Liquid distribution systems, crop sprayers, and related methods

A method of operating a crop sprayer comprising a product tank, a pump, a restriction, a plurality of nozzles spaced along a boom, a recirculation line, and a control environment, the method comprising:

• providing a signal corresponding to a simulated liquid pressure to the control environment;
• pumping liquid through the pump, the restriction, at least one of the nozzles, and the recirculation line to the product tank without spraying the liquid from the at least one of the nozzles while the control environment receives the signal corresponding to the simulated liquid pressure;
• adjusting the restriction to decrease a pressure drop associated with the restriction;
• providing a signal corresponding to an actual pump pressure to the control environment;
• and
• pumping the liquid through the pump, the restriction, and the at least one of the nozzles to spray the liquid from the at least one of the nozzles while the control environment receives the signal corresponding to the actual pump pressure.

In a liquid distribution system of a crop sprayer, comprising:

• a product tank configured to contain a liquid;
• a pump in fluid communication with the product tank;
• at least one nozzle carried by a boom and configured to receive the liquid from the pump;
• a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure of liquid delivered to the boom by the pump;
• and
• a control environment configured to control the pump;
• the improvement comprising:
• a recirculation line connecting the at least one nozzle to the product tank;
• an adjustable restriction configured to pass the liquid from the pump to the at least one nozzle, wherein the restriction is configured to vary a pressure of the liquid at the at least one nozzle when the liquid distribution system is in a recirculation mode;
• and
• a pressure sensor simulator configured to provide a simulated liquid pressure to the control environment when the liquid distribution system is in the recirculation mode.