Application Equipment and Calibration Flashcards
7 cards from real CFA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Application Equipment and Calibration flashcards as text
When a sprayer nozzle shows 15% greater output than the manufacturer's rated flow, the BEST corrective action is to:
Answer: Replace the worn nozzle with a new one of the same type and size
A 15% over-output indicates significant nozzle wear; worn nozzles produce larger droplets and inconsistent patterns, so replacement is the correct fix.
Which application scenario results in the highest risk of surface runoff when applying liquid fertilizer?
Answer: High-rate broadcast application on frozen or saturated soil
Frozen or saturated soil cannot absorb liquid fertilizer, causing it to run off the surface and potentially enter waterways.
In the context of fertilizer equipment, what does 'metering' refer to?
Answer: Accurately controlling the rate at which fertilizer is dispensed from the applicator
Metering is the controlled dispensing of fertilizer at a precise rate, typically through gates, orifices, rollers, or electronic controls.
What is the recommended frequency for replacing sprayer nozzles to maintain calibration accuracy in heavy commercial use?
Answer: After approximately 25,000 acres or when output varies more than 10% from new
The standard industry guideline is nozzle replacement after approximately 25,000 acres or when catch test output exceeds 10% variance from rated flow.
What is the effect of using a nozzle with too small an orifice at target pressure to compensate for faster travel speed?
Answer: Produces finer droplets that increase drift risk and reduce target accuracy
Smaller orifices at the same pressure produce finer droplets that are more susceptible to drift, which can cause off-target deposition.
What is the purpose of performing a 'shutoff test' on an injection metering system for liquid fertilizer?
Answer: To confirm that the metering system completely stops product flow when the boom is shut off
A shutoff test confirms the injection system has no drip-through when the boom is closed, preventing unintended application at field ends.
When using GPS-based guidance to maintain boom overlap in fertilizer applications, what term describes the strip of land between two passes that receives double the intended rate?
Answer: Overlap zone
An overlap zone is the area where adjacent passes cover the same ground, resulting in double application and potential crop damage or environmental concerns.