MDARD Michigan Core Pesticide Applicator Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a variable that affects the amount of spray material applied per area when calibrating a boom sprayer?

1. Nozzle flow rate

2. Ground speed of sprayer

3. Width sprayed per nozzle

4. Pressure of the pump

The correct answer is: Pressure of the pump

The correct answer is that the pressure of the pump is not a variable that directly affects the amount of spray material applied per area when calibrating a boom sprayer. Calibration of a boom sprayer focuses on factors directly involved in determining the application rate, which include the nozzle flow rate, the ground speed of the sprayer, and the width sprayed per nozzle. Nozzle flow rate is crucial because it defines how much liquid is released from each nozzle over a given time, directly impacting application rates. Ground speed affects how quickly the sprayer moves across the field, which influences the area covered in relation to the amount dispensed. The width sprayed per nozzle determines how much area each nozzle covers, influencing the spatial distribution of the spray. While pump pressure does play a role in ensuring that the sprayer operates effectively and can impact droplet size and pattern, it is not directly indicated as a variable in the context of determining the application rate per area during calibration. This means pressure does not affect the volume of spray delivered per unit of area in the same straightforward way that the other listed variables do.