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Re: [compost_tea] Q's: Applying Compost Tea
Hi Ray
ray gore wrote:
    your
only supposed to be spraying between 40-80psi
My post showed the pressure rating of my pump.   I think you are speaking
of the pressure while spraying.  There is a huge difference. I'm not knowledgeable
in this area, but I expect you would find there is an inverse relationship
between the GPM and the pressure.  Block all your nozzles and you will have
your highest pressure; have lots of nozzles open and a high flow and you
will have low spray pressure.   ie  low flow=high pressure  high flow=low
pressure
Jason
 --- Jason Austin <jason.austin@shaw.ca> wrote:
 > Hi Kevin
 > 
 > What are you towing the sprayer with?  - 325 gallons
 > is quite a weight 
 > depending on what you are using and also what you
 > are driving over.  You 
 > will also need to factor in the weight of whatever
 > the tank is sitting on.
 > 
 >  I have my sprayer on the 3 point hitch of my
 > tractor driven by the PTO. 
 >   I have a diaphram pump 14 gpm and either
 > 200-400psi - I forget which. 
 >   Works well.  I mounted a mast sprayer that goes up
 > 15' with 8 spray 
 > nozzles, and can be lifted out and used as a boom
 > sprayer.
 > 
 > You don't need an air compressor to drive a diaphram
 > pump - just a drive 
 > source such as the tractor PTO or say an 11hp Honda
 > motor.  A 5 gpm pump 
 > is quite a small pump particularly for a 325 gallon
 > tank.  I think you 
 > would be better to go for a bigger pump particularly
 > if you are using a 
 > boom - the 5 gpm will not feed many nozzles.   If
 > the pump is running 
 > but you are not spraying then a release valve
 > recycles the extra back 
 > into the tank.
 > 
 > An air source of some sort may be desirable to keep
 > the CT aerated while 
 > you are setting up and spraying - depends on the
 > time there will be 
 > between getting the CT from your brewer until your
 > are finished spraying.
 > 
 > In addition to the mast sprayer I have a wand on a
 > long hose for doing 
 > those one off jobs.  And I put a 1" drain on the
 > bottom of my tank that 
 > runs to a garden hose fitting.  This allows me to do
 > a soil drench 
 > without running the brew through the pump, and a
 > gravity fed line is a 
 > lot more peaceful than blasting away with a pressure
 > pump.   Also makes 
 > cleaning a lot easier.    So in all I have three
 > ways to get the CT out 
 > - and I use all three.
 > 
 > I got a lot of help from my local feed store that
 > sells farm 
 > accessories.  Try talking with someone like that or
 > a tractor dealer. 
 >  Even if you are not using a tractor, the farm
 > equipment people will 
 > have a lot of experience with spraying.
 > 
 > Finally, watch out for the commercial spray tanks. 
 > The ones I saw had 
 > molded feet so there would always be small amount of
 > liquid in them - 
 > maybe not a problem for chemicals but  a real bear
 > for those of us using 
 > compost tea that we don't want turning anaerobic.  
 > I held out and 
 > eventually got a round flat bottomed 200 gallon
 > tank.   I firgured that 
 > would be fine for my tractor because my 3 point
 > hitch is rated at 
 > 2,240lbs.  But I forgot to allow for the weight of
 > the pump and the 
 > steel frame to hold the tank!  I had the frame
 > custom made and the guy 
 > built it like a sherman tank - easily a 1,000lbs . 
 > Then the pump is a 
 > good 40lbs.  Result?  - I can only put 100 gallons
 > in the tank :-D     
 >  Well we live and learn <grin>
 > 
 > Don't rush into this - think carefully about what
 > you are trying to 
 > achieve then get advice about how to get there.   I
 > do recommend the 
 > three different ways of getting your CT out of the
 > sprayer - the 
 > interchangeable mast/boom; a wand; and a drain for
 > gravity feeding and 
 > cleaning.
 > 
 > Hope this helps.
 > 
 > Jason
 > 
 > kevin john richardon wrote:
 > 
 > > Glen~
 > >
 > > Thanks for responding.  Good advice.  I would like
 > to set up and spray 
 > > at will!, so I think I will be investing in a 325
 > gal tank (best I can 
 > > match to my payload and remain trailerless;
 > although the decision is 
 > > also based on current local availability ), spray
 > at about 5 gpm (to 
 > > get an acre out of my dilution and meet percieved
 > time requirements), 
 > > which will determine the legnth of my necessary
 > spray bredth.
 > >
 > > Now if I could decide on a diaphram pump, engine
 > and air compressor 
 > > (does one necessarily need air compression to
 > drive a diaphram) that 
 > > will allow me to dial in flow, psi, and gpm, I
 > would be getting 
 > > somewhere! maybe?  By the way it would be awesome
 > to configure a 
 > > system which will be compatible with a behind the
 > cab style boom!
 > >
 > > What type of equipment do you use to spray?
 > >
 > > ciao~ kev
 > >
 > >
 > > On Thu, 29 May 2003 14:25:51 -0000 growest2002
 > <g.w.thomson@shaw.ca> 
 > > wrote:
 > > <html><body>
 > >
 > >
 > > <tt>
 > > Kevin-maybe I can give my 1 cents worth on soil
 > drenching.<BR>
 > > <BR>
 > > As you pointed out, adding a reasonable
 > "depth" of water to 
 > > an acre<BR>
 > > of <BR>
 > > land involves enormous amounts of water.  And
 > yes, this water 
 > > should <BR>
 > > be dechlorinated from what everyone has shared on
 > this list.<BR>
 > > <BR>
 > > My tiny bit of experience this year has led me
 > personally to use our <BR>
 > > spring rains to soak in these soil drenches,
 > rather than trying to<BR>
 > > add <BR>
 > > enough carrier water to move the AACT into the
 > root zone.<BR>
 > > <BR>
 > > By watching the weather forecast, along with the
 > very wet spring we <BR>
 > > have had in the Pacific Northwest (south of you
 > tho!) I've been able <BR>
 > > to drench soil and nursery containers prior to or
 > during 1/2 to 1 in. 
 > > <BR>
 > > rainfall events here.  So much faster and
 > more effective than 
 > > trying <BR>
 > > to provide those thousands of gallons of
 > dechlorinated water myself.<BR>
 > > <BR>
 > > I'm just not sure I'd try to duplicate that now
 > that the substantial <BR>
 > > rains are done till fall...just plan on doing all
 > the soil drench <BR>
 > > during the spring or after fall rains have
 > started.<BR>
 > > <BR>
 > > This isn't applicable to other areas with quite
 > different weather <BR>
 > > patterns, but wonder what others in the wet coast
 > applying tea think <BR>
 > > of my take on this.<BR>
 > > <BR>
 > > And thanks Kevin for bringing this subject
 > up.  An acre inch is 
 > > that <BR>
 > > much water...I know I'll never be able to apply
 > that economically and 
 > > <BR>
 > > get paid enough to do it!<BR>
 > > <BR>
 > > Glen<BR>
 > > <BR>
 > > --- In compost_tea@yahoogroups.com, "kevin
 > john richardon" <BR>
 > > <kmagic@b...> wrote:<BR>
 > > > Howdy Pards,<BR>
 > > > <BR>
 > > > I am slightly embarrassed (but not really,
 > cause I make mistakes 
 > 
 === message truncated ===
 
 
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