Agricultural sprayers are tools generally used for sprinkling liquid pesticides, fertilizers or other liquids on crops during their growth period. An effective and properly adjusted sprayer can save nearly 20% to 30% of the chemical product and produce better results. Different types of sprayers are available in the market depending on the specifications, size, and requirements of different crops. Agricultural drone is one of the emerging technologies in the agriculture sector and is expected to be adopted by several farmers in the near future.

Today’s modern farming demands efficient systems for meeting the agricultural needs and producing better yields. Advanced agricultural equipment have been a game-changer for many farmers. Various agricultural product manufacturers offer an extensive gamut of outstanding agricultural equipment, tools, machineries, and other advanced systems for the farmer community. One of the highly demanded and vital equipment needed for the production of crops is an agricultural sprayer.

What are Agricultural Sprayers and Why are they Important?

Agricultural sprayers are equipment usually used for sprinkling liquid pesticides, fertilizers or other liquids on crops during their growth period. Spraying is a vital activity in intensive agriculture owing to the emergence of new diseases and pests every year. Pest infestation impacts crops and hence, they must be protected. By applying pesticides with the help of a sprayer, farmers protect their crops and eliminate all the obstacles in their normal growth. As compared to conventional watering cans, sprayers are much more convenient to use. Furthermore, sprayers enable farmers to cover a massive area of land within a short period of time.

Spraying chemical solutions is, however, a very critical task as it requires high precision. An effective and properly adjusted sprayer can save nearly 20% to 30% of the chemical product and give better outcomes. As the agricultural sprayers are used on different crops having a variety of heights and sizes, the boom height of a sprayer must be precise to confirm that the liquid being sprinkled is properly applied to every crop. Besides, these sprayers can also be used to supply water for irrigation. 

What are Different Types of Agricultural Sprayers?

Depending on the specifications, size, and requirements of the crop, sprayers are available in a variety of types.

1. Hand Operated Sprayer

This type of sprayers are ideal for the treatment of small plants; for instance, for sprinkling water or liquid chemical solution in a small area of land. These sprayers operate with the help of an air pump. The pump of a hand-operated sprayer compresses air into its containers and applies pressure on the liquid solution. The pattern of the spray from the sprayer’s nozzle surges when the pressure is high. If the sprayer’s pressure drops, the pattern of the spray is slow.

The person using this type of sprayer needs to pump the air before continuing spraying. The size of containers in this type of sprayers can be around 10 liters. Moreover, these sprayers can work at low pressures of about 350 kilopascals.

A back-pack sprayer is an example hand operated sprayer, which is attached on the back of the person using the sprayer. Backpack sprayers have a container capacity of almost 20 liters, a spray nozzle, and a hand lever. The applicant makes use of a hand lever to apply pressure into the container.

They are portable, comfortable to use, and cost-effective. They are perfect for spraying on cotton, paddy, and many other crops that are shorter in height. Moreover, they can be used for spraying in small gardens or indoor cultivations like tomatoes, chilies, and other plants.

2. Low Pressure Sprayer

A low pressure sprayer is available in a variety of types, based on the size and volume of the containers. Some of the types of low pressure sprayers are truck-mounted models trailer-mounted, and tractor-mounted. They make use of the principle of hydraulics for their working. These sprayers come with pressure gauges, an air compartment, and regulators. The air compartment offers a constant pressure on the nozzle.

A tractor mounted sprayer can be used to sprinkle pesticides. This type of sprayer needs to be fixed on a tractor. The capacity of the containers of a tractor-mounted sprayer varies from 150-500 gallons. A hydraulic motor, connected to the power take-off shaft, powers the sprayer’s pump.

Trailer mounted sprayers are more or less like tractor-mounted sprayers but are attached on a trailer joined to a tractor. This type of sprayers can hold up to 1000 gallons of liquid solution. The pump of this type of sprayers runs on a hydraulic motor connected to the power take-off shaft. Moreover, its boom spray can cover a distance of about 3.7 meters to 15 meters in length. These sprayers are better as compared to hand operated spray pumps in performance and suitable for large farm areas.

3. High Pressure Sprayer

This type of sprayers are mostly used by foresters for spraying on tall trees and thick bushes. Similar to low pressure sprayers, they operate on the hydraulics principle and can function at pressures of about 6800 kilopascals.

This type of sprayers are ideal for fruit trees and other type of heighted plants where the spray needs to reach heights as well as dense foliage.

4. Air-Carrier Sprayer

Air sprayers are ideal for the sprinkling of concentrated chemicals via air. In this type of sprayer, the air dilutes and dissipates the chemical solution. An orchard sprayer used for fruit plants is the most common type of air carrier sprayers. They are costly and also require high maintenance. 

5. Foggers

Foggers possess a motor to develop pressure and spread liquid pesticides in the form of gas or fog. They can also be used to apply liquid pesticides in the form of air vapors. They are used in greenhouses or a land that is infested with crop pests and needs to be treated. They run on an electric motor of around 110 to 120 volt current. For larger application areas, larger foggers with a 12 volt horsepower electric motor are also available. Their pumps work at pressures of around 12,400 kilopascals with strong spray power. This type of sprayers are vulnerable to drifting owing to stormy atmospheres. In the interim, the pesticides sprayed in the form of vapors cause environmental toxicity.

The Trend for Agricultural Spray Drone

A fascinating aspect of the arrival of drone technology in the agriculture sector is its use as a sprayer. What appeared unbelievable before few years is now being increasingly adopted by some major players among drone companies as well as crop protection producers. In the recent years, the agriculture sector has increasingly adopted the drone technology to ease the process of spraying. Agricultural drones are moving rapidly despite the technology’s hype sequence, from curiosity to crazy enthusiasm to exaggerated misfit. 

With the acceptance of agricultural drones, farmers have moved the needle of their sprayers. Agricultural drones increase the efficacy of chemical spraying, require fewer chemicals, and decrease water consumption. They can also be used for digital mapping and data analysis of crops. Moreover, the use of drone technology in farming is more time-saving and can lower the fuel charge per acre as compared to a tractor—owing to increased coverage of the area in one go. However, numerous reasons deny their use and promote the use of ground tractors or caterpillars for spay applications. 

What’s next in the Agricultural Sprayers Arena?

Whether agricultural drones will become a standard agricultural tool for crop spraying in the future is hard to guess. Although there is a substantial investment behind the advancement of the drone technology, several farmers are still doubtful as to how they can profit with agricultural drones in their crop production. In the future, these drones might be competent enough in enhancing the efficiency of pesticide management plans and irrigation systems, but only time will tell.