Sprayer 3ph sprayers - need info

[forester2]

Don't know how many nozzles you have nor boom width. Output is also changed by using different tips.

 

[Foodplot]

I'm not sure of your approach to planting your NWSG (native warm season grass). Do you plan to turn the soil, or are planting no-till? If no-till, you are likely to do two applications of herbicide, the type and timing of which depends on your soil and existing vegetation. If you are doing a one-time NWSG planting on just 18 acres, I would hire out the herbicide application rather than invest in an expensive 3-pt. spraying system that will collect rust and demand maintenance on a regular basis. If you want to do spot spraying and have an ATV, a 25 gallon spray tank mounted on that will be much faster and less trouble. We maintain about 1500 acres of biological research lands and, while we do our own herbicide apps for initial NWSG plantings, the spot sprayer on the ATV gets a lot more use. Post-germination NWSG weed control is generally via burning on a regular rotation and top-clipping, not via herbicide, as you will presumably have a mix of NWSG and native broad-leaved plants as well (forbs). Hope this helps.

 

[scrapironford]

I use a FIMCO 60gl 12ft boom 4.8gpm 12 volt electric pump on a 180 acre farm. Pressure relief valve allows adjustment of volume ,droplet size & pressure when useing different chemicals and tips. Calabration before each use is a good idea, to apply the proper amount of chemical and/or mixed solution per acre. This should be doccumented for liability reasons. I spray approxmitely 100acres per year ,4 to 25 gl per acre, and have had no sprayer problems other than my mistakes. There are better spray systems this one does a good job for me.

 

[Birdbrain]

I'm not sure of your approach to planting your NWSG (native warm season grass). Do you plan to turn the soil, or are planting no-till? If no-till, you are likely to do two applications of herbicide, the type and timing of which depends on your soil and existing vegetation. If you are doing a one-time NWSG planting on just 18 acres, I would hire out the herbicide application rather than invest in an expensive 3-pt. spraying system that will collect rust and demand maintenance on a regular basis. If you want to do spot spraying and have an ATV, a 25 gallon spray tank mounted on that will be much faster and less trouble. We maintain about 1500 acres of biological research lands and, while we do our own herbicide apps for initial NWSG plantings, the spot sprayer on the ATV gets a lot more use. Post-germination NWSG weed control is generally via burning on a regular rotation and top-clipping, not via herbicide, as you will presumably have a mix of NWSG and native broad-leaved plants as well (forbs). Hope this helps.

Hi folks,
Sorry, been away from the computer and this thread a few days travelling. Now back home and need to get moving in earnest.

Some more specifics on the project. It is a one time herbicide application prior to no-till planting of the NWSG. Future maintenance will be by mowing or burning. Yes, there is a mix of grasses, plants and native wildflowers to be planted. For future spraying, I need to spray 2 wetlands to kill non-native cattails this summer and whatever comes up in the future.

I understand everyone's comments about hiring it out. But this part of the project has become ridiculously frustrating. I have gotten absolutely nowhere with trying to find someone else to do the work. The contractors recommended by the state have been unresponsive for whatever reason (un-returned phone calls, not interested in doing only the spraying, etc.). The ag spraying concerns did not want to touch it (too small or did not want to use chemicals provided by others (which are already paid for through the state program)). All of this delayed the work from getting done last year.

So I have arrived at doing the job myself so that it gets done this year. In the long run, my best option may be hire out the big job and then get a 25 gal sprayer for maintenance. But if I can't find anyone, that leads me back to the 55 gal....

Thanks,
Glen

PS. Can't find a used one either.

 

[Tritonman]

I have a 60 gallon fimco with an electric pump and it suits my needs well. I spray 30 acres twic a year with it. All my roundup is done at 5 gpa and 10 MPH at 30 psi. You will burn out an electric pump each year, pretty much guaranteed so the roller is a better way to go.

 

[Birdbrain]

I did some sample calculations. See if I am one the right track.

From the FIMCO literature (for the 40 gal model), at 5 mph and 50 psi, 13.3 gallons per acre is applied. 40 gal tank / 13.3 per acre = 3 acres per tank. 18 acre job = 6 or 7 trips.

That does not seem too bad. The 40 gal unit saves initial expense of the larger unit (over $300) and won't be so oversized for future use.

Glen