Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2019; 8(4): 2137-2141

E-ISSN: 2278-4136
P-ISSN: 2349-8234
JPP 2019; 8(4): 2137-2141 Evaluating the effect of nozzle type, nozzle height
Received: 13-05-2019
Accepted: 15-06-2019 and operating pressure on spraying performance
D Padhee
using a horizontal spray patternator
Assistant Professor, BRSM
College of Agricultural Engg. &
Technology, Mungeli, D Padhee, S Verma, SS Rajwade, H Ekka, SK Chandniha and SK Tiwari
Chhattisgarh, India

S Verma
Abstract
UG Student, BRSMCAET, Accurate pesticide application from sprayers is essential in modern farming practice as it increased pest
Mungeli, Chhattisgarh, India control, reduced pesticide costs and wastage, and greater environmental safety. Evenness of lateral
distribution of liquid from a sprayer nozzle is one of the requirements of accurate pesticide application.
SS Rajwade Hence, a study was undertaken to evaluate the lateral distribution of liquid from four different spray
UG Student, BRSMCAET, nozzles NMD (N1), BCN (N2), Plastic speaker nozzle (N3) and NTM (N4)) on a horizontal spray
Mungeli, Chhattisgarh, India patternator. The discharge rate, spray distribution pattern, spray angle of all the types of nozzles were
measured with a pressure range of 2.5 to 3.5 kg/cm2 at an interval of 0.5 kg/cm2 at three different nozzle
H Ekka height (200, 400 and 600 mm). Considerable variations in pattern occurred between successive runs with
Assistant Professor, BRSM individual nozzles: the coefficient of variation from four different nozzles ranged from 0.58 to 1.11 for
College of Agricultural Engg. & nozzle N1, 0.71 to 1.12 for nozzle N2, 0.75 to 1.02 for nozzle N3 and 0.57 to 1.29 for nozzle N4. The
Technology, Mungeli, laboratory test results also indicated that spray angle of the nozzles increased with increasing system
Chhattisgarh, India
pressure up to certain limit and then it decreased. Decrease in spray angle and increase in swath width
SK Chandniha
was also observed with increase in nozzle height. It was observed that with the increment of operating
Assistant Professor, BRSM pressure, the swath width was found to be increased. Maximum discharge rate of 2.96 l/min was recorded
College of Agricultural Engg. & in the plastic speaker nozzle (N3) at the nozzle operating pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2. Maximum spray angle
Technology, Mungeli, of 96.7˚ was observed with BCN nozzle (N2) at 200 mm nozzle height with an operating pressure of 3.5
Chhattisgarh, India kg/cm2. The maximum swath width of 83.4 mm was found with plastic speaker nozzle (N3) at the nozzle
operating pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2 at 600 mm nozzle height.
SK Tiwari
Assistant Professor, BRSM Keywords: Spray patternator, lateral distribution, nozzles, coefficient of variation
College of Agricultural Engg. &
Technology, Mungeli,
Chhattisgarh, India
1. Introduction
Pesticide application is one of the major agricultural operation without which a significant
percentage of food and fibre crops would be lost, plant diseases would increase and valuable
native habitat would be devasted (Rice et al., 2007) [2]. These pesticides, weedicides and
herbicides are mainly applied as liquid solutions by using different types of sprayers equipped
with hydraulic spray nozzles. A sprayer’s main function is to atomize the spray fluid, which
may be a suspension, an emulsion, or a solution, into small fine droplets and eject it with some
force for distributing it properly. It can also help to regulate the amount of pesticide to avoid
an excessive application that might prove wasteful or harmful. The challenge is to reduce
spray losses during transport to their target and maximize spray deposition and efficacy and
minimize off-target spray deposition by improving the spray application process by selecting
and using adequate spray equipment and spray solutions at the right conditions (Dorr et al.,
2007) [1]. The nozzle type not only determines the amount of spray applied but also the
uniformity of the applied spray, the coverage obtained on the sprayed surfaces and the amount
of drift that might occur (Sumner, 2009). In pesticide application, accuracy and uniformity of
application is most important to avoid adverse effects of pesticides on environment and crop
injury, and reduced pest management. Flow rate, operating pressure and pressure losses,
nozzle material, nozzle spray angle, nozzle positioning, spray height, spray width, spray
thickness, breakup length, atomization degree or droplet size, impact, spray drift, velocity,
spray pattern, etc. are some parameters that affect the nozzle performance. Each nozzle type
has specific characteristics and is designed to be used for different applications. Selecting a
Correspondence nozzle based on the spray pattern and other spray characteristics that are required generally
D Padhee yields good results (Lipp, 2012) [4].
Assistant Professor, BRSM Keeping in view of the above discussions, an attempt was made to evaluate the spray
College of Agricultural Engg. & characteristics of different nozzles used in agricultural sprayers in a horizontal spray
Technology, Mungeli,
patternator which could help in selecting the appropriate nozzle for plant protection of any
Chhattisgarh, India
agricultural crop.
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The data from this study could be used by the nozzle 2.2.1 Spray angle and swath width
manufactures to recommend spacing of their nozzles on the As per standard, the working width (the distance between the
booms, operating pressure and other spray parameters that outer edges of the outermost channels which at the working
farmers use to treat their field crops during spraying using pressure received 50% or more of the largest quantity of
different hydraulic sprayers. liquid collected from any one channel) in millimeters shall be
measured for each of the nozzle height. The spray angle for
2. Materials and Methods each nozzle was calculated on the basis of working width and
2.1 Overview of the experimental setup nozzle height as shown in the Fig. 2 and using the formula
A laboratory test set up containing a horizontal spray Equation 1.
patternator with arrangement of fitting different spray nozzle
was developed as shown in the Fig. 1. The different
components of the spray patternator includes supply tank,
power transmission system, pump, pressure gauge, pressure
regulator, on-off valve, pipes for transmitting liquid solutions,
nozzle stand and corrugated sheets and glass tubes for
collecting liquid solution. Except the front side, all other sides
of the test set up were covered with GI sheets to minimize the
effect of surrounding air velocity. For this study, four types of
nozzle were selected namely NMD nozzle (N1), small BCN
nozzle (N2), plastic speaker nozzle (N3) and NTM brass
nozzle (N4). To evaluate the effects of operating pressure and
nozzle height on uniformity of spray distribution pattern in
laboratory using different types of nozzles, three different
nozzle heights (200, 400 and 600 mm) and three operating
pressures (2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 kg/cm2) were selected. The number
of channels may be increased or decreased so that the whole
of the spray falls within the patternator. The inclination of the
spray channel section was made adjustable. The nozzles were
mounted at the centre of a metallic frame and its axis was kept
perpendicular to the horizontal. The nozzles were connected
to a constant water supply through a pump and a pressure Fig 2: Spray angle measurement
gauge was mounted to check the pressure. Liquid collected at
θ
each channel were allowed to collected in the glass tubes W = 2 × h × tan
fitted at the end of each channel from where the volume of 2
liquid was noted. The data from spray tests were collected to
analyze the variation of nozzle height and operating pressure Where, W is the width of spray cone, mm ….1
on spray angle, swath width, uniformity in volume h is the height of the spray, mm and θ is the spray angle in
distribution and discharge rate for all the four types of nozzles degrees
used in the study.
2.2.2 Measurement of nozzle discharge
The nozzle discharge refers to the amount of liquid sprayed in
a unit time. In order to measure discharge the motor was
started was allowed to stabilize for some period of time. The
motor operated the HTP pump. Initially the overflow valve of
the pump and the overflow valve at the delivery line were
kept fully open. The discharge from the pump was allowed to
go back to the water storage tank. Once the reciprocating
pump obtained the desired speed, the opening of the overflow
valve in the delivery line was gradually reduced and the inlet
gate valve was slowly opened. This allowed the liquid to go to
the nozzle and the pressure of the liquid was indicated by
pressure gauge provided in the delivery line. The discharge of
the nozzles N1, N2, N3 and N4 were measured at 2.5, 3.0 and
3.5 kg/cm2 pressures. The desired pressure was obtained by
regulating the flow through the inlet and overflow gate valves.
Each nozzle was operated for 30 seconds and the discharge of
each nozzle was allowed to drop in different channels on the
corrugated sheet below the nozzle and finally collected in the
Fig 1: Horizontal spray patternator with different components graduated tubes. The volumes of liquid collected in tubes
were noted down. This procedure was repeated for all the
2.2 Methods of Measurement above mentioned pressures for different nozzles and data were
A set procedure was followed for the measurement of collected by taking three repetitions. The average data was
different parameters like spray angle, swath width, discharge calculated and the relationship between pressure and
rate of nozzles, measurement of spray pattern etc. All the discharge was studied.
measurements were taken as per the guidelines of Indian
Standard, IS: 8548-1977.
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2.2.3 Measurement of lateral spray distribution Table 1: Effect of nozzle types, nozzle heights and pressures on
In order to measure the lateral spray distribution, the liquid uniformity in volume distribution
was sprayed from three different heights such as 200 mm, 400 Operating pressure, kg/cm2 Coefficient of variation
mm and 600 mm and at four different operating pressure such Nozzle type 200 400 600
as 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 kg/cm2 as discussed earlier. The spray was Nozzle height, cm mm mm mm
then allowed to made fall on corrugated sheet having top 2.5 1.110 0.731 0.706
width of each section equal to 40 mm. The discharge from N1 3 0.999 0.730 0.700
3.5 0.990 0.713 0.581
each corrugation was collected in 100 ml size measuring test 2.5 1.119 0.886 0.802
tubes. The spray through nozzle was then allowed to flow N2 3 1.067 0.735 0.760
through different 100 ml size measuring test tubes for a period 3.5 1.019 0.712 0.756
of 30 seconds. The amount of liquid collected in each 2.5 1.008 1.020 1.007
measuring cylinder was then recorded. This uniformity of N3 3 0.762 0.938 0.895
3.5 0.750 0.932 0.892
spray distribution was measured in terms of coefficient of
2.5 1.291 0.820 0.595
variations (C.V.) and was estimated by using the standard N4 3 1.252 0.701 0.567
equation 3.5 1.103 0.626 0.547

SD Table 3: Variance analysis of the effect of two nozzle types, angles

CV = × 100 and pressures on coefficient variation (CV)
X
Sum of Mean
Where, SD is the standard deviation and X is the mean data Source Squares DF Square F Value Prob > F
…………..2
Model 1.03 14 0.074 5.30 < 0.0001 significant
A 0.042 1 0.042 3.04 0.0897
Statistical Analysis B 0.28 1 0.28 20.03 < 0.0001
The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on C 0.15 3 0.049 3.53 0.0240
coefficient of variation to determine the effects of nozzle A2 0.027 1 0.027 1.95 0.1713
types, pressures and nozzle heights and their interactions at B2 0.025 1 0.025 1.77 0.1911
the confidence interval was set at α = 0.05 using Design AB 1.051E-004 1 1.051E-004 7.565E-003 0.9312
AC 5.532E-003 3 1.844E-003 0.13 0.9399
Expert 6.0.11. The detail of the statistical model performed
BC 0.47 3 0.16 11.37 < 0.0001
was presented below. Residual 0.51 37 0.014
Lack of Fit 0.38 21 0.018 2.27 0.0492 significant
Table 1: Statistical design summary
Pure Error 0.13 16 8.062E-003
Study Type Response Surface Experiments 52 Cor Total 1.54 51
Initial Design Central Composite Blocks No Blocks
Design Model Quadratic 3.2 Effect of nozzle height and pressure on volumetric
discharge of nozzles
Response Name Obs Minimum Maximum Trans Model
Y1 CV 52 0.55 1.29 None Quadratic The volumetric distributions of the nozzles obtained from the
Low High Low High patternator test were presented through trend lines (Fig. 3a to
Factor Name Type
Actual Actual Coded Coded 3d) and the effect of height and pressure on the volumetric
A Pressure Numeric -1.00 1.00 -1.000 1.000 distribution was studied. Each trend line represents the
B Height Numeric -1.00 1.00 -1.000 1.000 average discharge collected from the channels of the
C Nozzle Categorical N1 N4 Levels: 4
patternator at a particular height and pressure. It was found
3. Results and Discussion from the figures that, with increase in the nozzle height the
3.1 Effect of nozzle type, height and pressure on curves became more flat and wide, as the height was
uniformity of distribution increased the number of channels collecting the spray
According to results of coefficient of variation in the Table 1 increased while the peak discharge value in the channels
and analysis of variance Table 2 indicated that nozzle type, decreased. This confirms height has some influence on the
pressure and nozzle height affect significantly on the spray swath. From the figures, it was also observed that as the
uniformity distribution. Nozzle height was most significant pressure increased from 2.5 kg/cm2 to 3.5 kg/cm2, the number
factor influencing variation of CV followed by interaction of of channels receiving liquid were increased and hence the
pressure-height, pressure and nozzle type at 5% level of discharge. This inferred that increasing the pressure increases
significance. The increasing nozzle height tends to decrease the swath as well as the volumetric discharge. The channels
the coefficient of variation of spray. As well as, increasing of present in the centre received more discharge as compared to
nozzle pressure tend to give a good uniformity of dose. We the channels to both the ends. Similar results were reported by
can observe from Table 1 that the best value of coefficient of Yadav H K, 2012. Figure 4 shows that for all the nozzle
variation 54.7% was achieved by using NTM brass nozzle types, the maximum peak discharge was obtained from the
(N4) at a height of 600 mm and at pressure 3.5 kg/cm2. channels at 200 mm nozzle height and at 3.5 kg/cm2 operating
pressure and it was found 225, 155, 175 and 190 ml for nozzle
N1, N2, N3 and N4, respectively.

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(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Fig 3: Effect of nozzle height on spray volumetric distribution of different nozzles at 3.5 kg/cm2

The distribution of liquid solutions in different channels of the 89.86˚ to 78.0˚; 96.7˚ to 68.68˚; 96.36˚ to 68.68˚; 96.36˚ to
spray patternator was presented in Fig. 4. 59.3˚,was observed for nozzle N1, N2, N3 and N4,
respectively.

3.4 Effect of nozzle height and operating pressure on

swath width of nozzles
From the measured swath width data, it was observed that as
the operating pressure was increased from 2.5 kg/cm2 to 3.5
kg/cm2, the maximum swath width for nozzle N1, N2, N3 and
N4 increased from 39.9 to 77.1 mm; 44.7 to 82.0 mm; 35.1 to
83.4 mm; 35.1 to 68.5 mm, respectively. This increment may
be due to gradual increase in operating pressure. In case of
nozzle height, same increasing trend was observed, i.e. with
increment in the nozzle height from 200 mm to 600 mm,
Fig 4: Spray distribution pattern increase in swath width was reported with maximum swath
width of 77.1, 82.0, 83.4 and 68.5 mm with nozzle N1, N2,
3.3 Effect of nozzle height and operating pressure on N3 and N4, respectively was observed at 600 mm nozzle
spray angle of nozzles height.
The spray angle for all nozzle types were measured using
Equation 1 as discussed earlier. From the data measured, it 3.5 Effect of operating pressure on discharge rate of
was found that as the operating pressure was increased from nozzles
2.5 kg/cm2 to 3.5 kg/cm2, the maximum spray angle for The effect of operating pressure on discharge rate of nozzles
nozzle N1, N2, N3 and N4 increased from 82.56˚ to 89.89˚; was presented in Fig. 5. From the figure, it was observed that
89.86˚ to 96.7˚; 73.96˚ to 96.36˚; 82.56˚ to 96.36˚, for all the nozzle types, the discharge rate increased with
respectively. This increment may be due to gradual increase increase in operating pressure. This was because, as there was
in operating pressure. In case of nozzle height a reverse trend increase in operating pressure, more amount of liquid was
was observed, i.e. with increment in the nozzle height from sprayed and hence the rate of discharge. From the results, it
200 mm to 600 mm, decrease in maximum spray angle from
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was also found that the maximum discharge rate of 2.96 lpm 4. Lipp CW. Practical Spray Technology: Fundamentals and
(litre per minute) was obtained with nozzle N3 at 3.5 kg/cm2 Practice. (1ST ed.) Lake Innovation LLC, 2012.
operating pressure followed by 1.36 lpm, 1.19 lpm and 0.95 5. Yadav HK. Development of Patternator and Performance
lpm with nozzle N4, N1 and N2, respectively. Evaluation of Different Nozzles used in Agricultural
Sprayer. Unpublished [Link] thesis. Department of
Farm Machinery and Power, G B Pant University,
Uttarakhand, 2012.

Fig 5: Effect of operating pressure on discharge rate of nozzles

4. Conclusion
The results indicated that the nozzle operating pressure and
height of nozzles affect the spray uniformity distribution. The
NTM nozzle gave the lowest values of the spray uniformity
coefficient in terms of coefficient of variation (C.V.) values
compared to the other nozzles used in this study. No much
effect of the interactions of nozzle height and nozzle pressure
on the spray pattern was observed as evident from the
ANOVA. The increasing of nozzle height tends to increase
the uniformity of spray and the coverage of spray dose. As
well as, the increasing of nozzle pressure tend to give the
good uniformity of spray solutions. These data generated
from this study could be used for selection of proper sprayer
type for specific crop.
The following specific conclusions were drawn from the
study:
 The most uniform volumetric distribution of N4 nozzle
was obtained at 600 mm height on 3.5 kg/cm2 operational
pressure and C.V. value of the distribution was 0.567.
 At 200 mm nozzle height, maximum spray angle of 96.7º
was observed with BCN (N2) nozzle followed by Small
speaker (N3), NTM (N4) and NMD (N1) at 3.5 kg/cm2
operating pressure.
 Maximum discharge rate of 2.96 lpm was recorded with
plastic speaker nozzle at the operating pressure of 3.5
kg/cm2 followed by NTM nozzle (1.36 lpm), NMD
nozzle (1.19 lpm) and BCN nozzle (0.95 lpm).

5. Acknowledgement
The author wish to thank Mr. Sohit Kumar, Ms. Bharti and
Ms. Chanchal Sahu who along with Mr. Shashikant Verma
and Mr. Satyendra Rajwade help in collecting data during the
research work.

6. References
1. Dorr G, Hanan J, Hewitt AJ, Adkins S, Noller B.
Modeling the Interaction of Plant Architecture and Spray
Techniques. In 2007 ASABE Annual International
Meeting, Technical Papers, 2007, 1-10.
2. Rice PJ, Rice PJ, Arthur EL, Barefoot AC. Advances in
pesticide environmental fate and exposure assessments. J
Agric. Food Chem. 2007; 55(14):5367-5376.
3. Sumner PE. Soybean Sprayer Application and
Calibration The University of Gerogia. 2009, 8.
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