Massey Ferguson points out tips to make spraying more efficient

Spraying is one of the most important moments in crop management. The inappropriate application of pesticides can leave the crop vulnerable to diseases and result in losses in the farmer's productivity and profitability. A study by the Paraná Rural Development Institute (IDR-PR) showed that 46% of agricultural pesticide applications are wasted due to human error.

According to Lucas Zanetti, Tactical Marketing coordinator at Massey Ferguson, the largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery in Latin America and a reference in the Brazilian agricultural market, this is one of the most expensive stages of the production cycle. “In addition to the sprayer being the machine that does the most work in the field, spraying represents, for example, around 25% of the total cost of soybean production and up to 30% of cotton cultivation”, he highlights.

Proper management, with the support of field technologies, can avoid product waste and help with operational efficiency. The expert listed six important practices to make the process more efficient and bring gains in productivity and profitability for the farmer.

1. Correct height of the bars in relation to the target: bars that are too high or close to the target can cause losses of approximately two bags per hectare. If the bar is positioned above the correct height, it is possible to have losses due to drift and, if positioned too low, the target may not be reached. To define the ideal height, it is necessary to analyze the type of tip used and the angle of the jet, in addition to the spacing between them.

2. Bar stability: the stability of the bar in applications that reach speeds above 15 km/h tends to decrease, leading to application failures and loss of productivity that can reach five to seven bags per hectare in soybeans, for example. The use of technologies, such as the bar height sensor, is important to assist with stability.

3. Climate conditions: The weather condition is important in deciding the exact moment to apply the product. Currently, there are portable climate monitors and meteorological stations installed in crops that provide data on temperature, relative humidity and wind, three factors that guarantee efficient application. In the ideal standard for application, the wind speed must be 2 km/h to 10 km/h, the maximum temperature around 30°C and the relative humidity above 50%.

4. Correct choice of spray tips: To choose spray tips, the producer needs to define the target: pest, disease or weed. After the definition, it is important to consult an agronomist to choose the product that will be applied and find out how it acts on the pest or crop. There are systemic pesticides, which act directly on the physiology of the plant. For this type of product, in some cases, tips that provide slightly larger drops can be used, reducing the risk of drift. As for contact products, the recommended tips are tips that provide smaller drops to provide a larger coverage area, in this case it is very important to be aware of the weather conditions.

5. Spray tip wear: the criterion that must be adopted is wear resulting from various factors such as water quality, working pressure, abrasive power of products and cleaning. It is recommended to change when the spray tip presents above 10% of its nominal flow. Failure to make the change at the correct time can cause a significant increase in the cost of the application and greater environmental damage.

6. Sizing of machines for application: it is very important to correctly size the sprayers according to the characteristics of the areas and the logistics of the properties. A seven-day delay in the decision to apply the fungicide to soybeans, for example, can result in an increase in the severity of Asian Rust and a reduction in productivity, which can reach three bags of 60 kg per hectare, according to a study in some institutions.

MF 9330 sprayer

To avoid waste of inputs, with uniform spraying and assertive quality, Massey Ferguson offers the MF 9330 sprayer. With a 3.000 liter spray tank and a 24 or 30 meter spray bar, the model provides better deposition of sprayed drops, ensuring a productivity that can exceed five bags per hectare with the use of the automatic bar height and leveling control system. The 200 hp AGCO Power engine consumes up to 30% less fuel compared to models on the market and the robust traction system with permanent double crossed pump combined with the flexible chassis allows the model to face adverse terrain while maintaining the quality of the application.