Backpack and Spot Treatment Calibration Guidelines

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As part of your TechLine subscription you may receive periodic, helpful and timely tips for invasive plant management. This issue provides a simple, six-step method for calibrating your single-nozzle backpack or other spot-treatment spray equipment.

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Celestine Duncan and Melissa Brown, TechLine Co-editors
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Backpack and Spot Treatment Calibration Guidelines

How do I make the most of my herbicide spot treatments?

Accurate timing, careful measurements of herbicide and uniform spray motions are essential to proper, economical application. Consistent spray motions can help obtain good coverage of troublesome weeds. Soaking scattered weeds rather than using regular spray motions may result in excessive rates that could injure desirable species.

How much herbicide do I put in my tank?

The mix amount is dependent on your spray volume and your application rate. Therefore, this question cannot be answered until we know the volume that is being applied with your particular spraying style in gallons per acre (GPA). The following step-by-step procedure will allow you to calibrate your spray volume (see answer at end).