Your success in any spraying season is dependent on many individual factors. Some of these factors, like the equipment you choose to use, are controlled by you; others, like the weather, are not. The purpose of this guide is to assist you in an area where you have total control: spray nozzle selection and use.

Even though spray nozzles are a physically small component in your overall operation, they are vitally important. Improper application of plant protection products can be extremely costly if re-spraying is required, performance is reduced or legal issues arise as a result of chemical drift. However, many users perceive spray nozzles as fairly simple components, when in fact it is quite the opposite. There are dozens of nozzle types from various manufacturers that offer very different performance.

• Making sure you have the proper spray nozzles for your application
  and that they are performing properly are two things that every user should
  practice to maximize performance and profitability. The spray nozzles you
  select will determine:
• The amount of chemical applied to an area
• The uniformity of the application
•  The coverage of the chemical on the target surface
•  The amount of potential drift

Using the wrong spray nozzle or a spray nozzle that isn’t performing properly can result in over or under application. Over application can be wasteful and costly; under application can result in a reduction in performance or the need for
re-application.
The use of a rate controller can certainly help ensure the proper amount is sprayed. You can also make minor adjustments to sprayer pressure or speed to apply the correct amount of chemical. However, the proper application volume
doesn’t necessarily mean maximum effectiveness.

EVEN A SPRAY NOZZLE WITH ONLY 10% WEAR MAY NOT GIVE YOU THE COVERAGE AND PERFORMANCE YOU EXPECT.

Source: Teejet