How to get the best of your chemicals mixer for the best spraying
Using a chemical mixer on your farm can save you money, providing the opportunity to make big batches of chemical solutions using individual elements. With this, you can begin killing off pests like weeds or bugs that will eat through your crops. The trade off for this is that mixing should be approached carefully with the effects of mismanaged and mis-mixed chemicals varying from crop damage or chemical reactions and creating a sludge you can not spray.
Why do we mix chemicals?
Mixing chemicals provides a farm with a more proactive approach to chemical spraying. With a mixer, a more timely application of chemicals can be undertaken. Better weather than forecast can result in an opportunity for early spraying which would only be seized upon if you have the available premixed chemicals. Alternatively, variation in pest and crop lifecycles can mean earlier or later applications of chemicals are needed.
Have the correct equipment
Having the correct equipment for mixing is vital to have a solution that is suitable for spraying. Firstly you should read the labels of the chemicals you are using for any requirements to make sure you have all the necessary equipment. This necessary equipment should also include safety equipment, precautions should be taken when handling chemicals including protective clothing. Not following these instructions can have a multitude of negative effects including, accidental poisoning and pollution.
Make sure you're mixing correctly
It is also important to make sure that you're mixing your chemicals correctly. A way of making sure of this is by checking the labels on your chemicals. They will include recommendations, restrictions, quantity required, amount of water and standard mixing order, all these recommendations should be followed. If there is no label on the product, check online or do a test mix to experiment with the amount to add to a mixture. If you are worried about adding chemicals, use the rule of thumb of 10L/ha after three to four products have been added. If the mix is done incorrectly and used it can cause multiple negative effects. These include damage to native flora, native fauna, beneficial insects and chemical resistance in the pest being targeted. Furthermore, it can do damage to your mixer if not mixed properly. The chemicals can collect in the tank and a layer of oil can form on top, creating a curdled substance that blocks the mixer's pipes and makes the chemicals impossible to spread.
Try a test mix
If you are relatively inexperienced in the mixture you are creating, you can create a scaled-down test version. Using a clean small container, scale down ingredients in relation to the volume of the container. Make sure you are double checking the mix order before starting the process. Add your diluent to the container first. Once this is done add wettable powders and granules. Stir these all together and make sure you are adding any extra diluent now. Afterward, add liquid products to the mix. Finally, add the emulsifiable concentrates and shake the jar vigorously. From this point on we can see the effects of the mixture. For example, if it is emitting heat over a prolonged period, a chemical reaction has occurred and shows the mixture is noncompatible. You should also make sure there aren’t clumps or any other products that would block the filter, as a small problem in your container will be a big problem in your tank.
Clean your mixer
If you do not have any problems with the mixing of your products then there is still a big thing you can do to get the best out of your chemical mixer. The most important one is to check filters. Whether you have self cleaning filters or not, you should always see if you have and build up. If filters return unmixed material back into the tank, it can result in blockages within your pipes. Consider regularly cleaning your entire tank after three uses to maintain optimum performance.
The equipment available
In regards to the equipment available to mix your chemicals, look no further than Burando Hill. We have a wide array of mixers built for chemical mixing. This includes The Handler series, which has a variety of mixer sizes with the largest having an 870 litre capacity and the smallest having a 59 litre capacity. If you have any questions regarding our collection of mixers contact our friendly team on 1300 287 263.