A SIMPLE LOW-VOLUME LABORATORY RESEARCH SPRAY SYSTEM

Commercially available cabinet sprayers are not well suited for making low volume applications (< 30 L/ha) of herbicides to woody forest spe cies that can be up to 1.5 m tall. A simple, inexpensive laboratory sp rayer that overcomes some limitations of commercial cabinet sprays can be built from materials readily available at local building and elect ronic suppliers. The only specialized equipment required is a positive displacement pump and a rotary disk atomizer. The atomizer is attache d to the end of a variable height arm mounted on a laboratory cart. A positive displacement pump ensures controlled flow. The operator pushe s the cart along a metal rub rail which keeps the cart tracking in a s traight line. Travel speed is regulated by the operator following a ma rker on a clothesline-like loop of fishing line and is driven by a var iable-speed drill attached to a variable voltage power supply.