How To Choose Sprayer?

Manual Sprayers

They are equipped with a reservoir for chemicals, a nozzle with a filter mesh (or several, depending on the configuration), which sprays the liquid, and a wand for directing the spray. A manual garden sprayer is the cheapest and easiest-to-maintain device.

Depending on the type of air pumping, manual sprayers are divided into:

Pump Sprayers With A Single-Shoulder Strap

• Pump Sprayers. These devices are equipped with a pump located directly in the liquid tank. By raising and lowering the lever, pressure is generated, which enables the spraying process. For a 12-liter tank, pressure buildup takes about one and a half minutes. Typically, garden pump sprayers feature a single-shoulder strap. Manufacturers claim this design allows pressure pumping with one hand without removing the sprayer, but in practice, it is inconvenient—you have to place the unit on the ground, hold the tank with one hand, and pump with the other. The capacity of pump units does not exceed 20 liters, as carrying them on the shoulder would be impractical.

Lever Sprayer "Zhuk" Backpack Type

• Lever Sprayers. These models differ from pump sprayers in their pressure generation method, as the pumping occurs in the pump chamber rather than in the liquid tank. This design feature prevents tank rupture and chemical spills on the user during overpressurization. The device consists of a square tank in a backpack form with two straps for carrying on both shoulders. Some models are equipped with soft leather or silicone padding, ensuring the sprayer does not press against the back. The body has a pressure relief valve. During spraying, one hand holds the wand with the nozzle, while the other pumps pressure using a lever on the opposite side. This allows continuous operation without removing the sprayer. However, over time, the pumping hand may become fatigued. Backpack sprayers with a 12-liter capacity can treat up to 30 acres of potato fields or shrubs.

Battery-Powered and Electric Sprayers

Garden Sprayer With A Battery

This is a universal type of sprayer, as it can operate directly from a power outlet or a built-in battery. Its main advantage over manual sprayers is automatic pressure generation, which allows holding the wand with both hands. This makes it much easier to target specific parts of plants. Battery-powered sprayers are designed as backpacks with two shoulder straps. At the base of the model, there is an indicator showing the battery charge level. Some models are equipped with a power (pressure) regulator, which allows adjusting the spray strength depending on the type of plant being treated. For example, when treating delicate flowers, the pressure is reduced to avoid damaging the stems, while for spraying trees, it is increased to reach the tops.

Most battery sprayer tanks feature a vertical transparent scale to determine the amount of mixture in the reservoir. These models are typically designed for 4–5 hours of autonomous operation without recharging. However, some manufacturers equip sprayers with batteries capable of running for 8–9 hours, which is very convenient when there is no power source available (e.g., in fields). Battery-powered models are much quieter and lighter compared to gasoline units. However, they are less powerful (in terms of pressure) and can spray no higher than 4–5 meters.

Gasoline Models

Gasoline Sprayer Stihl With A Rigid Spray Pipe

Gasoline sprayers consist of a square plastic or aluminum frame that houses a reservoir for the mixture, a two-stroke engine, and a pipe with a control handle. The pipe is assembled from several rigid and one corrugated elbow. A flexible tube for delivering the mixture, ending with a spray nozzle, is attached to it. For convenient transportation, gasoline sprayers are equipped with two shoulder straps or wheels (similar to travel suitcases).

The operation of the unit works as follows: the engine drives a pneumatic drive unit that generates a powerful airflow. At the same time, slight overpressure forms in the mixture chamber, delivering the solution through flexible tubes to the nozzle. At the nozzle's end, a powerful airflow sprays the mixture onto plants. This setup allows spraying at distances of up to 15–20 meters and heights of up to 10 meters. Gasoline sprayers are very convenient for treating large land areas and tall trees. Models with rigid pipes can also spray powders and water-emulsion solutions, making the sprayer occasionally useful for tasks like painting a greenhouse roof.

Lever Control For Mixture And Air Supply Under The Left Hand

The mixture supply and spraying are controlled via a handle on the pipe. However, some models feature an additional control block with levers under the left hand, one of which adjusts the air supply intensity. Engines with over 5 horsepower and cylinder volumes of 70 cm³ or more allow the sprayer to be used for washing cars or bicycles. Gasoline sprayers are the most productive models that can be operated by one person without additional transportation units. However, they are also the most expensive and noisy.

Self-Propelled And Trailed Sprayers

Trailed Sprayer For Tractors

This is the heavy artillery for combating pests in fields. Trailed sprayers are exclusively used by agro-firms and farms with fields of up to 10,000 hectares. Their very name indicates that they do not operate independently but are attached to a tractor. On average, the pesticide reservoir capacity does not exceed 2,000–4,000 liters. The boom arms, which house the mixture delivery tubes and nozzles, can reach 25–40 meters in length depending on the model. During transport, they fold to allow road maneuverability. The main advantage of trailed units is their high performance and the ability to work without refueling the spraying solution. However, they have one significant disadvantage—a low ground clearance of 0.5 to 1 meter. This makes it nearly impossible to treat tall crops like sunflowers and corn without causing significant plant damage.

Self-Propelled Sprayer

Self-propelled units are independent vehicles designed exclusively for crop spraying. A self-propelled sprayer is very expensive, making its purchase justifiable only for large agricultural enterprises with a total sowing area exceeding 10,000 hectares that will use it continuously without downtime. Its main advantage is the high ground clearance (over 1.5 meters), which allows treating crops of any height.