Insecticide Formulations Lecture PDF

LECTURE 8: INSECTICIDE FORMULATIONS o ability to control the pest, o ease of handling and transport. INTRODUCTION...

LECTURE 8: INSECTICIDE FORMULATIONS o ability to control the pest, o ease of handling and transport. INTRODUCTION 2. Synergists With the exception of a few pesticides such as fumigants, pesticides are a type of active ingredient that are sometimes added to seldom used in their pure form. The technical-grade chemicals need to formulations. first be formulated as mixtures prior to application. They enhance another active ingredients’ ability to kill the pest while using the minimum amount of active ingredient, Several thousand pesticides are registered for use by the Environmental but do not themselves possess pesticidal properties. Protection Agency (EPA) and other foreign regulating body and sold in For example, insecticides containing the active ingredient interstate commerce. pyrethrins often contain piperonyl butoxide or n-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide as a synergist. Therefore, it is important to understand the principle involved in formulation 3. Other (inert) ingredients since these influences the use and behavior of pesticides. may aid in the application of the active ingredient. other ingredients can be solvents, carriers, adjuvants, or BASIC TERMS any other compound, besides the active ingredient, which Abrasive: Capable of wearing away or grinding down another is intentionally added. object. Active ingredient (a.i.): The substance in a pesticide product CONSIDERATIONS IN PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS that is intended to kill, repel, or otherwise control a target pest. In formulating a pesticide, important factors that need to be considered Adjuvant: Chemical that is either premixed in the pesticide include: formulation or added to the spray tank to improve mixing, 1. the chemical and physical properties of the AI and the inert application or to enhance pesticidal activity. materials, Carrier: The primary material used to allow a pesticide to be 2. the type of application equipment, dispersed effectively. For example, talc in a dust formulation. 3. the nature of the target surfaces, Diluent: Anything used to dilute a pesticide. 4. the marketing and transport aspects of pesticide usage. Emulsifier: Agent that helps to prevent an emulsion from We must also consider the following: separating. 1. know the inert ingredient regarding its compatibility with AI, Emulsion: A mixture of two or more liquids that is not soluble in 2. compatibility with container, one another. For example, oil droplets dispersed in water. 3. the physical properties of the ultimate mixture. Formulation: A mixture of active ingredient combined during Finally, the formulation itself must be evaluated to learn the following: manufacture with inert ingredients 1. homogeneity of the mixture, Inert ingredients: All materials in the pesticide formulation other 2. particle size, than the active ingredient. They are added to dilute the pesticide 3. storage stability, or to make it safer, more effective, and easier to measure, mix, 4. retention by the target, apply, and handle. Some inert ingredients may be toxic or 5. wetting, hazardous to people. 6. penetration and translocation in plants, Insoluble: Does not dissolve in liquid. 7. residual nature on a target or in the soil, nature of deposit, Phytotoxicity: Injury to plants. efficacy, and Soluble: Able to dissolve in another substance, usually a liquid. 8. hazard to user Solvent: A liquid, such as water, kerosene, xylene, or alcohol, that will dissolve a pesticide to form a solution. TYPES OF FORMULATION Suspension: A substance that contains undissolved particles It is important to know the concentration of insecticide on the label. mixed throughout a liquid. For dry formulations such as WPs, dusts, and granules, the Volatile: Evaporating rapidly; turning easily into a gas or vapor. insecticide concentration is expressed in the percentage of AI in the formulation. THE FORMULATION OF PESTICIDES o For example, Diazinon® 50W means that 50% of diazinon WHAT IS A FORMULATION? is in the WP formulation. A formulation is simply the form of a specific product that you use. On the other hand, for liquid formulations such as solutions and Formulating a pesticide involves processing it to improve its storage, ECs, the concentration of insecticide is expressed in pounds of handling, measure, safety, application, or effectiveness together with safety. AI/gal of the formulation. Depending upon the mode of applications, dry and liquid o For example, Diazinon® 4E means that 4 lb of diazinon is formulations are common forms. in each gallon of the formulation They may also be classified as solid, liquid and gaseous formulations. 1. DUSTS Pesticides are formulated by mixing active ingredients with inert Dusts usually contain two ingredients, an inert diluent and a toxicant. ingredients to make a combination that is effective and safe to use. toxicant accounts for only 1%–10% of the mixture - dusts are The main purpose of additives is to increase the effectiveness of more costly per pound of toxicant due to shipping costs. the active ingredient. the inert ingredients of dusts must be relatively non-adsorptive Some common additives include spreaders, stickers, wetting to avoid inactivating the pesticides, for example, talc, agents, compatibility agents, and foaming agents. pyrophyllite, or clay. must be finely ground for ease of application and good coverage. WHAT MAKES UP A FORMULATION? Dusts are the simplest formulations of pesticides to manufacture 1. An active ingredient and easiest to apply. a substance that prevents, kills, or repels a pest or acts as Dusts are least effective and the least economical of the pesticide a plant regulator, desiccant, defoliant, synergist, or formulations because dusts tend to drift during application, resulting in a nitrogen stabilizer. poor deposit to target surfaces. Pesticides come in many different formulations due to: Another disadvantage is their inhalation hazard. o variations in the active ingredients’ solubility,  From the standpoint of dermal toxicity to the user, however, 5. WATER-SOLUBLE POWDERS dusts are usually safer than liquid formulation. As the name implies, this group of insecticides used in water-soluble A mixed blessing is the shorter residual life of pesticides applied as dusts formulations easily dissolves in water. compared to those as suspensions or emulsions. In this formulation, the technical-grade material is a finely ground solid. Dusts are also formulated as dust concentrates to reduce It can be added to the spray tank, where it dissolves quickly. shipping costs. These concentrates may contain 25%, 50%, or Once dissolved, a soluble powder becomes an invisible solution even 90% toxicant. that can be applied to approved surfaces without constant They can be diluted with cheap local diluents by a simple agitation. process of mixing or blending prior to application. An example of such formulation is Orthene® PCO Pellets. Currently, dusts are not much used, because of their drift potential and inhalation hazard and because of improvements in 6. SOLUTIONS the other types of formulations. A solution formulation is the true solution containing a toxicant and solvent, which can be used directly without further dilution. 2. WETTABLE POWDERS Solutions can be used for household insect sprays, roadside A wettable powder (WP) is the most widely used agricultural formulation. weed eradication, and rangeland spraying, whenever consists of a toxicant, inert diluents, and a wetting agent. phytotoxicity is not a problem. o The inert diluent is usually an adsorptive clay such as In these cases, the toxicant can be dissolved in a low-cost attapulgite. solvent such as kerosene or fuel oil. o The wetting agent may be a blend of two or more Solutions do not contain surfactants because the solvent wets surfactants. the target readily. o The toxicant usually comprises from 25% to 75% of the mixture. 7. GRANULES WPs are designed to be mixed with water and applied as a A granular formulation is basically the same as a dust formulation. spray. contains a toxicant (1%–10%) and an inert diluent. These are relatively safe on foliage (no phytotoxicity), but the The major difference is in the particle size; granules range from spray mix requires constant mixing. 20 to 100 mesh, while dusts pass through 300 mesh screens. i. WPs are first prepared by spraying the toxicant (if liquid) onto the Granular particles can be prepared in several ways. clay at a reasonable temperature. 1. The toxicant may be added so as to impregnate the granule and ii. Another method is to mix the clay with a solution containing the thus be completely released only when the granule breaks up. toxicant (if solid) and then allowing the solvent to evaporate. 2. It may be surface coated on the granule using a volatile solvent, iii. WPs are sometimes prepared by the direct grinding of a which evaporates from the formulation. crystalline toxicant along with a diluent. The inert diluents can be clays or organic materials such as corn cobs, The objective in any case is to prepare a homogeneous mixture that can be pecan shells, tobacco stems, and walnut shells. ground to a fine powder. Granules are mostly used for application to soil and water. 3. EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES useful in a variety of insect control situations. EC is also designed to be applied as a spray by mixing with water to form Examples include: an emulsion. o application to the seedbed for seed protection, The opaque emulsions are relatively stable requiring a minimum o broadcasting and tilling into the soil for soil insect control, of agitation. o application to growing crops for either foliar or soil insect consists of a toxicant, a solvent for the toxicant, and an emulsifier control, and (surfactant). o application to ponds for mosquito control. Both solvent and surfactant may be a mixture of two or more Granules are easy to apply and are not as likely to drift as dusts or spray. substances. have less tendency to adhere to foliage and can thus be applied The toxicant content of ECs is expressed in terms of to soil surface through a canopy of leaves. weight/volume rather than as weight/weight as with the WP. Researchers often find that when different formulations of a Thus, ECs may contain 2–4 pounds of toxicant per gallon, toxicant are compared, the granules perform better approximately equivalent to 25%–50% by weight. ECs are usually more easily absorbed by the skin than WPs and dusts and 8. WATER-DISPENSABLE GRANULES are thus more hazardous if spilled on the applicator. A water-dispersible granule (WG) formulation contains typically a toxicant Sensitive plants are more apt to be damaged by this formulation (50%–95%, w/w), dispersant, binder, and diluent. than by WPs since the solvent may increase penetration into the also known as dry flowable plant. intended for application after disintegration and dispersion in On the other hand, the lack of masking by diluent probably water by conventional spraying equipment. increases the effectiveness of ECs over WPs WGs are easier to use than WPs because they have low dust properties (due to larger particles) and exhibit good flowability. 4. SUSPENDABLE CONCENTRATES OR FLOWABLES Some pesticides are so insoluble in the solvents used in ECs that they have 9. ULTRALOW-VOLUME FORMULATIONS to be formulated in other ways. Ultralow-volume (ULV) formulations are usually the undiluted technical- In this case, these pesticides can be formulated to become grade material or, in the case of solid, the original product dissolved in a water-based mixtures that can be handled and applied in the minimum of solvent. same manner as ECs. They are applied without further dilution in an extremely fine Suspendable concentrate formulations that contain 50%–90% of a toxicant spray generated by special aerial or ground spray equipment. are WPs of small particle size (1–5 μm) that they remain in suspension for ULV formulations are useful for the control of public health, agricultural, and long periods. forest pests. ULV applications offer several advantages. Suspendability and storage stability are improved by the The low volumes used—0.5 pt to 0.5 gal/acre, as compared with inclusion of surfactants and various additives. 3–10 gal/acre for normal spray—allow for either the use of Oils can be added when penetration of plants is desired.  simplified, light weight equipment or the very efficient use of A microencapsulated bait called Slam®, which consists of equipment. cucurbitacins and 8% carbaryl, is also available for controlling This technique is useful in treating large areas. corn rootworm adults. For example, an airplane carrying 100 gal of ULV malathion Cucurbitacins that are found in all cucurbits are feeding could spray 400–800 acres of rangeland before reloading. stimulants for corn rootworms. A bait formulation consists of a carrier, toxicant, and feeding stimulants 10. AEROSOLS (phagostimulants). Aerosols are commonly used for controlling resident flying and crawling Carriers include laying mash, cracked corn, wheat bran, corncob insects such as mosquitoes and cockroaches. grits, peanut hulls, and cottonseed meal. In principle, the AI is dissolved in a volatile petroleum solvent, Feeding stimulants include crude cottonseed oil, refined and the resulting solution is atomized through a jet by means of soybean oil, sucrose, coax, brewer’s concentrate (brewery by- a propellant. product), malt extract, glucose, maltose, honey, and wheat germ The propellant can be a gas under pressure or a liquid that is oil. gaseous at atmospheric pressure. A malathion 4% bait formulated from crude cottonseed oil (5%) Chlorofluorocarbon used to be employed as a propellant, but has and sucrose (10%) on a laying mash carrier was very effective been replaced for environmental reasons with other volatile in controlling mole crickets in the field. liquids, such as butane and dimethyl ether or by nonflammable A microencapsulated bait called Slam®, which consists of compressed carbon dioxide or nitrogen. cucurbitacins and 8% carbaryl, is also available for controlling corn rootworm adults. 11. CONTROLLED-RELEASE FORMULATIONS Cucurbitacins that are found in all cucurbits are feeding Controlled-release (CR) formulations are a recent innovation in which the stimulants for corn rootworms. pesticide is incorporated into a carrier, generally a polymeric material. The rate of release of the pesticide is determined by the NON-PESTICIDAL INGREDIENTS OF FORMULATIONS properties of the polymer itself as well as environmental factors. 1. SOLVENTS There are mainly two types of CR formulations: reservoir devices Solvents are important ingredients of ECs and of solution formulations. and monolithic devices. When the formulation is to be used on crops, it is critical that a 1. in the reservoir device, the toxicant is enclosed in capsules of thin solvent be non-phytotoxic. polymeric material to become microcapsules (1–100 μm in diameter). The solvent must have a high level of solvent power if an EC is 2. In the monolithic device, the toxicant is uniformly dissolved or dispersed being formulated. within the polymer matrix to become microparticles (1–100 μm in diameter) Because most toxicants are insoluble in water, the solvent must or strips. also be water insoluble. Otherwise, when the EC is added to water in the spray tank, the solvent will mix with the water and This type of formulations is used widely in pet flea and tick collars in which leave the toxicant behind as a crystalline precipitate. tetrachlorvinphos, tetrachlorvinphos/S-methoprene, propoxur, propoxur/S- The carrying power of the solvent, that is, the amount of pesticide it will methoprene, etc., are used as AIs currently. hold in solution, is important in the storage stability of formulations. Advantages include: If near its saturation point at ordinary temperatures, it may can reduce worker exposure by decreasing pesticide toxicity and exceed this at low temperatures with the result that solvent and can minimize pesticide impact on the environment by reducing pesticide may separate, causing crystal formation and phase evaporation and leaching. separation. less insecticide is needed to achieve biological efficacy because Heavy solvents (high specific gravity) are undesirable in most cases of the reduction in environmental losses such as ultraviolet and because it is hard to stabilize the emulsion when the EC is mixed with water. soil degradation. If the specific gravity of the solvent is near that of water, the There are also disadvantages, however, including: setting tendency of the emulsion is decreased. 1. expensive technology, top creaming and bottom creaming are used to describe 2. longer lasting residues, and emulsions in which the insecticide-containing solvent has risen 3. toxicity to bees (the microcapsules are approximately the same to the top or settled to the bottom of the emulsion. size as many pollen grains). Other considerations in the choice of solvents for pesticide formulations include flammability, purity, odor, color, skin 12. BAITS irritability (in animal dips and sprays), and cost. Baits can be very useful for achieving selective toxicity of insecticides against some species of insects. 2. DILUENTS Spot application, that is, the placing of the bait in selected Diluents, sometimes known as inerts or carriers, play an important role in places accessible only to the target species, permits the use of the behavior of the formulated product. insecticides in a safe manner with no environmental disruption. prepared from agricultural wastes such as walnut shells, pecan Several bait formulations are currently available on the market. shells, tobacco stems, and corncobs; A bait formulation consists of a carrier, toxicant, and feeding stimulants from minerals such as kaolinite, attapulgite, and talc; and (phagostimulants). from fossilized deposits such as diatom beds. Carriers include laying mash, cracked corn, wheat bran, The exact diluent used in a given preparation depends on cost, properties, corncob grits, peanut hulls, and cottonseed meal. and availability. Feeding stimulants include crude cottonseed oil, refined Dusts require low sorptive inerts to minimize the toxicant–diluent soybean oil, sucrose, coax, brewer’s concentrate (brewery by- interaction. product), malt extract, glucose, maltose, honey, and wheat germ For WPs, inerts must be high in sorptive power because they oil. carry a large amount of toxicant especially when the toxicant is A malathion 4% bait formulated from crude cottonseed oil (5%) a liquid. and sucrose (10%) on a laying mash carrier was very effective o Otherwise, the formulated product would be likely to cake in controlling mole crickets in the field. badly in storage. It is required that a diluent must be truly inert.  However, formulators often find that an inert diluent contains hot Inert ingredients, also referred to as “other ingredients” on spots or alkalinity to inactivate part of the toxicant. In this case, some labels, are not listed by name. urea can be used as a deactivator to counteract the undesirable normally on the front panel of the label, it is identified by chemical effects in some dust and wettable formulations. or common name 3. SURFACTANTS Surfactants, also known as surface-active agents, are chemicals that will orient at an interface. They serve as coupling agents, joining two phases, liquid–liquid, liquid–solid, or liquid–air. When the phases being coupled are liquid–air, the surfactant may cause foaming and will be called a foaming agent. 3. CHEMICAL NAME If the interfaces are liquid–solid, the surfactant may result in the The complex name identifying the wetting of the solid and will be called a wetting agent. chemical components and structure of a In liquid–liquid interfaces, such as oils and water, the surfactant chemical. would be an emulsifier (emulsifying agent) because it allows For Lorsban and Dursban, for example, oils and water to mix as an emulsion. the chemical name is 0, 0-diethyl 0- There are more than 3000 commercial surfactants. (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl)-phospho They are grouped according to the type of action as follows: rothioate. o wetting agents, To aid communication, EPA-approved o stabilizing agents (emulsifiers, dispersants), common names may be substituted for o spreaders, penetrants, chemical names. o cosolvents (coupling agents), o hygroscopic agents, or 4. COMMON NAME o stickers (deposit builders) A simpler name given by the EPA to a chemical name for easier Surfactants are divided into three main groups, based on their ionization in recognition. water: To aid communication, EPA-approved common names may be 1. If on ionization one end of the molecule becomes a negative ion, substituted for chemical names. the surfactant is known as an anionic surfactant. 2. Conversely, when a positive ion is formed, it is called a cationic surfactant. 3. Non-ionic surfactant refers to a kind of surfactant with its molecule not undergoing ionization when being dissolved in water. PESTICIDE LABEL 5. TYPE OF PESTICIDE Labels contain all the information that you receive from the manufacturer Product type about the product. Listed under the brand name, this indicates in general terms A label is a “license to sell”. what the product will control. The label, by law, must be attached to every pesticide container. Here are two examples: It acts as a source of facts on how to use the product correctly a. herbicide for the control of woody brush and weeds, and legally. b. insecticide for control of certain insects on fruits, nuts, and It also is an important source of information on proper treatment ornamentals. should poisoning occur. 1. BRAND, TRADE, OR PRODUCT NAME used to identify and market the product Different companies use different brand names to market products, even when the same active ingredient is used and the products are more or less identical. It is not legal to use different brand-name pesticides 6. NET CONTENTS interchangeably even if they contain the same active ingredient The front panel of the pesticide label tells you how much is in the unless the label specifies the use. container. The brand name is shown plainly on the front panel of the label. This amount can be expressed as pounds, ounces, kilograms or grams for dry formulations and as gallons, quarts, pints, fluid ounces, liters or milliliters for liquids. 2. INGREDIENT STATEMENT 7. NAME AND ADDRESS OF MANUFACTURER list the product’s active ingredient(s) by name (either chemical or Provides the manufacturer's contact information in case you common) with the percentage of each by weight. want more information about the product, such as a Material The total percentage of inert ingredients by weight must also be Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) that provides detailed toxicity included.  information, chemical properties, and precautions needed for 11. SIGNAL WORDS AND SYMBOL emergency personnel. Signal words indicate the relative acute toxicity of the product to The law requires the maker or distributor of a product to put the humans and animals. company name and address on the label. The statement, KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN, must This enables consumers to know who made or sold the product. also appear above the signal word on the label. If two products will control the same pest, signal words can help you choose the least toxic chemical to control the pest. 8. REGISTRATION AND ESTABLISHMENT NUMBER Indicates that the pesticide product has been registered and its label was approved for sale (EPA / FPA). Establishment number identifies the facility that produced the 12. PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENT product. This section will indicate specific fire, explosion or chemical This number must have a minimum of two sets of digits. hazards the product may pose. For example, 264-458. The “264” indicates the manufacturer and For example, it will alert you if the product is so flammable that the “458” is the number issued by the EPA to the company for you need to be especially careful to keep it away from heat or the product. open flame or if it is so corrosive that it must be stored in a corrosion-resistant container. This section is not always found in the same location within the labeling. Some labeling will identify physical and chemical hazards in a designated box; other labeling may list them on the front panel beneath the signal word; still others may list hazards under headings such as “Note” or “Important.” 9. FORMULATION The front panel of some pesticide labels will tell what kind of formulation the product is. may be either spelled out or designated by an abbreviation, such as WP for wettable powder, D for dust or EC for emulsifiable concentrate. This information is helpful for practical purposes because it 13. STATEMENT OF PRACTICAL TREATMENT provides insight about the type of application equipment that will be needed and the product’s handling properties. First aid Details what to do if someone is accidentally poisoned by a pesticide. Since the label has specific instructions and information the physician will need, it is important to have the pesticide label available when calling the hotline or when taking someone to the hospital. 10. CLASSIFICATION STATEMENT / USE CLASSIFICATION Each pesticide is classified as either a General Use Pesticide (GUP) or a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP). When a pesticide is classified as restricted, the label will state 14. DIRECTIONS FOR USE “Restricted Use Pesticide” at the top of the front panel. Below This section usually makes up the bulk of a pesticide label and this heading may be a reason for the restriction. begins with the wording: “It is a violation of federal law to use this A general-use pesticide is defined as one that will not harm the product in any manner inconsistent with its labeling.” applicator or the environment to an unreasonable degree when It includes the following information: used according to label directions. a. The crops, animals, objects or areas to be treated a. are available to the general public for use according to label b. The amount to use (per acre, per gallon of water, per 1,000 directions. square feet, etc.) b. Over-the-counter pesticide products are good examples of c. The method of application and type of application general-use pesticides. equipment d. The timing and frequency of application e. Specific limitations on reentry interval (REI) to treated areas f. The pests controlled  g. Limitations or restrictions, including harvest intervals, time 6. granular applicators, and between applications, methods of use to prevent adverse 7. aerial applicators (fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters). effects on the environment, crop rotation restrictions, warnings about use on certain crops or sites, and animal Good results can be obtained when suitable equipment is selected for restrictions application. 15. STORAGE AND DISPOSAL Explains how to best store the product and what to do with the When selecting equipment, one needs to consider several factors including: unused portion of the product and the empty container. 1. the size and type of area to be treated, Label information about storage generally includes temperature 2. the type of pest, requirements. In many cases, minimum and maximum storage 3. the pesticide formulation, temperatures will be provided. 4. the required application accuracy, and a. Some pesticide labels will state that the product becomes 5. cost of the equipment. ineffective if not stored under suitable temperatures; other pesticide labels may indicate that if freezing occurs and MIXING OF PESTICIDES crystals form, the product may be reused if it is warmed. CAN PESTICIDES BE MIXED TOGETHER? Information about storage usually includes such general The pesticide product label will list any chemicals that it should not be mixed statements as “Do not contaminate feed, foodstuffs or drinking with (i.e., incompatible with) or containers that it should not be mixed in. water” and “Store in original containers only.” For example, wettable sulfur should not be mixed with Lorsban or Morestan because they are incompatible. Some pesticides can be mixed together (i.e., they are compatible with each other). Not all pesticides can be mixed together (incompatible) because they separate out of the solution, gel, curdle, or clog the equipment during application. Pesticides that are physically different (i.e., dust versus liquid) are typically incompatible. 16. RE-ENTRY STATEMENT Sometimes two different pesticide formulations are combined to create a also known as restricted entry interval or re-entry time) more effective application. the minimum amount of time that must pass between the time a However, not all pesticides can be combined safely. pesticide was applied to an area or crop and the time that people Before combining various formulations, always consult the label can go into that area without protective clothing and equipment. or a pest control professional to find out whether the two formulations are compatible. The mixing of two incompatible pesticide formulations may be fatal. Incompatibility can be either chemical or physical. These incompatibilities should be clearly indicated on the product label; however, it is still a good idea to contact a professional if you have any questions. DISPOSAL OF PESTICIDE CONTAINERS Improper disposal of pesticides or their containers leads to environmental contamination and may face both civil and criminal penalties. The following procedures are appropriate for disposing of pesticide containers. Empty drums, bottles, or cans must be triple-rinsed before disposing of them as follows: 1. Empty all pesticide into the spray tank. 2. Fill the container about one-fourth full with water and rinse thoroughly. 3. Add the rinsate from the container to spray tank and drain the container in a vertical position for 30 s. 4. Repeat rinsing two more times. (Triple rinsing also can be replaced with pressure rinsing. This is done using a special pressure rinsing device that is inserted into the container for rinsing the inside of the container.) 5. Puncture the top and bottom of the container to prevent its reuse. 6. Dispose of the empty container in a sanitary landfill. Empty bags (dry formulations) should be shaken clean, opened both ends of the container to prevent its reuse, and then disposed of in a sanitary landfill. PESTICIDE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT Many types of equipment are available for applying pesticides. 1. hand-operated sprayers, 2. motorized sprayers, 3. boomless sprayers, 4. boom sprayers, 5. airblast sprayers,