Clean Out the Sprayer

Mark VanGessel, Extension Weed Specialist; mjv@udel.edu

I have had a number of fields this year that were injured from low rates of herbicide remaining in the tank from the previous application. Most of these situations occur when the spray is mostly sprayed out and rather than rinse out the tank, additional water is added with the thought that “the little amount that remains will be diluted enough”. In cases with a highly sensitive crop, and in combination with a translocated herbicide, severe injury can occur. Also, a crop that is developed to be resistant to one herbicide, does not make it resistant to all herbicides (i.e. Liberty Link is not resistant to glyphosate). When in doubt, clean out.