UNIT:7

PLANT PROTECTION EQUIPMENTS:

There are various problems in agriculture. The major problems are due to insect, pest and
disease, so frequent use of pesticides are being used to control such problems. For this various
instruments are used and those which are used for the protection purpose is called plant
protection equipment. These instruments have proper calibration and specific size depending up
on the area to be covered. There are three types of protection equipment, they are;

1. Sprayers: Sprayers are the equipment designed for the foliar application of pesticides in
the form of water droplet or mist. There are different types of sprayers;
a. Foot sprayer: It is a type of sprayer which is operated by upward and downward
movement of paddle for which the foot is used. This sprayer is difficult to operate by
the single person and is used to spray in large areas and tall trees. The spray is done
by the jet force acting in the nozzle created by the upward and downward movement
of paddle.
b. Knapsack sprayer: This is compression type sprayer because it sprays by the force
created by the compression of the air inside the tank. The solution can be made inside
or outside the tank. The tank is carried on the back and sprayed to the field. This
sprayer is calibrated from 9-18ltr but in our context generally 14-16ltr tank is used.
For every discharge of spray we need give pressure.
c. Compression sprayer: This is also compression type sprayer since it sprays by the
force created by the compression of air in the tank. It is generally brass tank provided
with pressure gauze to maintain optimum pressure. Once pressure is applied the
continuous fine mist discharge occurs till the pressure goes down. It is used in small
scale spray purpose.
d. Atomizer (hand sprayer): This is the simple and smallest sprayer made of different
material. It is generally used to spray for the indoor purpose. The capacity of it is not
more than half liter. It has a simple pump for the operation and discharges liquid in
the form of mist as soon as the pump is stoked.

Functions of sprayer:

 The main function of sprayer is to break the liquid into small droplet of effective size and
distribute them uniformly over a surface or space to be protected.
 To regulate the amount of pesticides and to avoid excessive application this might be
harmful or wasteful.

PARTS OF SPRAYER:
  Tank: It is the main body of the sprayer made up of plastic, brass, steel, iron, or fire
glass. The shape of the tank may be cylindrical, cubical, or barrel shaped. The capacity of
the tank may be variable.
 Pump: The pump is required for atomizing the spray liquid.
 Pressure chamber: This chamber is fixed in hydraulic sprayer to maintain the uniform
pressure.
 Agitator: It works for uniform dispersal of liquid or suspension and emulsion. It is
generally found in Knapsack sprayer.
 Valve: There are two types of valves used in sprayer. They are spring loaded and ball
valve.
 Pressure gauze: This is provided to maintain or indicate the amount of pressure during
pesticide spray.
 Hose: This is made of rubber or synthetic rubber, nylon or plastic tube capable of
withstanding high pressure. It is fitted with tank at the one end and spray at the other end.
 Shut off cock: It regulates the flow of spray liquid.
 Spray lanes: It is the brass tube of variable length. One end of the spray lanes is fitted
with shut off cock and other with nozzle.
 Nozzle: Nozzles are parts of sprayer specially designed to break the liquid coming out of
spray to fine droplets.
2. Dusters: The some pesticides have properties that they are not soluble in water so they
should be dusted. So for this a specially designed machine is required for the dusting, this
specially designed machinery is called duster. It consists of various parts like hopper,
agitator. By the help of these the dust are dusted over the plant part for their protection.

Function of duster:

The function of duster is to distribute the fine particles of dust pesticides uniformly over
the plants. Generally it is used in those areas where water is scarce.

Types of duster:

a. Hand duster or plunger duster: This is a simple type of duster having a dust container,
cylinder with piston, a rod and a handle. It has tube with nozzle at the end. As the air
passes out it collects dust and eject out through the nozzle.
b. Hand pump duster: It is cheap and easy to operate but cannot control the amount of dust
delivered. The duster than a chamber to hold the dust and a piston which compress the air
moves out through the chamber. As the air passes through this chamber dust is picked up
and ejected out. Agitation is provided by shaking the duster while working. Most
advanced pump have double action plunger which maintains the constant and even
stream of air.
c. Hand rotatory duster: This is the most common type of duster available in our context.
The duster comprises fan, gear, hand crank and a container for holding the dust. The
 agitator is connected to one of the gear and is provided with adjustable feeding
mechanism. The dust is sucked by means of air current produced by the rotating fan
which is discharged out through delivery tube.

CARE AND MAINTAINANCE OF PROTECTION EQUIPMENTS:

For the proper functioning of the different equipment care and maintenance of the
equipment is necessary. The care and management must be done according to the guidelines
described below;

1. Before use:
 Read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow accordingly.
 The operator should be familiar with working mechanism.
 Keep the equipment parts extra for the emergency period.
 Check the equipment thoroughly and calibrate before using it. Use strainer while
handling pesticides.
2. During use:
 Provide proper care to prevent clogging or blockage of nozzle, delivery tubes etc.
 Keep watching pressure gauze for maintaining the pressure.
 Avoid bending of delivery pipe or tube.
 Clean the instrument before changing the insecticides.
3. After use:
 Make the tank empty and clean it thoroughly.
 Store the equipment in dry and safe place from the reach of children.
 Lubricate the equipment from time to time and apply grease, oil in different parts
of the equipment.
 Check and repair when needed.

TROUBLE, CAUSES AND REMEDY OF COMMONLY USED EQUIPMENTS:

EQUIPMENTS TRUOBLE CAUSES REMEDY

Hand compression -plunger move up by -air check valve seat or -change either air check
sprayer itself. gasket defective valve or gasket
-difficult to pump down-leakage of water inside -seal the leakage of the
-pressure inside tank is
the pump barrel, which barrel
not maintained may be due to crack in -replace with new one
barrel Seal the leakage
-piston washer not
working or leakage
from joint or tank
Knapsack sprayer -it works only when -delivery tube is not -adjust the delivery
pumped working properly tube
Foot sprayer -leakage of gland knot -the gland knot is loose -tight the gland knot if
 -the sprayer do not suck or packing is worn out it is loose
-the cup leather is either -replace the cup leather
wrinkled or worn out or if wrinkled or worn out.
it is completely dry If it is dry prime the
sprayer

CALIBRATION OF SPRAYERS:

Calibration means providing the standard unit to the sprayers. It can also be defined as
the process of measuring the capacity with certain criteria. The sprayers are calibrated in
different basis like, maximum pressure that any sprayer can hold and volume capacity etc.

If we calibrate the sprayer on the basis of nozzle then we have to consider following
things. Amount of water that is pumped out from the nozzle in certain time. The calibration can
be made in gallon per second, ltr/sec etc. so in the context of our country the sprayers are
calibrated on the basis of volume of the tank and pressure. The volume is denoted as 14-16ltr
tank and for pressure 40-50PSI.