ILLINOIS PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
Illinois Pesticide Applicator Exam
Questions and Answers 2025
Define compressed-air sprayers - Correct Ans-Pump compresses air, allowing it to be
sprayed; single stream of spray with large droplets; hand-held or shoulder strap
Define backpack sprayers - Correct Ans-Hand-operated piston or diaphragm pump; holds
more gallons and is better for long-term work
What are the two types of nozzles for manual sprayers? - Correct Ans-Adjustable (hallow
cone, straight stream) and flat fan or flooding
Define effective sprayed width - Correct Ans-The distance between spray passes
Pressure ____________ (increases/decreases) as material is sprayed - Correct Ans-
Decreases
How do you maintain pressure as material is sprayed? - Correct Ans-Re-pressurize
frequently, use a pressure gauge, and use a pressure-regulating valve
Define pesticide injection equipment - Correct Ans-Pesticide injected directly into plant's
vascular system; requires active transpiring
What is an advantage of injection equiptment? - Correct Ans-No drift
Define boom sprayers - Correct Ans-Best choice for making broadcast applications; good
uniformity; best suited to flat, smooth terrain
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, ILLINOIS PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
Define boomless sprayers - Correct Ans-Also used for broadcast applications; less
uniformity than boom sprayers; use off-center nozzles or spray heads
Define hose and reel sprayers - Correct Ans-For spot, base, and leaf applications; amount
of spray required depends on size, shape, and leaf density; also good for chemical
trimming; much less uniform
What two things does droplet size impact? - Correct Ans-Coverage and drift potential
Spray droplets smaller than ______ microns are at high risk of drifting - Correct Ans-150
What are the three ways that droplet sizes can be expressed? - Correct Ans-Volume
Median Diameter, percentage of spray volume in droplets smaller than 150 micros, and
droplet spectrum classification by categories (ASABE standard)
Define Volume Median Diameter - Correct Ans-Droplet diameter at which half of spray
volume is contained in smaller droplets and half of the spray volume is contained in
larger droplets
What is the Volume Median Diameter range for fine particles? - Correct Ans-106-235
microns
What is the Volume Median Diameter range for medium particles? - Correct Ans-236-
340 microns
What is the Volume Median Diameter range for coarse particles? - Correct Ans-341-403
microns
2|Page
Illinois Pesticide Applicator Exam
Questions and Answers 2025
Define compressed-air sprayers - Correct Ans-Pump compresses air, allowing it to be
sprayed; single stream of spray with large droplets; hand-held or shoulder strap
Define backpack sprayers - Correct Ans-Hand-operated piston or diaphragm pump; holds
more gallons and is better for long-term work
What are the two types of nozzles for manual sprayers? - Correct Ans-Adjustable (hallow
cone, straight stream) and flat fan or flooding
Define effective sprayed width - Correct Ans-The distance between spray passes
Pressure ____________ (increases/decreases) as material is sprayed - Correct Ans-
Decreases
How do you maintain pressure as material is sprayed? - Correct Ans-Re-pressurize
frequently, use a pressure gauge, and use a pressure-regulating valve
Define pesticide injection equipment - Correct Ans-Pesticide injected directly into plant's
vascular system; requires active transpiring
What is an advantage of injection equiptment? - Correct Ans-No drift
Define boom sprayers - Correct Ans-Best choice for making broadcast applications; good
uniformity; best suited to flat, smooth terrain
1|Page
, ILLINOIS PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
Define boomless sprayers - Correct Ans-Also used for broadcast applications; less
uniformity than boom sprayers; use off-center nozzles or spray heads
Define hose and reel sprayers - Correct Ans-For spot, base, and leaf applications; amount
of spray required depends on size, shape, and leaf density; also good for chemical
trimming; much less uniform
What two things does droplet size impact? - Correct Ans-Coverage and drift potential
Spray droplets smaller than ______ microns are at high risk of drifting - Correct Ans-150
What are the three ways that droplet sizes can be expressed? - Correct Ans-Volume
Median Diameter, percentage of spray volume in droplets smaller than 150 micros, and
droplet spectrum classification by categories (ASABE standard)
Define Volume Median Diameter - Correct Ans-Droplet diameter at which half of spray
volume is contained in smaller droplets and half of the spray volume is contained in
larger droplets
What is the Volume Median Diameter range for fine particles? - Correct Ans-106-235
microns
What is the Volume Median Diameter range for medium particles? - Correct Ans-236-
340 microns
What is the Volume Median Diameter range for coarse particles? - Correct Ans-341-403
microns
2|Page
