As the world population rises rapidly through the upcomingyears, so does world hunger. Feeding billions of us is a problem we face every
day in our globe due to the hiccups faced in production, processing,
delivering, etc. which results is shortage of grain and food for the masses.
Our agricultural industry is the most crucial sector for oursurvival and future. Without food, we cannot expect to live at all anytime
soon. Through the span of time we have seen every sector evolve, and so is the
case with agri-sector. Tools, machinery and plant genetics has helped the
industry come out of most problems increasing productions by tenfold.
One such product is the AgriculturalSprayer. The tool has helped countless farmers and agriculture enthusiastsin production and maintenance of their yield to the fullest. It has
revolutionized time efficiency as well as coverage of areas with the size of
the tool which has variants for different purposes. So what is it exactly? And
how does it work?
The Tool That Saves Plants
It is not a surprise how many threats a plant faces from thetime it has started germinating. Plants are under the constant radar of
multiple parasites, deficiencies, etc. which makes them vulnerable. Sprayers were invented to help givethe plant a layer of protection with water soluble chemicals which can enhance
a plant’s chance at growth. So in a nutshell, Agricultural Sprayer is specialized agricultural equipment used toadminister liquid chemicals to plants such as fertilizers and insecticides
during the crop growth cycle.
It has uses not only for plants but livestock as well whichthrives in farms and farmland environments. Agriculture sprayers are frequently used to apply water and water/chemicalmixtures including acids or caustic compounds for crop performance or insect
control, such as fertilizers and pesticides. Agricultural Sprayer has been designed to maximize theiradaptability and effectiveness for the numerous applications to which they are
put, whether on crops, plants, or soil.
The sprayers haveeffectively aided in production and are still used by most farmers because of
its reliability and performance. Agricultural Sprayer is a must-have tool and hence, as an investment is on the positiveside. More and more farmers are using the tool and applying pesticides under
strict monitoring to manage the levels, keep the crops healthy, and ensure a
100% harvest.
Kinds & Types
I. Low-Pressure Agricultural Sprayers
These sprayersmaintain a low pressure throughout their spraying time to provide an even flow
and coverage in area. It is helps with the amount you want to give which is
adequate but not excessive, hence, maintaining good levels of your water
soluble chemicals. This one comes with its own types which can be mounted on
different vehicles as per their purpose, though it largely depends on the area,
the bigger the area, the bigger the machine.
II. High-Pressure Agricultural Sprayers
The opposite of what the other one does, it is more foraiming at a particular crop, tree, etc. The high pressure generates a force
through which the chemical water can reach the desired target foliage. The tool
being heavy duty in its work also is heavy in weight thus, costing quite some
money to buy one. However, if possible, it can assist with smaller focused
regions for saturating your solutions and guaranteeing proper chemical
application.
III. Air Carrier Sprayers
Using a smart technology of high speed air, it aces theapplication process of these chemicals. Also called mist blowers or air-blast sprayers, because of the high speedair, it disperses and spreads the liquid while spraying, hence the liquid used
is quite concentrated. Its unique technology puts it an edge top over the other
variants. As it uses concentrated liquid because of high speed air dispersion,
it also provides another advantage of not filling the tank over and over or
rediluting the liquid for use.
IV. Hand-Operated Agricultural Sprayers
The cheapest option of them all, it is used by carryingaround one hand. The machine design is quite plain consisting of a tank, a hand
pump and a nozzle for the liquid to come out. Most people who do not have a big
budget go for this, but keep in mind it have some drawbacks. It is not able to
cover a lot of area due to low pressure and is emptied quite quickly as well
due to less volume capacity of holding liquids. It though is good for smaller
and delicate areas where you do not want heavy machinery to disturb the crops.
Where Do You See Them?
a) Liquid fertilizer application
This application of the sprayer is targeted, hence only acertain crop or area is chosen for spraying. Though the kind of sprayer used
for this application makes sure not a lot of liquid is lost during the process
to keep the cycle going for as long as possible. This method is also very
useful for early rooting and young crop growth.
b) Spraying water
A very crucial yet simple use of sprayers is drenching crops and livestock in water. The purposecan be from cleaning to hydrating them. Some high pressure sprayers are filled
with water to help with irrigation as well. It is one of the most basic uses of
sprayers in agriculture industry.
You should be very keen in understanding Agricultural Sprayers before buying oneyourself even if you are an enthusiast or an avid gardener. Mostly keep in mind
the price and purpose of equipment before diving all into it.A lot of people don’t have a clue on how different industriesare always in need of sprayers. Pestcontrolling depends upon the efficacy of sprayers for accurate chemical
application to eliminate these parasites. Mostly handheld sprayers make an
appearance as heavy equipment cannot always be handled in such closed spaces.
d) Spraying herbicides
It might sound good but it’s not. An herbicide is a chemicalspecifically made to eliminate unwanted plants which leech nutrients off of
your actual yield. Plants like weeds are the prime example. Similar to spraying pesticides, it uses thechemical mixed with water and is spread over an area to get a hold of these
things. Earlier it used to also affect the good plants in the selected area,
but as technology has improved, selective elimination has been introduced
hence, only eliminating the bad plants.
What Is The Future?
The future seems to be what it usually follows in otherindustries as well, automation. A field in which precision matters a lot,
automation is sure to help in ways which are unthinkable by farmers and agri
lovers. The elimination of Spray pump from the mechanism will also be interesting and new set of controls will be
introduced to get a hold of the improved machinery.
People are holding a belief if the automation is doneproperly and up to the mark, it can result in helping the world yield by
thousands of tones for every possible crop. As some crop variants are difficult
to reproduce, these automated changes in the Agricultural Sprayer will be targeting and precise to the point ithas no side effects also.
The future is near as we progress day by day or minute byminute, but something to encourage upon and help is in all the research we can
provide to ensure a product not only good for us, farmers or others but also
much safer for the environment and fauna.
Maintenance Is Key
Longevity of any kind of machinery depends upon its usershandling ability and maintenance. It is prime for a machine to be in a shape
for daily use and moreover for use at all as machines can break down if not taken
care properly. But what kind of things you need to do in order to maintain this
kind of machine? Let us explore some tips for that.
If your machine is brand new, take these tips intoconsideration before using it:
- Examine all fluids, the engine, and thedriveline.
- Grease explosion.
- Lug nuts should be torque.
- Lubricate the steering, axle, and driveline.
- Check the torque of the axle extension bolts.
- Tighten the plastic tank straps.
- Adjust the boom.
- Examine the illumination and flashers.
- Keep track of all field computer calibrationvalues.
If you are using your machine for daily use, follow thesetips regularly for getting a better use out of it:
- Examine and clean the engine coolant level.
- Inspect the transmission oil level.
- Assess the hydraulic fluid level.
- Check the tightness of the A/C belt and/orserpentine belt.
- Every eight hours of operating time, lubricateflag pins, sway pivots, tip hinges, and boom fold pivots.
- Check the engine air intake system for clampsaround the air filter and charge air tubes.
- Observe the illumination and flashers.
Conclusion
You should be very keen in understanding Agricultural Sprayers before buying oneyourself even if you are an enthusiast or an avid gardener. Mostly keep in mind
the price and purpose of equipment before diving all into it.
But on the contrary, when explored, Sprayers have proven to be one of the best investments for peoplewho follow agricultural practices to their core. You can explore several options in the market but only the best will give you the results you are
looking for hence, invest smartly.
