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Avoid crop damage: Clean the sprayer according to the herbicide label

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Proper sprayer cleanout is vital. Thorough cleanout of the spray tank and nozzles is the first step to minimize the potential for sprayer contamination and damage to susceptible crops. Shawna Hubbard, strategic marketing manager, urges applicators not to overlook this important task.

“Often smaller, harder-to-see sprayer parts come in contact with herbicides,” Hubbard says. “Check hoses, screens, filters, pumps and dead ends on the boom. Clean these parts as well as the sprayer tank thoroughly.” Clean transfer equipment and pumps before switching to the next product.

Take time, triple-rinse

Triple-rinsing the sprayer and its components is a must after applying Enlist Duo® or Enlist One® herbicide to any crop other than glyphosate-tolerant corn. This helps ensure any remaining Enlist™ herbicides are removed from the system.

Rinse 1: Be sure to rinse the tank walls.

  1. Drain the spray system (including lines and boom) for no less than five minutes. 
  2. Fill the tank with clean water to at least 10 percent of the tank’s total water volume. The larger the sprayer tank, the more water you will need. 
  3. Circulate clean water through the system for at least 15 minutes. 
  4. Spray out the rinse solution through the boom/nozzles.
     

Rinse 2:

Completely drain the spray system, including lines and booms. Remember: Spray solution can be hard to drain from low-lying hoses and the dead ends of sprayer booms. Loosen and remove hoses and end caps to drain.

  1. Remove and clean all filters and strainers. 
  2. Fill the tank with clean water to at least 10 percent of the tank’s total water volume. 
  3. If desired, add a commercial tank cleaner. Several products are approved for use with Enlist™ herbicides. 
  4. Circulate clean water through the system for at least 15 minutes. 
  5. Leave the solution in the system for several hours. Overnight is preferable if time allows. 
  6. Spray out the rinse solution through the boom/nozzles.
     

Rinse 3:

  1. Completely drain the spray system, including lines and booms. 
  2. Fill the tank with clean water to at least 10 percent of the tank’s total water volume. 
  3. Circulate water through the system for at least 15 minutes. 
  4. Spray out the rinse solution through the boom/nozzles. 
  5. Completely drain the spray system, and then remove and clean the nozzle tips and strainers separately.
     

Single-rinse before spraying glyphosate-resistant corn

A single-rinse is all that is necessary when your next application will be on glyphosate-tolerant corn. Use the steps listed in “Rinse 1” above.

For more information about the Enlist system, contact your representative for Corteva Agriscience.

Shawna Hubbard

Shawna Hubbard is the strategic marketing manager for Corteva Agriscience. Her work with the Enlist™ weed control system involves helping inform and educate farmers, retailers and seed brands about the Enlist technology. Well versed in both Enlist traits and herbicides, Hubbard has been instrumental in developing and spreading stewardship messages and best management practices for the Enlist system.

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