Spray application manual
31 January 2025
Module 11: Pumps, plumbing and components
11.16: Boom section control
Published 24 January 2025 | Last updated 20 January 2025
There are section-control systems available that can control either multiple boom sections or individual nozzles.
The number of boom sections is generally only limited by the number of boom switches and boom valves fitted to the sprayer, and the ability of the section-control system or the rate controller.
For multiple boom sections, the boom section control is generally done using a boom valve manifold.
Introduction to section control and width
24 January 2025An introduction to boom section control & width. Another video from GRDC's Spray Application GROWNOTES™ series.
Bill Gordon: I'm standing in front of a trailing rig. This particular machine is plumbed into five sections. Now, we can trace the hoses, but I can also see that there are five control valves up here, one for each section. These are manually switched on and off in the cab. Because it's a 36-metre boom, we're looking at somewhere between five and seven-metre sections. We have one in the centre here, another one as we're plumbing out, plumbed as a single section all the way out to here, and then the final section feeding to this point.
Now, if I wanted to convert this to auto section control, I'd probably have to dramatically change the plumbing. With just five sections, turning on and off a six-metre section would lose some of the benefits of trying to run auto section control. The more sections we can plumb in, the more precise we can get it, and the higher the savings would be.
Twelve-section boom valve manifold
While multiple boom sections that are coupled with auto-section control can be useful for reducing overdosing of the boom overlaps, individual nozzle section control is even better for this purpose.
Individual nozzles are usually turned on or off using either electric or air shut-off valves at the nozzle bodies. This may be controlled by a standalone automatic section controller, or may be integrated into some rate controllers.
Auto section control and chemical savings
8 January 2025Auto section control & chemical savings. Another video from GRDC's Spray Application GROWNOTES™ series.
Bill Gordon: Just going to have a quick chat about auto section control. Now, that can be arranged in a number of different ways on different machines. If you have traditional plumbing that's feeding a whole boom section, then you're relying on a valve to turn that section on and off. The width at which it's plumbed becomes the width that you can turn on and off in auto section control.
Where we're turning on and off at the nozzle, we get down to individual nozzle control, which reduces overlap and can cut down your chemical bills. In situations where you've got uneven paddocks or irregular shapes, moving from a standard seven-section setup to even individual or one-metre sections can save an extra five to seven percent on your chemical bill by avoiding overdosing.
Section control is one of those options that's really worth considering. The more sections you have, the less overdosing or waste you'll experience in areas you've already covered. When we get down to individual nozzle control, you can achieve even greater precision. It's worth considering the investment.
Individual nozzle shut-off
