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About Sprayers

Sprayers, used to apply liquid fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals to fields, were first developed in the late 1800s. These early versions were pulled by horses or powered by steam. With the invention of tractors came new types of sprayers, including John Deere’s first models, released in the 1930s that had 150-gallon cypress tanks and an angle iron boom. Most modern tanks are made of fiberglass or poly with capacities often ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 gallons (3,785 to 7570 liters). Recent developments largely center on more precise, efficient chemical application to minimize the effects of spray drift on surrounding crops and on human health. Better pumps, self-leveling booms, controlled droplet application, sprayer hoods, and other improvements provide more even, targeted distribution across fields.

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Apache HS1100 Self-Propelled Sprayer

Types Of Sprayers

Modern sprayers generally fall into one of three categories: pull-type, self-propelled, and mounted.

As their name suggests, pull-type sprayers are pulled by tractors. They come with tanks in a variety of capacities mounted on a trailer, with some high-clearance models available for use in tall crops. Pull-type sprayers have booms of various lengths and are typically powered by the tractor’s power take-off (PTO). Advancements such as auto boom height control mean the sprayers can work more precisely on a wider variety of crops. Some pull-type sprayers have booms constructed of composite material for improved strength and flexibility compared to booms made of traditional steel tubing.

Self-propelled sprayers are all-in-one vehicles fitted with the necessary tank(s), booms, and spraying functionality. Some high-clearance sprayer models are designed for use in taller crops. In recent years, manufacturers’ sprayer designs have emphasized field-friendly footprints that reduce soil compaction, as well as precision tech such as automatic boom height control and automated guidance to reduce skips and overlaps.

Mounted/three-point sprayers typically connect to a tractor or ATV using a three-point hitch. As with other sprayer types, mounted sprayer tanks come in a variety of capacities and are most often powered by PTO. Booms can be mounted on the sprayer itself or under the tractor. Improved safety has been a focus for manufacturers with features such as counterbalanced tanks that put more weight closer to the tractor wheels.

Find The Right Sprayer

You’ll find thousands of new and used sprayers, including pull-type, self-propelled, and mounted varieties from top manufacturers such as Ag-Chem, Apache, Case IH, Demco, Hagie, HARDI, John Deere, New Holland, RoGator, and more for sale every day on TractorHouse.com.