Cleaning Spray Tanks

Crop protection products and associated adjuvants can leave sticky oily residues on all internal surfaces of spray equipment.

Small amounts of herbicide residue if not properly removed can cause serious damage to sensitive crops.

Small amounts of fungicide or insecticide residue can activate some herbicides causing greater levels of crop damage than would be expected.

Small amounts of residue from some actives could lead to MRL's being exceeded.

Pesticide residues can cause corrosion of sprayer parts and rubber seals reducing the effective life of the sprayer and increasing the likelihood of blowouts.

Key Points :

• All pesticide labels list the appropriate agent to use to effectively remove residues of that active from internal sprayer parts.
• READ THE LABEL and use the correct boom cleaner.

How to Clean

• Always wear protective clothing when cleaning spray equipment, as recommended on the product label.
• Fill the tank with clean water and the recommended tank cleaner.
• Operate the pump and flush the cleaning solution through all hoses, strainers, screens, nozzles and the boom.
• Remove nozzles, screens and strainers and clean them separately in a bucket containing the recommended cleaner.
• Rinse the system with clean water.

Disposal

• Dispose of rinse water onto bare soil or into collection pits away from streams and waterways.

See Also :

Weed Control in Brassicas

Spray Application Basics

Acknowledgements :

This factsheet has been facilitated by Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) in partnership with AUSVEG through the National Vegetable Research and Development Levy.

The Australian Government provides matched funding for all HAL's R&D activities.