WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EXAM 2024
ACTUAL EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
Ch.18 List some of the main components of hydraulic sprayers and their importance - ANSWER--Most
common type of sprayer.
-Water is the most frequently used mode of carrying pesticides to the target area with hydraulic spraying
equipment.
-Come in variety of sizes and nozzle sizes.
-Pressure is either a pump or compressed gas/air used to atomize the spray mix.
-Useful for spraying large areas.
Ch.18 Outline the important characteristics of nozzles - ANSWER--They control the amount of material
applied, the formulation of the droplets and their size, and the distribution and pattern of the droplets.
-Available in various materials.
-Are made to control the flow of a liquid at a specified pressure.
Ch.18 Describe the distribution pattern of granular applicator - ANSWER--Drop-Through Spreaders:
adjustable sliding grate opens holes in bottom of the hopper and granules flow out by gravity feed; good
for smaller sites; revolving agitator activated when spreader is in motion.
-Rotary Spreaders:
Ch.18 List steps you can take before, during, and after spraying as well as prior to storing a sprayer to
keep your equipment in good condition, ensure a proper application, manage rinsate, and protect waters
of the state. - ANSWER--Before: thoroughly rinse sprayer with clean water; check for leaks; adjust
boom according to distance between the nozzle and target.
-During: check that sprayer is operating at same pressure and speed as when it was calibrated; check for
leaks and unusual nozzle patterns.
-After: clean inside/outside of sprayer before switching to another pesticide.
-Storage: clean thoroughly; refill with clean water; add 1-5 gal of emulsifiable oil; flush system with
oil/water mixture; remove and clean nozzles/screens and place in diesel fuel or kerosene to prevent
corrosion and cover nozzle openings with tape to prevent dirt from entering.
,Ch.19 Explain the purpose and importance of calibration - ANSWER-To ensure that your equipment
delivers the correct rate of pesticide uniformly to the target site.
Ch.19 List what variables affect the spray rate (2) and how they do so. - ANSWER-1. Nozzle flow rate:
varies with the operating pressure and the size of the nozzle tip.
2. Ground speed (walking speed) of the sprayer: adjust your walking speed to make a large change in the
spray rate.
Ch.19 Outline the basic steps when making a backpack application on a percentage basis. - ANSWER-
Label will tell you the amount of product to add in a specified volume of water or other carrier.
-Combining a given amount of each results in a spray mix that contains a certain percentage of product.
-Then spray the surface with sufficient spray mix to adequately cover the area, but which will not allow
dripping or run-off to occur.
Ch.19 List the 3 controlling factors that make a uniform application for backpack sprayers. - ANSWER-
1. Nozzle Size
2. The Pressure Used
3. The Time the Nozzle is Kept on the Target Area
Ch.19 Outline the steps needed to make an application on a per area basis with a backpack sprayer (7) -
ANSWER-1. Measure a test area of 10 x 25 ft (250 sq ft).
2. Fill sprayer with water to a level that is easily recognized.
3. Spray the pre-measured area using the same nozzle, pressure, and style that you will use when
applying the pesticide.
4. Refill tank to original water level. Record the volume (ounces) of water needed to refill the tank.
5. Determine your spray rate. If the labeled spray rate is given in gallons per 1000 sq ft, dividd the
volume (ounces) used in the test area by 32 to get the spray rate in gallons per 1000 sq ft. [Equation:
spray rate = ounces used in test area/32]
6. Check the label to see if you are within 5% of the recommended spray rate. If your rate is outside of
this range, adjust nozzles, walking speed, or pressure and recalibrate. To increase the spray rate, you
can use nozzles with larger openings, decrease your speed, or increase pressure.
7. Determine the amount of pesticide needed for each gallon of water and the amount of spray mix
needed to cover the intended spray area.
,Ch.19 List the 4 basic stages in calibrating a broadcast sprayer - ANSWER-1. Check that the nozzle flow
rate is about the same for each nozzle on the boom.
2. Check that the spray pattern is uniform.
3. Adjust operating pressure and sprayer ground speed to get the spray rate within the desired range
(gallons per unit area {such as 1 acre or 1000 sq ft})
4. Determine how much pesticide and water you need to add to the spray tank.
Ch.19 List the steps in calibrating a hose reel sprayer (5) - ANSWER-1. Divide 1000 sq ft by your swath
width to determine the distance of the test course.
2. Spray the test course with water using the technique you will use for the application. Begin
spraying just before you enter the course.
3. Record the number of seconds it takes to spray the test course. Do this at least 3 times to get an
average time to use for calibration.
4. Spray into a buck for the average number of seconds from Step 3. Measure this amount and
convert to gallons.
5. Amount of water collected is the spray gun output per 1000 sq ft. To determine output per acre,
multiply output per 1000 sq ft by 43.56
Ch.19 Describe how to determine how much pesticide product and/or spray mix you need per acre or
1000 sq. ft., tankfull, and entire treated area - ANSWER-*See equations on pages 161 and 162 in the
manual
Ch.19 List and explain the variables that affect the product rate of granular applicators - ANSWER--Size
of the metering opening.
-Speed of agitator or rotor.
-Travel speed.
-Roughness of the field.
-Flowability of granules (size, density, type, temp, humidity)
-Ground speed* (most significant factor)
, Chapter 19 Know the Law - ANSWER-You cannot use or offer for use pesticide application equipment
that is leaking or in disrepair, or which cannot be properly calibrated.
Ch.20 List ways that a pesticide can move from the site of application (7) - ANSWER-1. Volatize (turn
into a gas) from treated surfaces.
2. Be rinsed off a treated surface and enter the soil.
3. Be incorporated into the soil with plant residues.
4. Be taken from the site as residue on plant parts.
5. Be carried laterally by runoff or soil erosion.
6. Leach through the soil.
7 Be ingested by an animal that eats a pest that was treated with the pesticide.
Ch.20 Describe how different characteristics of pesticides can affect movement of a pesticide from a
target area (5) - ANSWER-1. Solubility: a measure of how easily a chemical will dissolve in a solvent,
usually water. Pesticides that are highly soluble in water dissolve easily.
2. Adsorption: degree of attachment to soil particles. Those that are strongly adsorbed are less likely to
be carried away.
3. Volatility: measure of a pesticide's tendency to turn into a vapor or gas. Volatility increases as temp
and wind increases.
4. Persistence: measure of how long a pesticide remains in an active form in the environment.
5. Degradation: the process when pesticides break down into simple and less toxic compounds.
Ch.20 Explain ways that pesticides can end up in animals (including humans) - ANSWER--
Bioaccumulation:
instead of the body getting rid of chemicals as waste, they get stored in fat tissue and build up over time.
-Biomagnification: when the level of a pesticide builds up through the food chain; can become
increasingly concentrated as it moves up the food chain.
Ch.20 Explain how pesticides can get into surface or groundwater and define the terms point and
nonpoint source pollution - ANSWER--Surface/Groundwater Pollution: entering a storm sewer,
backsiphoning, repeated spilling of pesticides at a mixing site, spilling of wash water at equipment clean
ACTUAL EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
Ch.18 List some of the main components of hydraulic sprayers and their importance - ANSWER--Most
common type of sprayer.
-Water is the most frequently used mode of carrying pesticides to the target area with hydraulic spraying
equipment.
-Come in variety of sizes and nozzle sizes.
-Pressure is either a pump or compressed gas/air used to atomize the spray mix.
-Useful for spraying large areas.
Ch.18 Outline the important characteristics of nozzles - ANSWER--They control the amount of material
applied, the formulation of the droplets and their size, and the distribution and pattern of the droplets.
-Available in various materials.
-Are made to control the flow of a liquid at a specified pressure.
Ch.18 Describe the distribution pattern of granular applicator - ANSWER--Drop-Through Spreaders:
adjustable sliding grate opens holes in bottom of the hopper and granules flow out by gravity feed; good
for smaller sites; revolving agitator activated when spreader is in motion.
-Rotary Spreaders:
Ch.18 List steps you can take before, during, and after spraying as well as prior to storing a sprayer to
keep your equipment in good condition, ensure a proper application, manage rinsate, and protect waters
of the state. - ANSWER--Before: thoroughly rinse sprayer with clean water; check for leaks; adjust
boom according to distance between the nozzle and target.
-During: check that sprayer is operating at same pressure and speed as when it was calibrated; check for
leaks and unusual nozzle patterns.
-After: clean inside/outside of sprayer before switching to another pesticide.
-Storage: clean thoroughly; refill with clean water; add 1-5 gal of emulsifiable oil; flush system with
oil/water mixture; remove and clean nozzles/screens and place in diesel fuel or kerosene to prevent
corrosion and cover nozzle openings with tape to prevent dirt from entering.
,Ch.19 Explain the purpose and importance of calibration - ANSWER-To ensure that your equipment
delivers the correct rate of pesticide uniformly to the target site.
Ch.19 List what variables affect the spray rate (2) and how they do so. - ANSWER-1. Nozzle flow rate:
varies with the operating pressure and the size of the nozzle tip.
2. Ground speed (walking speed) of the sprayer: adjust your walking speed to make a large change in the
spray rate.
Ch.19 Outline the basic steps when making a backpack application on a percentage basis. - ANSWER-
Label will tell you the amount of product to add in a specified volume of water or other carrier.
-Combining a given amount of each results in a spray mix that contains a certain percentage of product.
-Then spray the surface with sufficient spray mix to adequately cover the area, but which will not allow
dripping or run-off to occur.
Ch.19 List the 3 controlling factors that make a uniform application for backpack sprayers. - ANSWER-
1. Nozzle Size
2. The Pressure Used
3. The Time the Nozzle is Kept on the Target Area
Ch.19 Outline the steps needed to make an application on a per area basis with a backpack sprayer (7) -
ANSWER-1. Measure a test area of 10 x 25 ft (250 sq ft).
2. Fill sprayer with water to a level that is easily recognized.
3. Spray the pre-measured area using the same nozzle, pressure, and style that you will use when
applying the pesticide.
4. Refill tank to original water level. Record the volume (ounces) of water needed to refill the tank.
5. Determine your spray rate. If the labeled spray rate is given in gallons per 1000 sq ft, dividd the
volume (ounces) used in the test area by 32 to get the spray rate in gallons per 1000 sq ft. [Equation:
spray rate = ounces used in test area/32]
6. Check the label to see if you are within 5% of the recommended spray rate. If your rate is outside of
this range, adjust nozzles, walking speed, or pressure and recalibrate. To increase the spray rate, you
can use nozzles with larger openings, decrease your speed, or increase pressure.
7. Determine the amount of pesticide needed for each gallon of water and the amount of spray mix
needed to cover the intended spray area.
,Ch.19 List the 4 basic stages in calibrating a broadcast sprayer - ANSWER-1. Check that the nozzle flow
rate is about the same for each nozzle on the boom.
2. Check that the spray pattern is uniform.
3. Adjust operating pressure and sprayer ground speed to get the spray rate within the desired range
(gallons per unit area {such as 1 acre or 1000 sq ft})
4. Determine how much pesticide and water you need to add to the spray tank.
Ch.19 List the steps in calibrating a hose reel sprayer (5) - ANSWER-1. Divide 1000 sq ft by your swath
width to determine the distance of the test course.
2. Spray the test course with water using the technique you will use for the application. Begin
spraying just before you enter the course.
3. Record the number of seconds it takes to spray the test course. Do this at least 3 times to get an
average time to use for calibration.
4. Spray into a buck for the average number of seconds from Step 3. Measure this amount and
convert to gallons.
5. Amount of water collected is the spray gun output per 1000 sq ft. To determine output per acre,
multiply output per 1000 sq ft by 43.56
Ch.19 Describe how to determine how much pesticide product and/or spray mix you need per acre or
1000 sq. ft., tankfull, and entire treated area - ANSWER-*See equations on pages 161 and 162 in the
manual
Ch.19 List and explain the variables that affect the product rate of granular applicators - ANSWER--Size
of the metering opening.
-Speed of agitator or rotor.
-Travel speed.
-Roughness of the field.
-Flowability of granules (size, density, type, temp, humidity)
-Ground speed* (most significant factor)
, Chapter 19 Know the Law - ANSWER-You cannot use or offer for use pesticide application equipment
that is leaking or in disrepair, or which cannot be properly calibrated.
Ch.20 List ways that a pesticide can move from the site of application (7) - ANSWER-1. Volatize (turn
into a gas) from treated surfaces.
2. Be rinsed off a treated surface and enter the soil.
3. Be incorporated into the soil with plant residues.
4. Be taken from the site as residue on plant parts.
5. Be carried laterally by runoff or soil erosion.
6. Leach through the soil.
7 Be ingested by an animal that eats a pest that was treated with the pesticide.
Ch.20 Describe how different characteristics of pesticides can affect movement of a pesticide from a
target area (5) - ANSWER-1. Solubility: a measure of how easily a chemical will dissolve in a solvent,
usually water. Pesticides that are highly soluble in water dissolve easily.
2. Adsorption: degree of attachment to soil particles. Those that are strongly adsorbed are less likely to
be carried away.
3. Volatility: measure of a pesticide's tendency to turn into a vapor or gas. Volatility increases as temp
and wind increases.
4. Persistence: measure of how long a pesticide remains in an active form in the environment.
5. Degradation: the process when pesticides break down into simple and less toxic compounds.
Ch.20 Explain ways that pesticides can end up in animals (including humans) - ANSWER--
Bioaccumulation:
instead of the body getting rid of chemicals as waste, they get stored in fat tissue and build up over time.
-Biomagnification: when the level of a pesticide builds up through the food chain; can become
increasingly concentrated as it moves up the food chain.
Ch.20 Explain how pesticides can get into surface or groundwater and define the terms point and
nonpoint source pollution - ANSWER--Surface/Groundwater Pollution: entering a storm sewer,
backsiphoning, repeated spilling of pesticides at a mixing site, spilling of wash water at equipment clean
