Pesticide Calibration Formulas
and Information for Turf Managers

L.B. McCarty
Formerly Extension Turf Specialist
Environmental Horticultural Department
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32611

Now with Clemson University


Acres/hour:    

         =         MPH x Swath (ft) x 0.1212


                    MPH x Swath (ft)
         =       ---------------------
                         8.25


Gallons Per Acre (GPA):     

                       GPM x 495   
         =      ---------------------
                   MPH x Swath (ft)


                    GPM per nozzle x 495  
         =      ------------------------------
                    MPH x nozzle spacing (ft)


                      GPM per nozzle x 5940 
         =     ------------------------------------
                     MPH x nozzle spacing (inches)


                    fl.oz. collected per nozzle x 4084
         =     -------------------------------------------
                    ft. traveled x nozzle spacing (inches)


                    fl.oz collected per nozzle in 100 ft x 40.8375
         =     ----------------------------------------------------
                               nozzle spacing (inches)


                   gallons collected per nozzle x no. of nozzles x 43560
         =     -------------------------------------------------------------
                               ft. traveled x Swath (ft)


                     GPM per nozzle x 5940    
         =     ------------------------------------
                   MPH x nozzle spacing (inches)



Gallons Per Minute (GPM):

                     GPA x MPH x Swath (ft)
         =     ------------------------------
                             495


                     GPA x MPS x nozzle spacing (inches) x no. nozzles
         =     -------------------------------------------------------------
                                           5940


                 fl.oz per minute
         =      ------------------
                        128



GPM/Nozzle:

                     GPA x MPH x nozzle spacing (inches)
         =      ---------------------------------------------
                                    5940


                    GPA x MPH x nozzle spacing (ft)
         =      ---------------------------------------
                                   495

 
                  Test jar fl.oz x 0.46875
         =       ---------------------------
                  seconds to fill test jar


                                   7.5              
         =       -----------------------------------
                  seconds to fill 1 pint (16 fl.oz.)


                                   15              
         =       ------------------------------------
                  seconds to fill 1 quart (32 fl.oz.)

 

Minutes/Acre:
 
                       495       
         =       --------------------
                   MPH x Swath (ft)


Minutes/load:

                    gallons/load x 495  
         =       ------------------------------
                   MPH x GPA x Swath (ft)


Travel Speed (MPH):

                      Distance traveled (ft) x 60      
         =       -------------------------------------------
                  time (seconds) to travel distance x 88

         
                       GPM x 495   
        =        --------------------
                    GPA x Swath (ft)



Acres covered per tank:

                    Gallons per tank
        =        ---------------------
                          GPA


Table 1. Time (seconds) required to cover a specific distance to obtain a desired speed (MPH).

-----------------------------------------------------------------
                    Time Required (Seconds) to Travel 
                    a Distance of:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Desired           Feet per       100 ft.     200 ft.     300 ft.
MPH               minute
-----------------------------------------------------------------
  2.0               176          34          68          102
  2.5               220          27          54          81
  3.0               264          23          45          68
  3.5               308          20          39          58
  4.0               352          17          43          51
  4.5               395          15          30          45
  5.0               440          14          27          41
  6.0               528          --          23          34
  7.0               616          --          19          29
  8.0               704          --          17          26
  9.0               792          --          15          23
------------------------------------------------------------------

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