Chinese pesticide labels state rates per mu (667 m²) — a unit most international buyers rarely use, yet one that appears on every Chinese registration certificate and factory COA. Misconverting mu-based rates is one of the quietest ways a good product delivers a bad result. This guide gives you the conversions, a worked dilution example, and a reference table worth saving.
The Core Conversions
- 1 mu (亩) = 667 m² ≈ 1/15 hectare
- 1 hectare = 15 mu ≈ 2.47 acres
- A rate of “X per 667 m²” multiplied by 15 gives the rate per hectare.
| Rate per mu (667 m²) | Rate per hectare | Rate per acre |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mL | 450 mL | 182 mL |
| 50 g | 750 g | 303 g |
| 100 mL | 1,500 mL (1.5 L) | 405 mL |
| 200 g | 3,000 g (3 kg) | 810 g |
Worked Example: Product per Tank
A label calls for 50 mL per 667 m² of a suspension concentrate. Your sprayer treats 0.5 mu per tank with 16 L of water.
- Product for the full tank = 50 mL × 0.5 mu = 25 mL per tank
- Tank concentration = 25 mL in 16 L ≈ 1:640 dilution
Reverse check: if your target dilution is 1:1000 and each tank carries 16 L, one tank covers 16 L × 1000 ÷ (product dilution volume per mu) — always work from measured spray volume per mu rather than guessing tank coverage.
Dilution Quick Reference (per 15 L knapsack)
If the label rate is 50 g per 667 m² and your knapsack covers 0.33 mu (i.e., three tanks per mu):
- Product per tank = 50 g ÷ 3 ≈ 17 g per 15 L tank
- Dilution ≈ 1:880
The same arithmetic works for liquids (mL) and for granules broadcast by area — for granules, the rate is per area directly, no dilution math needed.
Three Common Mistakes
- Reading “per hectare” as “per mu” — this over-doses 15×. Always check the unit on the label line before calculating.
- Confusing active ingredient with product — a “70% water-dispersible granule (WDG) at 3 g active per mu” means 3 ÷ 0.7 ≈ 4.3 g of product per mu.
- Ignoring spray volume — the product rate per mu is fixed, but the tank concentration changes with your water volume; recalculate when you change nozzles or walking speed.
FAQ
Why do Chinese labels use mu instead of hectares?
Mu is the traditional Chinese field unit and appears on every ICAMA registration label. The 667 m² figure is exact; the 1/15 hectare relationship is the official definition.
How do I convert to acres for local advisors?
One mu ≈ 0.165 acres. Multiply the per-mu rate by 6.06 to get the per-acre rate.
Does the 15× rule apply to seed treatment rates?
No — seed-treatment rates are stated per 100 kg of seed (e.g., 340–450 mL per 100 kg wheat seed), independent of planted area. Calculate from your seed weight per hectare instead.
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