Umbrella Fertiliser Nozzles

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There are basically three types of fertiliser nozzle available on the market. The oldest type is like a conventional hydraulic spray nozzle with a tip that has 3 or 6 holes in it. The fertiliser comes out of the bottom of the nozzle in a downward trajectory, but this is very height sensitive as a triangle is formed and therefore boom height is critical. Difficult at wider widths. Then there is the ‘dribble bar’ of which there are a number of different manufacturers but the principle is the same. It is a bar about 45 cm long with four outlets, which is fixed on a band clamp with a bayonet cap. The liquid passes down the bar and out through 4 outlets giving a vertical stream onto the crop. Quite accurate but major problems occur:- • The bars are prone to break if they hit the crop due to the resistance created when doing so. • They have to be removed when selecting an alternative nozzle. • Each of the end outlets on the dribble bar tend to be 10-15% lower output resulting in inaccuracy. • Should there be any inaccuracy in tramlining, the dribble bar has no overlap and will therefore result in an untreated area and irregular growth. • Many booms and boom rest positions have to be modified to accommodate the dribble bar. Landquip’s Umbrella nozzle has been designed to keep the simplicity of a conventional nozzle and to offer greater accuracy than a dribble bar. When applying liquid fertiliser the Umbrella nozzle is the most important accessory that can be fitted to your sprayer. It is a great British design that fits almost any modern crop sprayer with 50cm nozzle spacing. Manufactured in the UK and used around the world, the Umbrella nozzle offers the widest application range of any fertiliser nozzle range available. It is like a conventional spray nozzle but has a vertical tube about the size of a shotgun cartridge. On the lower end the bottom is blank and there are 7 holes strategically placed through 136o around the rear facing round part of the nozzle cartridge. This causes the fertiliser to exit the nozzle at different angles but to land at regular equal spacing onto the crop. There are 7 streams every half metre whatever the pressure and whatever the speed (as long as the chart guidelines are adhered to) which is particularly important in dry conditions for lateral movement in the soil. Advantages of the Umbrella Nozzle:- • Umbrella nozzles are not height sensitive as long as the boom is over 50cm above the crop. Boom height for fertiliser should be 1.0-1.5 metres at least, anything up to 2.4 metres is acceptable, so that gravity helps the liquid roll off the leaf and onto the ground where it is wanted. • They can be fitted onto multi-head nozzle body systems and do not have to be removed when selecting an alternative nozzle on the turret or 360o rotating nozzle holder or when folding the boom. • Less prone to damage – if hit, the worst likely outcome is to rotate the nozzle body. • Umbrella nozzles are cheaper than dribble bar systems. • Metering disc and cap seal are included. • A good volume range – e.g. 75 to 1765 l/hectare at 12kph - please refer to flow chart.