If you double the application rate of your equipment, how will it affect your application rate?

• A. The application rate is cut in half.
• B. The application rate doubles.
• C. The application rate remains the same.
• D. The pesticide becomes non-toxic.

Answer: (A)

Application rate is the amount of pesticide applied per unit area, and it depends on two things: how much product is flowing from the equipment (flow rate) and how far you move over the ground (ground speed). If you double the rate at which the product is applied and you keep your travel speed the same, you’re delivering twice as much product over each acre, so the application rate doubles. The situation that would halve the application rate is increasing travel speed while leaving the flow the same, not increasing the flow. So, when the flow rate is doubled and speed stays constant, the application rate increases proportionally (it doubles).