Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
IV. DUSTERS AND GRANULAR APPLICATORS
A. DUSTERS
Dusters are used mostly by home gardeners and by pest control operators
in structures.
1. Hand Dusters
Hand dusters may consist of a squeeze bulb, bellows, tube, shaker, sliding
tube, or a fan powered by a hand crank.
Advantages:
•
lightweight—do not require water
•
the pesticide is ready to apply without mixing
good penetration in confined spaces.
Limitations:
•
•
high cost for pesticide
•
hard to get good foliar adherence
dust is difficult to direct and is subject to drifting.
2. Power Dusters
•
Power dusters use a powered fan or blower to propel the dust to the target.
They include knapsack or backpack types, units mounted on or pulled by trac-
tors, and specialized equipment for treating seeds. Their capacity in area
treated per hour compares favorably with some sprayers.
Advantages:
•
lightweight—no water required
•
simply built
•
easy to maintain
low in cost.
Limitations:
•
•
drift hazards
•
high cost of pesticide
