Sprayer Calibration Made Easy: Save Chemicals, Protect Crops, and Boost Yields

 

Sprayer calibration is one of the most overlooked steps in crop protection, yet it’s one of the most important. Lack of calibration leads to:

• Overdosing → damaged crops & wasted chemicals
• Underdosing → ineffective pest and disease control
• Chemical drift → wastage and environmental harm

Whether you’re using a knapsack sprayer, a motorised portable sprayer, a trolley sprayer, a mist blower, or a boom sprayer, proper calibration ensures uniform coverage, optimal absorption, and maximum returns on your agrochemical investments.

Why Sprayer Calibration Matters

Before spraying, farmers should ask:

• Am I applying the right amount of chemical per acre?
• Are my droplets too fine or too large?
• Am I wasting money due to uneven spraying?

Benefits of proper calibration:

• Accurate chemical usage → lower costs
• Better pest & disease control
• Protects your crops and environment
• Extends equipment life

 

 Tools Needed for Calibration

You don’t need complex tools — just:

• A measuring jug or container
• A stopwatch
• A measuring tape
• Clean water for the test run
• A notebook to record results

 Step-by-Step Calibration Guide

a) For Knapsack Sprayers (15L–20L)

1. Fill the tank with clean water.
2. Mark a test area of 100 square meters (10m × 10m).
3. Spray normally over the test area while timing yourself.
4. Measure how much water was used.
5. Use the formula:

Application Rate (L/Ha)= Volume Used (L)×10000​

                                                Area Sprayed (m²)                 

6. Adjust nozzle, walking speed, or pressure until you hit the recommended chemical rate.

b) For Motorised Portable & Trolley Sprayers

Set your sprayer to its operating pressure.

• Use the same formula above but measure per nozzle output over 1 minute.
• Adjust nozzles, pressure, or speed for uniform coverage.

c) For Mist Blowers & Boom Sprayers

• Calibrate nozzle by nozzle since these systems use multiple outlets.
• Measure flow rate per nozzle (liters/minute).
• Check that all nozzles give consistent outputs; replace blocked or worn nozzles.
• Use Panagric Kenya’s professional calibration services for precision on large sprayers.
• 
  

 

Common Calibration Mistakes to Avoid

• Using damaged or worn nozzles → causes uneven spraying
• Ignoring walking speed consistency
• Using different nozzle types on the same boom
• Skipping pressure checks before spraying
• Failing to recalibrate when changing chemicals or spray volumes

 

When to Recalibrate Your Sprayer

• At the start of every spraying session
• When you change nozzles or pump parts
• If you switch crops or change spraying chemicals
• After repairs or servicing

 

How Panagric Kenya Can Help

At Panagric Kenya, we:

• Offer professional sprayer calibration services
• Stock genuine nozzles, pumps, and spare parts
• Provide training on correct spraying techniques
• Help farmers achieve efficient chemical use and better yields

📞 Call us today: 0722 286 269 / 0795 620 619
📧 Email: sales@panagric.co.ke | panagric@gmail.com

 

Choosing the Right Sprayer for Your Farm: A Complete Farmer’s Guide

 

The success of your harvest starts long before you pick your crops it begins with choosing the right sprayer. The equipment you select determines how well your pesticides, herbicides, and foliar feeds reach your crops and ultimately affects your yields, costs, and profits.Spraying is one of the most important steps in protecting your crops and maximizing yields. But with so many sprayer options in the market, from knapsack sprayers to mist blowers and boom sprayers, many farmers struggle to know which equipment best suits their needs.

Choosing the wrong sprayer is not cost-effective.  For example, investing in a high-capacity mist blower for a 3 acre farm,  may seem like a good idea, but if the equipment isn’t operating at its optimal performance, you’ll be making a huge investment for lower productivity. Additionally, investing in a low-quality sprayer often leads to loss of value, as many are ineffective under local conditions and terrains.

At Panagric Kenya, we understand the importance of investing in high-quality spraying equipment for durability, sustainability, and reliability. In this guide, we help you understand the different sprayer types, when to use them, and how to choose the right equipment based on your farm size, crop type, and spraying frequency.

 

1. Know Your Farm’s Needs First 🌱

Before selecting a sprayer, ask yourself:

• 📏 How big is my farm?
• 🌱 What crops am I spraying? (tall crops, low crops, orchards, flowers)
• 📆 How often do I spray? (weekly, monthly, seasonally)
• 🚜 Do I need portability, higher capacity, or both?
• ⚡ *Do I prefer manual, motorised, tractor-driven, or drone-based spraying?

Understanding these factors will help you narrow down your options before choosing the right sprayer.

Know Your Farm's Needs First

 

2. Knapsack Sprayers (For Small Farms & Spot Spraying)

Knapsack sprayers are simple, affordable, and portable, making them ideal for small farms where precision spraying is required.

Best for: Farms below 5 acres
Ideal crops: Vegetables, flowers, greenhouses, small coffee farms

Advantages:

• Affordable and easy to use
• Perfect for spot spraying and targeted applications
• Lightweight and easy to maintain

Pro Tip: Choose a knapsack sprayer if you’re spraying small plots or conducting targeted pest and disease control.

3. Portable Motorised Sprayers (For Flexibility & Medium Farms)

Portable motorised sprayers are compact, engine-driven units that provide greater spraying power and range without the bulk of large equipment. They are ideal for medium-sized farms or areas where hose reach is critical such as orchards, coffee plantations, and flower farms.

Best for: Farms between 3–20 acres
Ideal crops: Coffee, flowers, vegetables, fruit trees

Advantages:

• High spraying efficiency with better coverage
• Can handle long hose lengths (30m to 200m)
• Versatile enough for different spraying needs

Pro Tip: Portable motorised sprayers are a great middle ground , offering the power of large systems without requiring a tractor.

 

4. Trolley Sprayers (For Mobility & Higher Capacity)

Trolley sprayers are mounted on wheeled frames, making them easy to move while handling larger tank capacities. They are ideal for farmers seeking mobility and efficiency on medium-sized farms.

Best for: Farms up to 50 acres
Ideal crops: Vegetables, flowers, greenhouses

Advantages:

• Larger tank capacities than knapsacks
• Easy to maneuver across farms
• Works well with long, high-pressure hoses for extended coverage

Tip: If you want greater capacity without sacrificing mobility, trolley sprayers are an excellent choice.

5. Mist Blowers (For Dense Crops & Orchards)

Mist blowers use air-assisted spraying technology to produce fine droplets that penetrate deep into crop canopies, making them perfect for dense or tall crops like coffee, macadamia, avocados, and flowers.

Best for: Farms up to 300 acres
Ideal crops: Orchards, vineyards, coffee estates, flower farms

Advantages:

• Produces ultra-fine droplets for better absorption
• Reaches hard-to-spray areas effectively
• Covers larger areas quickly

Pro Tip: Mist blowers are the best choice when spraying dense foliage where uniform chemical coverage is essential.

6. Boom Sprayers (For Large-Scale Commercial Farming)

Boom sprayers are designed for high-volume spraying across large open fields. They deliver uniform spray coverage while saving time, labor, and chemicals making them ideal for commercial-scale farming.

Best for: Farms up to 500 acres
Ideal crops: Maize, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, and other open-field crops

Advantages:

• Extremely efficient for covering large fields
• Consistent droplet size for uniform results
• Reduces overall spraying time and costs

Pro Tip: Boom sprayers are perfect for large-scale farmers looking to maximize efficiency and reduce spraying costs.

 

Final Thoughts

The right sprayer depends on your farm size, crop type, and spraying frequency:

• Smallholder farmers → Knapsack sprayers
• Medium farms → Portable motorised sprayers
• Dense canopies and Large-scale farms → Boom sprayers and high-capacity mist blowers

At Panagric Kenya, we supply high-quality spraying solutions to suit every farmer’s needs — from manual sprayers to motorised units and large-scale boom sprayers. We also offer servicing, calibration, and genuine spare parts to keep your equipment performing at its best.

📞 Call us today: 0722 286 269 / 0795 620 619
📧 Email: sales@panagric.co.ke | panagric@gmail.com
📍 Visit us: Ruiru Kamiti Road, Kenya
🌐 Website: www.panagric.com

 

Pressure Washer vs Crop Sprayer: Why Using the Wrong Machine Can Damage Your Crops

At Panagric Kenya, we’ve seen many farmers bring in pressure washers , typically designed for car washes, hoping to modify them into crop spraying machines. 

Pressure Washer

While this might seem like a cost-saving shortcut, using a pressure washer to apply pesticides, herbicides, or foliar feeds can damage your crops, reduce efficiency, and waste your chemicals.

PAN 200L TROLLEY SPRAYER

In this article, we break down why pressure washers are unsuitable for crop spraying and why investing in a proper agricultural sprayer is the safest and most effective solution. 

1. Pressure Levels Are Too High 

Pressure washers are designed to blast dirt off cars and pavements, producing extremely high pressures, typically 100 to 250 bar (1,450 to 3,600 PSI). In contrast, agricultural sprayers operate at controlled low to medium pressures: Knapsack sprayers: 2 to 5 bar, and Boom sprayers: 10 to 20 bar 

Using a pressure washer: 

•  Damages leaves, flowers, and stems due to excessive force. 
•  Causes chemical drift, where pesticides are blown away from crops, leading to waste and poor pest control.

2. Incorrect Flow Rate & Droplet Size 

Effective spraying depends on precise flow control and droplet size: 

• Crop sprayers produce fine droplets (100–250 microns) that stick to leaves for maximum absorption. 
• Pressure washers produce large, uncontrolled droplets that run off plants, wasting chemicals and reducing coverage. 

This results in Inefficient pest and disease control. It also leads to chemical wastage and increased costs.

3. Lack of Tank Agitation for Proper Mixing 

Proper crop spraying requires continuous agitation to keep chemicals uniformly mixed in the tank. Agricultural sprayers are fitted with agitation systems that: 

• Maintain a consistent chemical concentration from start to finish 
• Ensure even coverage of crops
• Prevent sedimentation of pesticides at the bottom of the tank 

 Pressure washers do not have agitation systems. Without proper mixing, you risk: 

• Applying too much chemical in some areas and too little in others 
• Wasting expensive chemicals 
• Leaving crops unevenly protected, making pest and disease control ineffective

PAN 300L TROLLEY SPRAYER

Pressure Washer Vs Knapsack Sprayer

4. Risk of Equipment Damage 

Even if you attempt to convert a pressure washer into a sprayer, there are major technical mismatches:

•  Pump damage: Car wash pumps aren’t designed to handle corrosive chemicals 
•  Nozzle incompatibility: Pressure washer fittings don’t support specialized agricultural nozzles
•  Motor strain: Agricultural chemicals increase friction and wear, reducing machine lifespan.

 In the long term, you’ll spend more on repairs and replacements than if you invested in the right sprayer.

PAN PORTABLE SPRAYER

5. Safety & Health Concerns 

Using a pressure washer for chemical application exposes farmers to serious health hazards: 

• Uncontrolled sprays increase chemical drift and inhalation risks 
• Poor droplet control leads to skin and eye contact with harmful chemicals 
• Without calibrated pressure and proper PPE, spraying becomes dangerous to both the farmer and the environment

SAFETY HAZARD WHEN USING PRESSURE WASHER 

 
The Right Solution: Invest in Proper Crop Spraying Equipment 

At Panagric Kenya, we specialize in agricultural spraying solutions designed for efficiency, safety, and precision. 

Whether you need: 

  Knapsack sprayers for small-scale farms 

PAN Jectto 16 and 20 L Knapsack Sprayers

  Mist blowers for orchards and coffee plantations 

PAN 1000L AIR-ASSISTED MISTBLOWER

  , Portable sprayers for small, medium and large scale farming 

PAN GMB-AR30 PORTABLE SPRAYER

  Boom sprayers for large-scale crop protection 

PAN HOCKEYSTICKS/VERTICAL BOOM SPRAYER

…we have the right equipment to maximize coverage, minimize waste, and protect your crops. 

Conclusion 

Using a pressure washer for crop spraying may seem like a shortcut, but it leads to chemical wastage, crop damage, equipment failure, and health risks. Proper sprayers are engineered with controlled pressures, accurate droplet sizes, and chemical agitation systems to ensure efficient and safe application.

 � Call us today: 0722 286 269 / 0795 620 619 

 � � Email: sales@panagric.co.ke | panagric@gmail.com 

 � � Location: Ruiru Kamiti Road, Kenya 

 � � Website: www.panagric.com

Pan Kenya Limited's Strategies for Improving Crop Spraying Equipment and Extension

 Pan agric Kenya limited is unlimited to ways of improving it's crop spraying equipment ,extension and exemplary service to farmers in east Africa and beyond. Pan Kenya Limited has improved its crop spraying equipment and extension services as follows;

1. Adopted new technologies: Pan Agric Kenya Limited has explored new technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of crop spraying. For example, they have in recent months invested in drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with spraying equipment that can cover large areas quickly and accurately. Additionally, they have explored the use of precision agriculture technologies such as GPS-guided  sprayers, which can apply pesticides with greater accuracy.
2. Trained staff on the latest techniques: Pan Agric Kenya Limited has ensured that its staff is up-to-date with the latest techniques and best practices in crop spraying. This has been achieved through regular training programs that provide staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to use new equipment and technologies effectively.
3. Collaborated with research institutions: Pan Agric Kenya Limited has collaborate with research institutions eg KALRO to develop new and innovative crop spraying techniques for exact needs of farmers in East Africa. By working together, they have developed new solutions that are more effective, efficient, and sustainable.
4. Provide exemplary customer service: Pan Agric Kenya Limited has differentiated itself from its competitors by providing exemplary customer service. This has been achieved by ensuring that its staff is knowledgeable, responsive, and provides timely and effective support to farmers. Additionally, they have leveraged technology to provide farmers with access to real-time and specific information to help them make better decisions.
5. Build a strong brand: Finally, Pan Agric Kenya Limited has build a strong brand that is associated with quality, reliability, and innovation. This has been achieved through targeted marketing and branding campaigns that highlight the company's strengths and value proposition. Additionally, they have leveraged social media and other digital channels to engage with farmers and build a strong community around their brand.

Classification of Hand Gloves for Farm Chemicals Handling in Kenya.

 Classification of Hand Gloves for Farm Chemicals Handling in Kenya.

Hand gloves used for handling farm chemicals in Kenya can be classified based on various standards, such as the kind of chemical being used, the level of protection required, and the material used in the gloves. 

Here are some examples of classification criteria:

1. Type of Chemical Being Handled:  

• Pesticides: Gloves used for handling pesticides need to be resistant to the specific chemicals being used. For example, gloves that are resistant to organophosphate pesticides may not be resistant to carbamate pesticides. Therefore, it is important to choose gloves that are appropriate for the specific pesticide being used.
• Herbicides: Gloves used for handling herbicides need to be resistant to the specific chemicals being used. For example, gloves that are resistant to glyphosate may not be resistant to paraquat. Therefore, it is important to choose gloves that are appropriate for the specific herbicide being used.
• Fertilizers: Gloves used for handling fertilizers may not need to be as durable or resistant as those used for handling pesticides or herbicides. However, it is still important to choose gloves that provide adequate protection against any harmful chemicals in the fertilizer.
  
  
  

2. Level of Protection Required: 

• Chemical Resistant Gloves: These gloves are designed to provide protection against a wide range of chemicals. They are typically made of materials such as neoprene, nitrile, or PVC.
• Latex Gloves: These gloves are typically used for general purpose tasks such as handling fertilizer or when handling chemicals with low toxicity.
• Cotton Gloves: These gloves are typically used for light-duty tasks such as handling dry chemicals or when there is no direct contact with the chemical.
  
  
  

3. Material Used in Gloves:

• Neoprene Gloves: These gloves are long-lasting and has a a broad spectrum of chemical resistance.
• Nitrile Gloves: These gloves provide excellent resistance to chemicals and puncture resistance.
• PVC Gloves: These gloves are resistant to acids, bases, and other chemicals.
• Latex Gloves: These gloves are made from natural rubber and provide good protection from mild chemicals.
  
  
  

In summary, the classification of hand gloves for farm chemicals handling in Kenya depends on the specific needs and requirements of the situation. It is important to choose gloves that provide adequate protection against the specific chemicals being used and to ensure that the gloves fit properly and are comfortable to wear.

Classification of Respirators for Farm Chemicals Spraying.

 Classification of Respirators for Farm Chemicals Spraying.

Respirators  are essential personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with farm chemicals, including during spraying processes. Respirators protect the respiratory system from inhaling toxic chemicals that can cause harm to both short-term and long-term health.

There are several types of respirators available, and the choice of respirator will depend on the toxicity and concentration of the chemicals being used. The most common types of respirators used for farm chemical spraying include:

1. N95 Respirators: These respirators filters  a minimum of 95% of airborne particles, including dust, mist, and fumes. They are typically used for low-to- moderate toxicity chemicals and are disposable.
2. Half-Face Respirators: These respirators cover the nose and mouth and provide protection against respiratory hazards. They use replaceable cartridges that filter out specific chemicals, and they can be reused.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Full-Face Respirators: These respirators provide full-face coverage and are used for high-toxicity chemicals. They use replaceable cartridges that filter out specific chemicals and can be reused.
   
   
   
4. Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRS): These respirators force air through a filter by use a battery- powered blower,providing clean air to the user. They are commonly used for highly  toxic chemicals and gives better protection than other respirators.

It is important to select the appropriate respirator based on the specific chemicals being used and the level of toxicity. It is also essential that the respirator fits properly to ensure that it provides effective protection .

Pan Agric Initiatives and Innovations

 Pan Agric Kenya Limited is a leading provider of agricultural solutions in Kenya and the East African region. Over the past 10 years, the company has made significant strides in crop spraying and application technology, with a focus on innovation and sustainability. Here are some of the key initiatives and innovations that Pan Agric has implemented in the last decade:

1. Introduction of precision spraying technology: Pan Agric has invested heavily in precision spraying technology, which allows farmers to apply pesticides and other chemicals more accurately and efficiently. This technology uses sensors and mapping software to detect and target specific areas of a field, reducing the amount of chemicals needed and minimizing environmental impact.

2. Development of customized spraying solutions: Pan Agric has worked closely with farmers to develop customized spraying solutions for different crops and growing conditions. This has enabled farmers to optimize their spraying practices and achieve better yields while using fewer chemicals.

3. Adoption of sustainable spraying practices: Pan Agric has been a strong advocate of sustainable spraying practices, including the use of biological control agents and integrated pest management strategies. The company has also promoted the use of low-volume spraying techniques, which use less water and chemicals than traditional spraying methods.

4. Investment in research and development: Pan Agric has invested heavily in research and development, partnering with universities and research institutions to develop new spraying technologies and solutions. This has put Pan Agric ahead of the pack in crop spraying and application technology.

5. Expansion of its product portfolio: Pan Agric has expanded its product portfolio to include a wide range of renewable energy solutions, Personal protective equipment, small agricultural engines, electric motors, turbines, high pressure hose pipes, non torsion, non kink irrigation pipes etc. This has enabled the company to provide farmers with comprehensive solutions for their crop production needs.

Overall, Pan Agric Kenya Limited has been a leader in crop spraying and application technology in the East African region over the past 10 years. Through its innovative solutions and sustainable practices, the company has had a positive impact in   farmers'  yields while reducing environmental impact.