Pesticides, Application Equipment and Safety
Pesticides, application equipment and safety tests formulation types, mode of action, dose calculation, sprayer use, residues and first aid.
Core rules
- Formulations: EC (emulsifiable concentrate), WP (wettable powder), SC (suspension concentrate), SL (soluble liquid), dust, granule, bait, fumigant. EC mixes to a milky emulsion; WP forms a suspension.
- Mode of action: contact, stomach, systemic, translaminar, fumigant. Rotate modes of action to delay resistance.
- Dose and dilution: label dose is active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare or concentration. Formulation needed = (desired a.i. concentration × spray volume) ÷ formulation concentration.
- Equipment: knapsack sprayer, foot sprayer, mist blower, duster, seed dresser. Calibrate; check nozzles; keep spray pressure steady.
- Safety: PPE, label, pre-harvest interval (PHI), re-entry interval, safe storage, disposal. First aid: remove contaminated clothing, wash skin, flush eyes 15 minutes, move to fresh air, carry label to doctor; do not induce vomiting after corrosive or petroleum product.
Worked example
Prepare 200 L of 0.1% a.i. spray from 50% WP. Required a.i. = 0.1/100 × 200 L = 0.2 kg = 200 g. Formulation = 200 g ÷ 0.50 = 400 g. Add 400 g WP to a little water, slurry, then make up to 200 L.
Traps
Do not confuse product dose with a.i. dose. Never mix incompatible products or exceed PHI. More spray is not more effective; runoff wastes money and raises residues.