Boom spray cleaning and storage

All traces of one chemical should be washed from the boom spray before using another. If chemicals like 2,4-D are used, decontaminate the sprayer with cloudy ammonia before using other chemicals. The process below describes how best this is done for large volume sprayers. For knapsacks mix 10-15 liters in the same ratio.

Rate

One liter of cloudy ammonia to every 50 liters of water.

Method

Mix up to 100 liters of cloudy ammonia solution in the tank, stir it up or drive around to splash the sides of the tank. Run about 20 liters of solution through the pump nozzles. With a knapsack, fill the tank and pump the solution through the nozzles. Then flush out the system thoroughly with clean water.

Storage

At the end of the spraying season, flush out the boom sprayer with clean water, removing nozzles and strainers for thorough cleaning. Run a mixture of water and soluble oil (the type used on lathes) through the pump relief valve and nozzles. Soluble oil is available from fuel depots. Support the boom so that it will not be damaged by other machinery. Store the knapsack sprayer in a safe location.

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