Effect of Field Plot Design on the Efficacy of Boom Sprayer

Field performance of the boom sprayer was evaluated at three different plot sizes, three different operating pressures and at three different forward speeds of tractor. Four spraying operations were performed. At the first two sprays only the sucking insects (Jassid, and Whiteflies) were analyzed for mortality as there were no bollworms at that stage. In third and fourth spray bollworms were analyzed for mortality. The experiment was done to find out the effects of pressure and velocity on mortality of white fly, jassid and bollworms and the effect of field size on field efficiency of boom sprayer. The results indicated that increase in velocity decreases the mortality or sucking insects as well as bollworm insects. Best field speed for crop spraying operation was observed to be 4.0 km/h. Working pressure of 400 kPa has a significant effect on insect mortality. For same width of fields, longer the field more the productive time, therefore, more will be the field efficiency of the sprayer. Lower field speed had more sprayer field efficiency than the greater field speed. The reason could be the more time required for turning at field ends to less maneuverability of tractor the operator might had found difficulty in controlling over the tractor holding more wider sprayer mounted behind.