Smart Spraying Quiz Quiz

Explore essential concepts of herbicide application in agriculture through realistic scenarios and key decision points. Improve your understanding of application timing, equipment, safety, resistance, and environmental impact.

1. Best Application Timing

   Which is generally the most effective stage to apply post-emergence herbicide for broadleaf weed control in soybean fields?

   1. At crop maturity
   2. When weeds are small and actively growing
   3. After heavy rainfall
   4. Before any weeds emerge

   Explanation: Applying post-emergence herbicide when weeds are small and actively growing maximizes control and reduces crop competition. Applying at crop maturity is too late for effective weed control, and applying before weeds emerge is considered a pre-emergence strategy. Application after heavy rainfall may lead to poor efficacy due to runoff or dilution.

2. Equipment Calibration

   Why is it important to calibrate sprayers before applying herbicides on a large corn field?

   1. To ensure accurate application rates
   2. To save time during refilling
   3. To increase tractor speed
   4. To avoid cleaning the tank

   Explanation: Calibrating sprayers ensures herbicides are distributed at recommended rates, maximizing efficacy and reducing risk of crop injury or environmental harm. Saving time, increasing speed, or avoiding cleaning are not achieved through calibration and can compromise application quality.

3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

   What is the main purpose of wearing PPE, such as gloves and goggles, during herbicide mixing and spraying?

   1. To protect the user from chemical exposure
   2. To reduce herbicide costs
   3. To increase spraying speed
   4. To improve herbicide absorption in crops

   Explanation: PPE protects the applicator from direct contact with potentially harmful chemicals. It does not affect the absorption rate in crops, spraying speed, or reduce costs, which are unrelated to personal safety.

4. Herbicide Resistance Management

   Which practice best helps delay the development of herbicide-resistant weeds in a wheat field?

   1. Applying the same herbicide each year
   2. Rotating herbicide modes of action
   3. Doubling the herbicide dosage each time
   4. Spraying only the field borders

   Explanation: Rotating herbicide modes of action reduces the selection pressure for any one resistance trait. Doubling dosage is unsafe and ineffective long-term, spraying only borders fails to control whole-field populations, and repeated use of one product accelerates resistance.

5. Environmental Considerations

   What is a key reason to avoid herbicide application on windy days in vegetable production?

   1. To promote rapid evaporation of droplets
   2. To enhance coverage on target plants
   3. To increase herbicide volatilization
   4. To prevent spray drift onto non-target areas

   Explanation: Wind can carry sprays away from the intended area, harming other crops, environments, or people. Volatilization and evaporation are not best managed this way, and wind does not enhance coverage—rather, it reduces precision.