M O N T G U I D E

MT 2000-14

Calculations and Conversions

For Pesticide Applications
Agriculture

Reeves Petroff, Pesticide Education Specialist

1. Determining the Gallon per Minute (GPM) Example 1b

required of nozzles to achieve a given You have collected 43 OPM from each nozzle.
Gallon per Acre (GPA) 43 OPM ÷ 128 = 0.336 GPM
Example 1
You want an output of 20 GPA. Your nozzles are 20” apart.
2. Determining GPA when given nozzle GPM,
Your field speed is 5 MPH. How much do you need to spacing between nozzles and field speed
collect from each nozzle to achieve 20 GPA? GPA = GPM X 5940 Formula #2
20 GPA x 5 MPH x 20 = 2000 MPH X W
5940 5940 Example 2
= 0.336 GPM per nozzle Nozzle spacing = 20’’. Field speed = 5 MPH. You
collected liquid from all of the nozzles for one minute
Formula #1 and obtained an average of 51 ounces per minute per
GPM = GPA x MPH x W nozzle. Convert 51 OPM to GPM! 51 OPM ÷ 128 =
5940 0.398 or 40 GPM per nozzle.
GPM = Gallons Per Minute from one nozzle
0.398 GPM X 5940 = 2364.12
GPA = Gallons Per Acre 5 MPH X 20 100
W = nozzle spacing (inches) or; = 23.64 or 24 GPA
= spray width (inches) if using a broadjet or; 3. Determining required speed when you
= row spacing (inches) divided by the know GPA, GPM and spacing between
number of nozzles per row. nozzles or broadjet swath
MPH = Field speed in Miles Per Hour MPH = GPM X 5940 Formula #3
GPA X W
5940 = a constant
Note: For this example, W = broadjet width in
inches. (feet x 12 = inches)

a. Converting Gallons per Minute (GPM) Example 3a

to Ounces per Minute (OPM) Nozzle output = 10 GPM. Swath width = 35 feet (420
inches). Desired GPA = 30 GPA. What speed do you
OPM = GPM X 128 Formula 1a need to be traveling to achieve 30 GPA?
Remember! There are 128 ounces in one gallon.
10 GPM x 5940 = 59,400
Example 1a 30 GPA x 420 12,600
From Example 1 you have collected 0.336 GPM from each = 4.7 or 5 MPH
nozzle. 0.366 x 128 = 43 OPM per nozzle.
Note: This is a broadjet example. If you had
b. Convert OPM to GPM. nozzles that were 20” apart and GPM was .40
GPM, your answer would be 3.96 or 4 mph!
GPM = OPM ÷ 128 Formula 1b

C-3
b. Determining new field speed when output 7. How much liquid pesticide do you add to
is not correct to achieve a desired GPA. the tank when the rate is given according
(Using formula #1 and #3.) to pounds of active ingredient (a.i.) per
Example 3b acre such as with university
You want 30 GPA with a field speed of 7 MPH and nozzle
recommendations?
spacing is 30”. Using formula # 1, you determine that you need Labeled Rate Per Acre = Gallon amount to apply
to collect 1 GPM from each nozzle. When you check the Amount of a.i. per gallon
nozzles, the output is actually 1.5 GPM. You can either change Formula #7
the nozzles or adjust your field speed to achieve 30 GPA. Example 7a
1.5 GPM x 5940 = 8,910 A university bulletin recommends that you apply 3 lb/acre
of the active ingredient (a.i.) found in Smashem EC™
30 GPA x 30” 900 insecticide. This insecticide contains 8 lbs. of a.i. per
= 9.9 or 10 MPH as the new field speed gallon of formulation.

4. How much area can my sprayer cover 3 lbs. per acre ÷ 8 lbs. a.i per gallon = 0.375 gallons
(acres)? per acre or 1-1/2 quarts per acre (0.375 x 4) or
3 pints per acre (0.375 x 8).
Volume in tank = Acres treated Formula #4
GPA Example 7b
You have calibrated a 300 gallon sprayer. It can spray 7.5
Example 4 acres per tank at 40 GPA. A recommendation indicates to
Your sprayer is calibrated at 30 GPA. You have a sprayer apply 1/2- pound a.i. of schnozaline per acre to control
with a 500 gallon tank. How many acres can you treat with weeds. The label for schnozaline indicates that it contains 2
500 gallons? How many can you treat with 250 gallons? pounds of a.i. per gallon. How much schnozaline will you
add to the tank to spray 7.5 acres?
500 gallons 250 gallons
30 GPA 30 GPA 0.50 lb a.i./acre = 0.25 gallon (1 quart) per acre
= 16.6 acres treated = 8.3 acres treated 2 lb a.i./gallon
7.5 acres/tank x 1 quart per acre = 7.5 quarts
5. How much total solution do you need in
order to spray a given acreage? 8. How much dry pesticide do you apply per
acre when the rate is given as a
Acres to spray x GPA = Gallons required #5 percentage of a.i.?
Example 5 Recommended rate = lbs. of formulation/acre
You want to spray 10 acres and your sprayer is calibrated % a.i. per lbs of formulation
to 25 GPA. How much total solution do you need in your Formula #8
sprayer tank? Example 8
A recommended rate of 0.2 lbs. a.i./acre of a 25% wettable
10 acres x 25 GPA = 250 gallons powder (WP) is recommended. (One pound of formulation
contains 0.25 lbs. a.i.)
6. How much pesticide, dry or liquid, do you
add to the tank when rate is given on a per 0.2 lbs. per acre
acre basis? = 0.80 lb formulation per acre
0.25 lbs. a.i.
Acres treated x labeled rate Formula #6
= Amount of pesticide to add to the tank To convert to ounces: 0.80 lbs. x 16 ounces/ lbs. (dry)
= 12.8 ounces per acre.
Example 6a
Your sprayer can treat 30 acres and the label calls for a 9. Check the output of boom nozzles.
rate of 1 pint/per acre. How much pesticide do you add to All nozzles across a boom need to be applying roughly the
the tank? same amount of liquid within a certain error range (usually
30 acres x 1 pint = 30 pints or 3-3/4 gallons (30 ÷ 8) 5% on either side of the average). Clean and/or replace any
(8 pints per gallon) nozzles that fall outside of your given error range.
Example 9
Example 6b You have a 10 nozzle boom and you have collected from
Using the information in Example 6a, you are using under each nozzle for one minute. You noted the following
Busted ™ WP, a wettable powder, at a labeled rate of 10 nozzle outputs.
ounces per acre. How much pesticide do you add to the
tank to treat 30 acres? (Remember you are dealing with Nozzle = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
dry ingredients: 16 oz./lbs.) Output in Oz. = 43 44 47 42 46 44 50 41 42 42
= 441 oz. Total
30 acres x 10 ounces = 300 ounces
or 18-3/4 pounds (300÷16 oz. per pound) Average Nozzle Output = 441 oz. ÷ 10 = 44.1 oz.
For 5% error: 44.1 oz x 0.05 = 2.2 oz. to add and subtract
from the average.
 Nozzle 1 output + nozzle 2 output + etc. c. When the rate is expressed in quarts per
Number of nozzles on the boom 100 gallons.
= Average Nozzle Output Adjuvant needed = Formula #10c
rate per 100 gallons x gallons of spray mix
Average Nozzle Output x 0.05 = amount to add 100
and subtract from the Average Nozzle
Output to make an error range of 5%. Formula #9 Example 10c:
Error range (5% on either side of the average) = 41.9 oz. to Adjuvant rate = 2 quarts per 100 gallons. A total of 400
46.3 oz. Nozzles 3, 7, and 8 need to be cleaned or gallons of spray mix will be used.
replaced. Note: If a nozzle’s output is lower, it may be
plugged and only need to be cleaned. Repeat this exercise 2 quarts x 400 gallons total mix
until all nozzles fall within the error range 100 gallons
10. Adding Adjuvants to the Spray Tank. = 8 quarts of adjuvant to add along with pesticide to
Pesticide labels often suggest adding adjuvants to the make a 400 gallon solution.
spray mix, listing the rate of the adjuvant in terms of
percentage of the spray mix, volume per acre, or volume 11. Dilution Rule.
per quantity of spray mix. To obtain any desired percentage of a mixture from a
concentrate, use this formula:
a. When the rate is expressed as a
C1 x V1 = C2 x V2 Formula #11
percentage of the spray mix.
% of spray mix x gallons of spray mix C1 = % of a.i. in concentrate
100 V1 = quantity of concentrate needed
= Gal. adjuvant needed Formula #10a
C2 = % a.i. desired in final mixture
Example 10a V2 = quantity of final mixture
Total spray mix = 500 gallons. Adjuvant rate is 1% of the
finished spray volume. 0.01 x 500 = 5 gallons of adjuvant It is important that the units used are all the same:
added along with pesticide to make a 500 gallon solution i.e. percent x pounds = percent x pounds
or percent x volume = percent x volume
b. When the rate is expressed as a volume
per acre. Example 11a
How much of a 50% concentrate is needed to make 100
Adjuvant needed = Formula #10b
gallons of a 1.5% spray?
adjuvant rate x acres to be treated*
* See formula #4. 50 x V1 = 1.5 x 100; V1 = 3 gallons
Example 10b
Your sprayer is calibrated to 30 GPA and you plan on The final mixture (V2) is the amount of the concentrate
using 300 gallons of solution. An adjuvant calls for a (V1) plus the required amount to make up to V2. If V1 =
3 gallons and the required amount is 100 gallons, add 97
rate of 1 pint per acre. 300 gallons ÷ 30 GPA = 10 acres gallons of water to 3 gallons of concentrate.
x 1 pint per acre = 10 pints of adjuvant added along with
pesticide to make a 300 gallon solution.

Hints on Percentage Mixing

A pesticide label may tell you to mix up a concentration or percentage of the product in water. For example, mix 1 part of
the pesticide concentrate and 99 parts water. This makes a 1 percent mixture. Since there are 128 fluid ounces in one gallon,
1.28 ounces of a concentrate mixed into 1 gallon of water will make approximately a 1 percent mixture. (Hint: 1 tablespoon
is about 1/2-ounce.)
The label may also instruct you to make a spray solution with a specific percentage of active ingredient (a.i.), for example,
a one percent a.i. solution for ants. If the pesticide is formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) containing 57 percent
active ingredient. To make a 1 percent a.i. spray solution from this formulation, you would add 1 part of the pesticide to 56
parts of water.
 Conversion Factors
Multiply By To Get Multiply By To Get
Acres 43.560 Square Feet Miles Per Hour 1.467 Feet Per Second
Acres 4,840 Square Yards Miles Per Minute 88 Feet Per Second
Acres 0.405 Hectares Miles Per Minute 60 Miles Per Hour
Cubic Feet 1,728 Cubic Inches Milliliters 0.0338 Ounces
Cubic Feet 0.037 Cubic Yards Ounces (dry) 0.063 Pounds
Cubic Feet 7.481 Gallons Ounces (liquid) 0.063 Pints (liquid)
Cubic Feet 59.84 Pints(liquid) Ounces (liquid) 0.031 Quarts (liquid)
Cubic Feet 29.92 Quarts (liquid) Ounces (liquid) 480 Drops
Cups 8 Ounces (liquid) Ounces (liquid) 29.573 Milliliters (ml)
Cups 16 Tablespoons Ounces (liquid) 0.02957 Liters
Cups 48 Teaspoons Ounces 2 Tablespoons
Gallons 3.785 Liters Ounces 6 Teaspoons
Gallons 128 Ounces Parts Per Million 0.001 Grams Per Liter
Gallons 8 Pints Parts Per Million 0.05842 Grains Per Gallon
Gallons 4 Quarts Parts Per Million 1 Milligrams Per Liter
Gallons 8.345 Pounds of Water Parts Per Million 0.0001 Percent
Gallons Per Acre 9.354 Liters Per Hectare Parts Per Million 1 Milligram Per Kilogram
Grams 0.001 Kilograms Pints 0.125 Gallons
Grams 1000 Milligrams Pints 0.473 Liters
Grams 0.035 Ounces Pints 2 Cups
Grams Per Liter 1000 Parts Per Million Pints (liquid) 16 Ounces (liquid)
Hectares 2.47 Acres Pints (liquid) 0.5 Quarts (liquid)
Hundredweight (CWT) 100 Pounds Pounds 453.392 Ounces
Inches 2.54 Centimeters Pounds 0.01 Hundredweight (CWT)
Kilograms 1000 Grams Pounds Per Gallon 7.48052 Pounds Per Cu. Foot
Kilograms 2.205 Pounds Quarts 2 Pints
Kilometers 3.281 Feet Quarts 0.25 Gallons
Kilometers 0.621 Miles Quarts 0.946 Liters
Kilograms Per Hectare 0.892 Pounds Per Acre Quarts (liquid) 32 Ounces (liquid)
Liters 0.264 Gallons Quarts (liquid) 2 Pints (liquid)
Liters 2.113 Pints (Liquid) Tablespoons 3 Teaspoons
Liters 1.057 Quarts (Liquid) Tablespoons 0.5 Ounces (liquid)
Liters Per Hectare 0.107 Gallons Per Acre Teaspoons 60 Drops
Meters 100 Centimeters Teaspoons 0.33 Tablespoons
Meters 3.281 Feet Teaspoons 0.1666 Ounces (liquid)
Meters 1000 Kilometers Temperature (Co) Co + 17.98 1.8 Temperature (Fo)
Meters 39.37 Inches
Meters 1.094 Yards Temperature (Fo) Fo - 32 0.55 Temperature (Co)
Miles 5,280 Feet
Miles 1,760 Yards Tons 907.185 Kilograms
Miles Per Hour 88 Feet Per Minute Yards 0.914 Meters

For More InformationContact:

Your local office of the Montana State University Extension Service
Montana Pesticide Education Program (406) 994-3518 http://mtpesticides.org

Copyright 2000 MSU Extension Service

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The programs of the MSU Extension Service are available to

all people regardless of race, creed, color, sex, disability or na-
tional origin. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work
in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30,
File under: Pesticides Management
1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, C-3 (Equipment)
David A. Bryant, Vice Provost and Director, Extension Service,
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.
Dec. 2000 (111-5000-12-00 MG)