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Purpose of Spraying

Crops, Plants are usually attacked by insects, weeds which spreads diseases. In order to prevent this pest attack chemicals are widely used to kill them or avoid their existence. These chemicals are sprayed in a different ways either in form of droplets, dust, and mist depending on the characteristic of the plants. As these chemicals are very costly it is very important to select the right sprayer which sprays uniform amount of dust or mist in the field. Sprayers are available in various types and sizes one needs to select this depending on his needs.

There can be different purposes for spraying some of the application of spraying are:
1. To spray insecticides in order to avoid the attack of pests
2. To spray fungicides to prevent fungal diseases
3. To spray herbicides to control weeds
4.To spray fertilizers in the fields which acts as nutrients to ensure proper growth of plants

The basic purpose of sprayer is to break the liquid into a mist form or tiny droplets and uniformly distribute it in the field. This application avoids overspreading of chemicals which sometime may be harmful for the crops.

Knapsack Sprayer

This is the most popular type of sprayer used to spray chemicals. Knapsack Sprayers are available in various sizes 10 litre, 13ltr, 16ltr, 18ltr. However standard availability and widely used model is 16ltr sprayer. Knapsack Sprayers are highly portable and are be easily mobile in the field by hanging the tank on the back of the individual.

Pressure is built in this sprayer by the use of handle which extends under the arm of the person and on the other hand there is a spray gun which acts as an outlet for the built pressure. Uniform pressure can be maintained by keeping the sprayer in continuous operation.

Foot Sprayer

This type of sprayer is the one which is operated with foot i.e. pressure is built using foot unlike in knapsack sprayer where pressure is built using hand. Foot sprayers are used for spraying chemicals on trees. These sprayers have enormous capacity to throw the liquid up to height of 30ft. People having bamboo plantations, rubber estates, mango trees normally prefer this type of sprayer.

Apart from basic amenities Foot Sprayer consist of pump operated by the foot lever, suction hose with strainer and a barrel. Foot sprayer does not have an inbuilt tank therefore an additional container in required to store the liquid to be sprayed. A suction hose from the container is attached to the pressure barrel. Pressure can be built by using the foot and then there is an outlet from the pressure chamber to spray the liquid. However there is a requirement of two to use this sprayer. One person builds the pressure and other sprays the liquid.

Rocker Sprayer

Rocker sprayers are operated with a long lever for high pressure spraying on trees and orchard crops. The entire parts of the sprayer are mounted on a wooden board which is held to the ground using foot. This sprayer has a provision of using two spray guns at a time. In a normal case using a rocker sprayer requires two individuals at a time to spray the contents however if there are two spray gun there will three persons required.

Mechanism rocker sprayer and foot sprayer is some what similar, only difference here being pressure is built here using hand in rocker sprayer, while in other case foot is used to make pressure.

Rocker sprayers are widely used for spraying the contents on tall trees like coconut, areca nut, sugar cane, rubber plantations, orchards, vineyards and field crops, vegetable gardens, flower crops etc.

Stirrup Sprayer

Stirrup sprayers are widely used and very popular for purpose of mosquito control. Apart from this small farmers and vegetable growers also use this more frequently because of its simplicity and ease of operation. Stirrup sprayers are also commonly called as bucket sprayer. This is because stirrup sprayer is used by submerging the pump in the bucket containing the chemical. Pressure is build by movement of handle in up and down position and the same is delivered to lance through a pipe which is normally 5m long. In a normal course a flat fan nozzle is used to spray the chemical which is provided with the sprayer.

Stirrup Sprayers are used for the purpose of health, killing mosquitoes, orchards, nurseries, vegetable gardens etc.

Hand Rotary Duster

There are two models available in hand rotary dusters i.e. shoulder mounted and belly mounted. However most preferred model is belly mounted. Basic purpose of hand rotary duster is throw dust and chemicals in the powder form in the field. Major parts used in hand rotary duster are Hopper, Blower, Gear Box, Discharge Pipe, Rotating Handle and the outer body which is either made up of plastic or aluminium.

Powder is spread by rotating the handle in a circular motion. Chemical when comes out is carried to the plants and then settled on stems, leaves and other parts.

Dusters are popularly used for control of pests and diseases in the dust forms in nurseries, fields, vegetable gardens, green houses, glass houses and godowns.

Hand Compression Sprayers

Hand Compression Sprayers are available in two varieties firstly they are either pressure retaining or secondly non pressure retaining. The pressure retaining type has an advantage that air charged once will last for weeks. This requires strong and sturdy tank therefore its not commonly used. Non Pressure retaining type is a more common sprayer which is like any other sprayer consisting of an airtight brass tank. This sprayer can be operated with a single person. Mechanism of creating pressure is similar to stirrup sprayer i.e. up and down movement of handle however only difference being the liquid/ chemical can be stored inside the hand compression sprayer. The operator can make the pressure in the beginning and then mount the sprayer on his back and can freely roam around the area till the pressure lasts.

Hand compression sprayers are more popular in municipal corporations for killing the pests. These are also commonly used in home areas and even factories to prevent pests. Apart from this farmers also widely use this in fields to avoid entry of insects.