase the solubility of a
herbicide. Ammonium increases the pH of the
solution, which increases the solubility of sulfonylurea
herbicides. The agent may not help break down the
herbicide, but it does help strip the herbicide off the
tank surfaces and get it into solution. Chlorine bleach
enhances the decomposition of sulfonylurea and
many other herbicides, but it is less effective than
ammonia at dissolving and removing sulfonylurea
from the tank.
“
e”
1.
Always start with a clean and empty
sprayer tank.
2.
Fill the tank 1/3 to 1/2 full of clean water.
3.
With the agitator running, add the required
amount of Express herbicide.
4.
When Express herbicide has been thoroughly
dissolved, add the required amount of the
appropriate tank mix partner.
5.
If the tank mix partner is an emulsifiable
concentrate (EC), reduce agitation to avoid
inducing an invert emulsion. Once dissolved,
Express will remain in solution.
6.
Add the rest of the water.
7.
If required for tank mixture, add surfactant.
8.
Refer to the label for specific tank mixing order
and directions.
9.
For repeat tank loads, reduce the material
remaining in the tank to 10% of the original
volume or less before proceeding with Step 1
because remaining chemicals may prevent
Express from completely dissolving. If it is not
possible, pre-slurry Express herbicide in a
small amount (5 - 10 L) of water before adding
to the tank.
10.
If an anti-foaming agent is required, add last.
Avoid tank mix problems
Check the labels for recommended crops, pests and
rates for tank mixes as they may be restricted
compared to the recommendations for each individual
product. For example, either Poast or MCPA Amine
alone can be used on several crops. A Poast + MCPA
Amine tank mix can only be used on flax.
Crop injury, reduced pest control or physical
incompatabilities may be the result of using tank
mixes improperly. When herbicides for grassy weed
control are mixed with herbicides for broadleaf weed
control, a partial loss (sometimes total loss) of activity
on grassy weed control is quite common. When
reduced weed control or crop injury is likely to
occur, the advantages of tank mixing are quickly lost.
•
Tank mix properties are not necessarily the same as
those of the individual pesticides applied separately.
•
Use registered tank mixes only.
•
Check the labels for recommended crops, pests,
rates and adjuvants for tank mixing.