An introductory Pesticide use Training Course, developed by UC IPM with IPO at UC Davis

1. Prepared by Mark Bell, Mark Henderson and
Frank Zalom with input from
Ehsan Ehsanullah
and Tom Brown

2. Course objectives
Know key points in the application and safe use of
pesticides
Note: At the end, participants will take a review quiz to
show they can recall all the key points.
Support materials – fact sheets and check lists, review
quiz,

3. Course structure
Pesticides
Defining
pests
Defining
pesticides
Do I need
to spray?
About
equipment?
Safety

4. Defining pests
What is a pest?
“Any organism that damages crops”
Do all pests need to be controlled?
No
Why?
Only important if cause
economic loss
Other reasons?
e.g., Long term build up

5. Defining pests
What are the options for controlling pests?
Cultural – such as variety and hand weeding
Biological control - e.g., Lady bugs eat aphids
Pesticide
Note: All photos UC IPM – unless otherwise indicated

6. Defining pests
What are the major types of pests?
Weeds
Insects
Diseases
Mites
Rodents
Snails & slugs

7. Defining pests – why important?
Weeds Insects Disease Mites Rodents Snails/
slugs
Compete
for water
nutrients
and light

Reduce
fruit quality ()   () () ()
Reduce leaf
area (PS)     
Reduce
nutrient
flow in
plant

PS = photosynthesis

8. About Weeds
Not all
weeds are
the same
Grasses
Broadleaves
Sedges

9. About Weeds
What characterizes Grasses?
Leaves are narrow, arranged in sets of two; stems are
rounded or flattened.

10. About Weeds
What characterizes Broadleaves?
Leaves are wide, veins branch out in different
directions.

11. About Weeds
What characterizes Sedges?
Leaves are narrow, arranged in sets of three; stems are
triangular in cross section.

12. About weeds
Why is this important?
Can you control a grass with a broadleaf herbicide?
Rarely!
Do different broadleaves need
different types of herbicide?
Often – as do different
grasses and different sedges
The exception to all is when
a non-selective herbicide can be
used to control everything

13. About Diseases
Not all
diseases are
the same
Bacteria
Fungal
Viruses

14. About Diseases
Just like weeds, each disease and each type almost always
needs a different treatment
Viruses can almost never be
controlled by chemicals
Viruses are usually spread by insects
– so insect control may be the best
form of control for viruses

15. About Diseases
Note that many diseases (especially bacteria and
viruses) spread by contact.
Thus it is important to advise orchard growers to
sterilize any pruning equipment or other equipment
used to chop branches, etc..

16. Course structure
Pesticides
Defining
pests
Defining
pesticides
Do I need
to spray?
About
equipment?
Safety

17. Defining Pesticides
What is a pesticide?
A pesticide is any material (natural, organic, or
synthetic) used to control, prevent, kill, suppress, or
repel pests.

18. Defining Pesticides
Match the pesticide with... what it controls…
Insecticides
Herbicides
Fungicides
Rodenticides
Miticides
Molluscicides
Diseases
Insects
Weeds
Snails and slugs
Rats and mice
Mite

19. Defining Pesticides
Will different pesticides control other types of pests?
For example, will a herbicide control insects?
Almost never!

20. Defining Pesticides
If you have more than one type of problem pest (say a
disease and an insect), can you mix pesticides?
Sometimes, but read the label
Many times mixing products will mean products do not
work

21. Defining Pesticides
"Pesticides" come in different forms. The most
common are:
Water soluble (WS)
Emulsifiable concentrates (EC)
Wettable powders (WP)

22. Defining Pesticides
Which requires constant agitation in the tank?
Water soluble
Emulsifiable concentrates
Wettable powders
Why?
Because they separate out of solution
What happens if they separate out of solution?
Uneven chemical application – uneven control
Unhappy customers!



23. Defining Pesticides
Which causes greater nozzle wear?
Water soluble
Emulsifiable concentrates
Wettable powders

24. Defining Pesticides
Match the following:
Contact pesticide
Systemic pesticide
Moves through the plant
to have its effect.
Must hit the target pest
or coat the plant being
protected. Requires
complete coverage of the
plant for best effect.

25. Defining Pesticides
What is the difference between a selective and a non-
selective herbicide?
A non-selective herbicide …..
Kills all weeds (and the crop!)
A Selective herbicide….
Kills certain weeds in certain crops

26. Defining Pesticides
What was used here – a selective or a non-selective
herbicide?
A Selective herbicide….
has only affected the
weed – not the crop

27. Defining Pesticides
What is LD50?
LD50 tells about the toxicity or danger of a product to
humans and animals.
LD50 is the dose required to kill half a non-target
population of animals (usually rats).
Which is safer?
Product A LD50 = 750
Product B LD50 = 1750
Why?
Because more of product B is required to have the same toxic
effect.
Aim to use products with an LD50 of more than 1000.

28. Defining Pesticides
All products carry key “signal” words on the label
telling about the potential dangers of a product
Look for
Caution
Warning
Danger
Which do you think is most dangerous?
Which is least dangerous?

29. Course structure
Pesticides
Defining
pests
Defining
pesticides
Do I need
to spray?
About
equipment?
Safety

30. Do I need to spray?
Before using a pesticide here’s 5 questions you
should ask…..
A common type of home garden application equipment, the
compressed air sprayer.
Illustration by D. Kidd.(Photo IRRI)

31. Do I need to spray?
1. What is causing the problem?
Is the pest really the cause of the problem?
2. What are the control options?
Are there other options to a pesticide?
3. Are there enough pests to justify a pesticide spray?

32. Do I need to spray?
4. What products are both available and effective?
Is there a product to control the pest and suitable for
use in the target crop?
Is it the right time to control and use the product?
Will spraying be economic?
5. Is the product safe for the crop, the environment and
beneficial insects? Will there be residues on the
produce or land?

33. Photo: Pesticide Management Education Program
– Cornell Cooperative Extension

34. Do I need to spray?
Project targets for pesticides
Low toxicity (LD50 should be over 1000)
Comply with “Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer
Use Action Plan” (PERSUAP)
Consistent with UC Davis IPM guidelines.
Control serious pests of grapes, pomegranates, stone
fruit, (especially apricots), almonds, melons and major
vegetables.
Can be used with a wheel barrow sprayers.

35. Course structure
Pesticides
Defining
pests
Defining
pesticides
Do I need
to spray?
About
equipment?
Safety

36. About equipment
Parts of a sprayer – even simple sprayers have the same
components as more complex ones
Name and function?
Nozzle - influences rate
and droplet size
Hose – takes product from tank or
reservoir to application nozzle
Tank – holds mixed product
Trigger – on and
off switch
?
?
?
?
?
Pump – generates
application pressure

37. Mid-size Pesticide Sprayer
114 Liter (30 gallon) tank on
a 4 wheel push cart

38. Mid-size Pesticide Sprayer
3 horse power Honda
engine and GE 75 Pump
Pump capable of
45.5Liters/minute
Pump pressure = 4.57kg/sq
cm (65psi)
30 meter long 0.95cm hose
with hand-size spray gun

39. About equipment
Droplet size and Coverage?
What size droplets do you want?
Big droplets?
Small droplets?
Depends on the product and crop.

40. About equipment
When are larger droplets and partial coverage okay?
If systemic – product will move through the plant to
have its effect.
When are smaller droplets with greater coverage
better?
For contact products or if the plant is dormant

41. About equipment
In orchards, you often want smaller droplets and
you should spray to “run-off” or “drip”.

42. About equipment
Nozzles
Which is a
Hollow cone?
Flat fan?
Solid cone?
Summary of the main types of spray nozzles, their usage and characteristics.
[Note: 1 psi = 6.89 k Pa or 1 kPa = 0.145 psi]
(Photos Bugwood and IRRI)

43. About equipment
How do nozzles affect flow rate and droplet size?
Type of nozzle Most common use Operating
pressure in
kilopascals (kPa)
Remarks
Hollow cone Low volume
insecticides and
fungicides. Special
herbicide application.
400-800 Moderate pressure.
Small droplets.
Good penetration of
foliage
Solid cone High volume
insecticides and
fungicides
400-2500 High pressure.
Small droplets.
Good penetration of
foliage
Fan Herbicides 200-200 Low pressure.
Large droplets.
Less drift.
Summary of the main types of spray nozzles, their usage and characteristics.
[Note: 1 psi = 6.89 k Pa or 1 kPa = 0.145 psi]

44. About equipment
About Pressure
What happens to droplet size if you increase
pressure?
Decrease droplet size
What happens if pressure varies?
Get variable coverage on target crop
Unhappy customers!
Constant pressure is critical.

45. About equipment
Review
If the equipment below is the same, then which do you
think has the greater application pressure (A or B)?
Why?
A B

46. About equipment
Review
Which gives better coverage (A or B)?
Which should be used for a contact pesticide (A or B)?
A B

47. About equipment
We have seen that droplet size is affected by nozzle
type and pressure
We’ve seen that smaller droplets lead to better
coverage, but….
If too small, you get drift

48. About equipment
What is drift?
Drift is when product moves
through the air away from
the target crop to other
areas
Drift increases as wind
speed increases, and
As droplet size decreases

49. About equipment
Is Drift good or bad or it doesn’t matter?
Bad – Drift wastes product and potentially endangers
other crops, people and the environment.
How do you reduce drift?
Avoid spraying in high
winds
Avoid excessive application
pressure and very small
droplets

50. About equipment
What are the best wind conditions to spray in?
It doesn’t matter
Only when there is no wind
Only when there is a light breeze
Only when there is a strong breeze

51. About equipment
Approx. air
speed (m/s)
Description Visible signs Spraying
<0.3 Calm Smoke rises
vertically
Avoid spraying on
warm sunny days
0.6-0.9 Light air Direction shown by
smoke drift
Avoid spraying on
warm sunny days
0.9-1.81 Light breeze Leaves rustle, wind
felt on face
Ideal spraying
1.81-2.7 Gentle breeze Leaves and twigs in
constant motion
Avoid spraying
herbicides
2.7-4.0 Moderate Small branches
moved, raises dust
or loose paper
Spraying inadvisable

52. About equipment
Calibration
What is calibration?
The amount of output per unit time from your sprayer –
often given as liters/minute
Why do you need to calibrate your equipment?
To know how much product to add.

53. About equipment
What is the goal of an application?
Apply a certain amount of product to each tree
With small orchards, calibration is best by trial and
error
Many times the goal is spray-to-drip
What is spray-to-drip?
The plant is fully covered to the point
that further spray will “drip” off.

54. About equipment
Calibration
Before calibration and use, always
check and repair the sprayer
Filters, strainers are clean
Tank is clean, free from sediment
Nozzle is working properly
Notes:
Never clean nozzles with wire
Never clean nozzles by blowing with your mouth

55. About equipment
Practical : How do I calibrate?
For spraying orchard crops……
Fill your sprayer with water to a known volume or level
Set the sprayer at the pressure you will use when
spraying
Spray a known number of trees (e.g., 3, 5 or 10) - spray
each tree to “drip”.
Add up the total time required to spray all trees.
Note: Only record time spent spraying, not the time
moving between trees

56. About equipment
Practical : How do I calibrate? (continued)
When finished, note how much liquid was applied?
Either read off water remaining in the tank and calculate
as Initial volume-final volume = applied volume, or
Note the volume of liquid required to refill the tank
back to the original level
As a point of reference: In California, it often takes
between 1-2 minutes to spray a single tree of 2-3 m
height.

57. About equipment
Practical
Your calibration will be =
(liquid applied)l/(time required to apply)min = l/min

58. About equipment
Practical
Now how much product do you need?
In general, recommendations for
Orchards are as ppm or concentration
Field crops as rate active ingredient (or product) per ha.

59. About equipment
Practical
How much liquid do you need in each tank load?
Volume required = # trees x average volume applied per
tree
Then add 5-10%
How much product do you need?
Calculate based on the volume above to give the
concentration needed

60. About equipment
Practical example
Total volume required
# trees = 10
Average volume applied per tree = 5 l
Volume required = 10 x 5 = 50 l
Volume to add = 50 + 5 = 55 l
How much product do you need?
Target concentration = 5% product
So product required = 55 l * 5% = 2.75 l product
Always check whether recommendation is product or
active ingredient

61. About equipment
Practical example (continued)
Total volume required = 55 l
Product required = 2.75 l
Filling tank
52.25 l water + 2.75 l product = 55 l

62. About equipment
What happens to sprayer output if…
You increase pressure?
You apply a higher volume per unit time
Do you need more or less product?
Same if recommendation is based on concentration of spray
However, you should need less time to spray-to-drip.

63. About equipment
Calibration
How do you change your application rate?
Nozzle
Pressure
Speed

64. About equipment
What happens to calibration if…
You change nozzle(s)?
Nozzles have a direct impact on output
Higher flow nozzles increase volume applied for the same
amount of time.

65. About equipment
Before mixing your pesticide find out:
How many trees will you spray
Remember from earlier experience
how much water you spray per tree and
how much pesticide you use per liter.

66. About equipment
Now calculate
how much pesticide is needed for 20 trees, if you
spray 5 l/tree and need a product concentration of
10%?
How many tanks do you need if your tank has a 50 l
capacity?
Discuss

67. About equipment
Apple Orchard Mixed Family Farm
Now you can estimate spray volumes for any
number of trees and product required.

68. Course structure
Pesticides
Defining
pests
Defining
pesticides
Do I need
to spray?
About
equipment?
Safety

69. Safety – Pesticide Label
Be sure
Crop is on the label.
Pest is on the label.
To follow label directions for mixing.
To follow label directions for protective clothing.
To check for other precautions (e.g., limitations on
harvested produce).

70. Safety – Pesticide Label
About the label
Signal words are…
"CAUTION,“
"WARNING," and
"DANGER"
(in order of increasing toxicity)
Indicates the relative acute toxicity, or
short-term effects, of the active
ingredients to humans. They do not
refer to long-term effects to humans
nor do they indicate the effect on
aquatic invertebrates.

71. Safety – Pesticide Label
About the label
Active ingredient
What is it?
The active ingredient (a.i.) is the
material in the pesticide
formulation that actually destroys
the target pest or performs the
desired function. Pesticide labels
are required by law to show the
active ingredient and its
percentage.

72. Safety – Pesticide Label
About the label
Other (or inert) ingredients?
Inert ingredients are all materials
in the pesticide formulation other
than the active ingredient.
These ingredients do not work to
control the pest, but help dissolve
the active ingredient, improve or
enhance pesticide activity.
Some inert ingredients may be
toxic or hazardous to humans.

73. Safety – Pesticide Label
About the label
Trade names
The trade name is any brand name that
is used exclusively by one manufacturer
for a product containing the pesticide
chemical. There may be several trade
names for a single product, thus making
it confusing.
Do not rely on brand names to
identify pesticides.

74. Safety – Pesticide Label
Surfactants
What is a surfactant?
Added to decrease surface tension of the applied liquid
to improve surface wetting and penetration of the
product.
Check the label - surfactants may be added or may
come as already included in the product.

75. Photo: Pesticide Management Education Program
– Cornell Cooperative Extension

76. Safety – Exposure
Understand the dangers
When can you be
contaminated?
How can you or others be
contaminated?
Where is absorption greatest?
What does that mean for
protecting yourself and
others? Photo: USDA

77. Safety – Dangers
When are risks the highest for exposure?
Spills and splashes (e.g. mixing)
Spray drift and dust from pesticide application
Skin contact with residues
Photo: Pesticide Management Education Program
– Cornell Cooperative Extension

78. Safety – Dangers
Why is mixing so dangerous?
Dealing with pure concentrated product
Greater potential for spills during
mixing
Tips:
Mix in a well ventilated area
Wear protective equipment – especially
gloves, mask and closed shoes
Stand up-wind when mixing
Photo: Fintrac Inc.

79. Safety – Dangers
Mixing
Keep a set of measuring equipment
for use only with pesticides.
Clearly label them as "PESTICIDE
ONLY"
Store them in a secure area away
from food preparation areas.
Photo: Pesticide Management Education Program
– Cornell Cooperative Extension

80. Safety – Exposure
Be aware of the where pesticides
can enter the body.
How can pesticides enter your
body?
through eyes
Breathing – entry into the lungs
through the mouth
through the skin
Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

81. Safety - Exposure
Note that there are differences
in absorption through skin.
Where is absorption greatest?
Scrotum
Ears
Forehead and Scalp
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/agengi
n/g01916.htm

82. Safety – Exposure
Another way at
looking at
absorption
Note absorption
through the armpit
The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides – UC IPM

83. Safety - Exposure
What does this mean when
applying in the field?
Wear protective equipment
Wash hands before going to
the bathroom.
What’s the difference between
absorption on the forearm and
forehead?
When hot and sweaty, do you
wipe your arm on your
forehead? http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/agengi
n/g01916.htm

84. Safety – Protective Gear
Personal Protective
Equipment
Minimum:
rubber gloves,
eye protection,
long-sleeved shirt,
long pants,
mask,
closed shoes
Avoid using cotton gloves or lightweight dust masks
that may absorb the spray and increase contact with skin.

85. Safety – Protective Gear
Is this person ready to apply
pesticide?
What is good?
Has a hat and long sleeves
What is not so good?
No protection for eyes, mouth or
hands.
Shoes?
Photo IDRC

86. Safety – Protective Gear
Equipment care:
Goggles, boots and
gloves
Wash frequently.
Use warm soapy water
and a brush to clean
most protective gear.
Repair or replace any
ripped or damaged gear.
The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides – UC IPM

87. Safety – Protective Gear
Equipment care: Clothes
Do not re-wear
contaminated clothes
until they have been
washed.
Wash clothing used to
apply pesticides
separately from all other
clothes.
The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides – UC IPM

88. Safety – Good Practices
Before you spray…
Check the label
First put on all protective equipment
Inspect sprayer and hose to ensure
there are no leaks
Check area to make sure there are no:
People
Pets/Livestock
Check for ponds, streams, wells, other
water sources.
Photo: Ron Horii – Santa Teresa
County Park
Don’t spray near streams

89. Safety – Good Practices
Does water quality have any effect?
Yes
Rule of thumb: Use water only if you
can see a coin dropped in the bottom
of a bucket of water
Photo IRRI

90. Safety – Good Practices
While Spraying…
As much as possible
Spray away from the body
Do not let yourself become soaked with pesticide
Avoid walking through spray
Stand upwind
Avoid spraying straight overhead
Be mindful of drift (wind carrying pesticide
droplets)

91. Safety – Good Practices
Wash hands before:
Eating
Going to bathroom
Smoking
Do not wipe forearm on
forehead when sweaty.
Keep foods away from
pesticides and sprayed
areas. Keep covered.
Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555
Pesticide
residue on
person’s hands
seen under
florescent light.
Photo: International Potato
Center

92. Safety – Good Practices
Take a shower as soon after application as possible.
Wash clothing separately from other laundry.
Never smoke, drink, eat, or use the bathroom after
pesticide application without washing first.
Pesticide Safety for Small Farms, UC ANR Pub. 21555

93. Safety – Cleaning Equipment
When finished using sprayer…
Try to not have any excess
pesticide in the tank.
Rinse tank by running fresh
water through the sprayers.
Do not leave sprayer in the
field.
Do not allow equipment to sit
for a long time with pesticide
in the tank. This may clog or
corrode the machine.

94. Safety – Cleaning Equipment
Rinse the outside of
the sprayer
thoroughly with
water (avoiding the
engine)
Check pesticide label
for clean up
procedures
Photo: Tim McCabe, USDA

95. Safety - Disposal
What can be done about pesticide excess?
Don’t create any excess!
Only mix the amount of pesticide that you need for the job.
If you make excess try to use the pesticide on another
appropriate site.
Store in a clearly marked container for later use.
Follow label guidelines for disposal.

96. Safety – Disposal
How about pouring excess pesticide
down the drain?
Absolutely NOT!
Why?
Ground water
pollution
River/aquatic
pollution
Diagram: USDS
Picture: UC IPM

97. Safety - Disposal
What to do about empty pesticide containers?
Read the label
Typically - Rinse 3 times
Puncture the container (so it can not be reused)
Dispose in a landfill or recycle
Never use empty pesticide containers for other
purposes (e.g. storing water).

98. Safety – Disposal
Diagram: Purdue Pesticide Program – Purdue Univ. Cooperative Extension
Empty
container into
spray tank

99. Safety – Disposal
Diagram: Purdue Pesticide Program – Purdue Univ. Cooperative Extension
Rinse
container
with water,
shake, add to
tank and
repeat

100. Safety – Disposal
Diagram: Purdue Pesticide Program – Purdue Univ. Cooperative Extension
Destroy and
dispose of
container

101. Safety – Reentry into the field
When is it safe to reenter the field after spraying
(without protective gear)?
When the plants are dry?
No
Check the pesticide label?
Yes

102. Safety - Reentry
Check for “REI” or the
“Restricted Entry
Interval”
Sample Label
Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

103. Safety - Reentry
Post a sign so others will
know not to enter the
field during the
Restricted Entry Interval.
Photo: Forestry Suppliers Inc.

104. Safety – Product marketing
What may prevent you selling a product treated with
pesticide?
Application is too close to sale date.
How can you be sure if you are okay?
Read the label!
Note any limitations in the country importing your
product.

105. Safety – Storage
Store all chemicals in the
original labeled containers
Lock in cabinet or shed,
away from food or feeds,
and out of the reach of
children, unauthorized
persons, pets, and
livestock.
Keep spraying and mixing
equipment locked up as
well.
Photo: Pesticide Management Education Program
– Cornell Cooperative Extension

106. Safety – Storage
Children make up the
largest non-agrarian
pesticide victims
Never store pesticides in
unmarked or incorrect
containers
The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides – UC IPM

107. Safety - Spills
Pesticide spills can occur at any time
First protect yourself, others, animals, and water sources
Be sure to wear protective gear
Control
Stop the spill from continuing
Contain
Stop spill from spreading
Use dirt to barricade a liquid pesticide
Clean Up
Do not hose down the spill. This will make the situation
worse.
Soak up liquid with saw dust, dirt, clay, etc.
Sweep spill into plastic containers for later disposal.

108. What can be done during pesticide emergencies?
Photo: Ambulancesimulator.com

109. Safety – First Aid Symptoms
Dizziness
Headache, blurred
vision
Sweating too much
Stomach cramps,
vomiting
Eye irritation
Skin rashes
Trouble breathing
Chest pains
Illustrations: Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

110. Safety – First Aid
If pesticide is in eyes, rinse
immediately with clean water for
about 15 minutes.
If pesticide gets on clothing or skin
take clothes off immediately and
wash skin with soap and water.
The faster you act, the less
likely harm will occur.
Illustrations: Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

111. Illustrations: Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555
Safety – First Aid
Call the nearest place for
medical care.
All pesticide labels have
emergency first aid information.
Picture: Bayer CropScience – Admire 2 label

112. Safety – First Aid
What should you do if pesticides are inhaled?
First leave the contaminated area.
Loosen clothing for better breathing.
Give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if breathing
has stopped.
Try to calm down exposed person.
Get immediate medical care.
Illustrations: Pesticide Safety for Small Farms,
UC ANR Pub. 21555

113. Safety – First Aid
What should you do if pesticide is swallowed?
Follow label’s instructions.
Drink 1 liter of milk or water if person is conscious if the
pesticide is not corrosive or petroleum based, induce
vomiting.
Get immediate medical care.

114. References
UC IPM http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/index.html
Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides. UC IPM
Pesticide Safety for Small Farmers. A Growers Guide to
Pesticide Safety. UC ANR
Pesticide Safety: A Reference manual for Private
Applicators. UC IPM