SPRAY TABLE DEMONSTRATION KIT PROJECT - PHASE II

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0206846
• Grant No.: 2006-41530-03492
• Proposal No.: 2006-03910
• Project Start Date: Jul 1, 2006
• Project End Date: Jun 30, 2007
• Grant Year: 2006
• Program Code: [QQ.E]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
KANSAS STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MANHATTAN,KS 66506

Performing Department
Agri Engineering Bio/Ag Engineering

Non Technical Summary
One of the many topics that surround pesticide issues is the proper application of pesticides. This topic can be very difficult to address in training sessions and hold an audience's attention. Recent advancements in spray nozzle designs have increased the importance of methods to effectively show applicators these new characteristics. Consequently, the development of more active displays and teaching techniques can provide greater success in training sessions. When applicators are able to set in front of a demonstration table complete with accent lighting, they are able to view from a different perspective spray nozzle characteristics not visible during a normal spraying operation. This project was originated because there is no longer a source of demonstration tables that pesticide application training specialist can purchase for use in conducting training programs. The most recent vendor (twenty plus years ago) is out of business and provides no service or parts for repairs to current systems. Several of these and other older versions have broken down and are no longer useable. Most current PSEP coordinators have never had a spray demonstration table. In addition, PSEP coordinators are not technically trained to design and construct such demonstration tables. Many do not have engineering support to help with this need.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
216	3110	1060	50%
404	5299	2020	50%

Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems; 404 - Instrumentation and Control Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
5299 - Agricultural supplies, general/other; 3110 - Insects;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

spray demonstration table

portable spray table

Goals / Objectives
This project (phase II) has been designed to build and distribute additional demonstration kits and provide a CD containing an instruction manual to guide the trainers. It will also result in the preparation of a blueprint and bill of materials of the kit for others beyond the scope of this phase expressing an interest in receiving a kit.

Project Methods
Using the current plans and Ledebuhr Industries as the private contractor, additional kits will be built in the quantity warranted by the project. Based on increased costs for key components, it is estimated that an additional 11 kits will be built with these funds. Those key components will be purchased to go with selected components from manufactures that have been provided through donations for this kit project. Spraying Systems, Hypro Pumps, Greenleaf, Red Ball, ShurFlo Pumps, and others have agreed to either donate or provide component parts at reduced costs as needed. Many of these donated components are already in place left from Phase I. The PD will provide the instruction CD with setup instructions and an operation manual. A blueprint of the kit will also be developed. The demonstration portable table-top spray table with an adjustable height boom split into two active spraying segments and three nozzle body locations will be placed in a leak proof truck bed tool box 72 inches long. The box will serve as the sump for the circulating water and contain a lid that will close to contain all parts except pattern table for transport and storage. An electric diaphragm pump (concealed in end of box) with necessary hoses and fittings, dual boom control valves, and pressure gauges are included. A variety of common nozzle types emphasizing new technology including those designed for drift reduction will be supplied with the kit. The kit will also include an optional handheld strobe light for highlighting spray droplet characteristics, a clip-on fan to simulate wind for demonstrating drift, accent lights to highlight individual spray tip characteristics and a spraycheck patternator for showing nozzle patterns from 1, 2, or 3 nozzles. There is potential to reach tens of thousands of private and commercial pesticide applicators during routine training activities in the states receiving these kits. From the training it is expected the applicators will have a better understanding of spray nozzle technology influencing decisions on making more efficient and efficacious applications with minimized drift.

Progress 07/01/06 to 06/30/07

Outputs
Phase II of a project to enhance pesticide safety education programs supported by a special IPM program grant from Michael Fitzner, National Program Leader for IPM at the USDA, and co directed by Bob Wolf, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, Kansas State University and Monte Johnson, National Program Leader for Environmental Toxicology, CSREES, is in progress. The grant supports the building of twelve demonstration kits distributed to selected PSEP coordinators for use in hands-on training activities to demonstrate technology, pattern quality, and drift tendencies for spray nozzles commonly used to apply agricultural chemicals. The kits include a self-enclosed table with a pump, a two-section boom with three nozzle body assemblies, dual pressure controls, and pattern collector. A variety of spray nozzles are included along with special accent lighting to help emphasize the spray nozzle characteristics. A fan is included to demonstrate drift. The kit will also include an instruction manual to guide the trainers. Ledebuhr Industries, Inc. of Bath, Michigan is under contract to build the tables and assemble the kits based on a prototype developed by the project committee headed by Wolf. Wolf is overseeing the kit development and worked with various venders to supply parts for the kit. Without generous donations from the following companies this project would not have been nearly as successful: SHURFLO Pumps, Spraying Systems, Hypro Pumps, Greenleaf, and Red Ball. Completion and shipping is expected early spring 2007.

Impacts
When Phase II is completed a total of 26 states will have these kits available to train pesticide applicators. In Phase I PESP kits were selected for distribution in the following states: Indiana, Missouri, Texas, Montana, South Carolina, Delaware, New York, Utah, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. States to receive kits as a part of Phase II are: Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, Arkansas, Florida, Colorado, Tennessee, New Mexico, Virginia, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma. The remaining states either have a suitable plan meeting their needs or chose not to participate.

Publications

• Wolf, R.E. Wolf. 2006. Nozzle type effect on soybean canopy penetration. Proceedings, ASAE 2006 Annual Meeting, Portland, OR. Presentation Paper No. 061163.
• Wolf, Robert and Dallas Peterson. 2006. The effect of nozzle type and pressure on postemergence weed control. Proceedings North Central Weed Science Society. Milwaukee, WI. Paper No. 143.
• Wolf, Robert. 2005. The effect of application volume and deposition aids on droplet spectrum and deposition in broccoli for aerial applications. Orlando, FL. ASABE/NAAA Paper No. AA06-09. Wolf, Robert. 2005. Nozzle type effect on soybean canopy penetration. St. Louis, MO. National Soybean Rust Symposium. Poster No. 61.