Fertilization strategy and application model using a centrifugal variable-rate fertilizer spreader
Keywords:
variable-rate fertilization, centrifugal spreader, fertilization strategy, application modelAbstract
With the sustainable development of precision agriculture and the steady progress of variable-rate fertilization technology, the centrifugal variable-rate fertilizer spreader has attracted research attention due to its lower incidence of crush damage, high efficiency, and low cost. To improve fertilization accuracy and uniformity, spreading performance tests were conducted using this spreader in accordance with the test methods specified in ISO 5690 and ASAE S341.2, in which particle mass was weighed in a two-dimensional matrix of collection boxes. The effects of fertilization strategies that control the feed gate flow rate and the disc rotation speed on particle distribution, and application rate per unit area and effective swath width, were investigated. A variable-rate fertilization model was developed by analyzing the variation characteristics resulting from an increasing and decreasing application rate, and field experiments were conducted to verify its accuracy. The results indicated that when the feed gate flow rate was 300 g/s, the mean application rate was 26.47 g, the standard deviation is 2.81, and the coefficient of variation of particle distribution is at its minimum value of 14.25%. When the disc rotation speed was 600 r/min, the fertilizer was most evenly distributed with a coefficient of variation of 13.86%, and an average effective spreader swath width of 24.51 m. The proposed variable-rate fertilization model showed a high fitting degree with an S-shaped function curve for both increasing and decreasing distribution rates and the yielding coefficients of determination were more than 0.82 and 0.71, respectively. The average error between the model predictions and the test results was 9.47%, and the coefficients of determination for the increasing and decreasing distribution rates were 0.91 and 0.82, respectively, which confirmed the accuracy of the proposed variable-rate fertilization model. This investigation provided a theoretical basis for traditional empirical fertilization using centrifugal variable-rate fertilizer spreaders, and guides the selection of a multiple trajectory, variable-rate fertilization strategy. Keywords: variable-rate fertilization, centrifugal spreader, fertilization strategy, application model DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181106.3789 Citation: Shi Y Y, Hu Z Z, Wang X C, Odhiambo M O, Sun G X. Fertilization strategy and application model using a centrifugal variable-rate fertilizer spreader. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(6): 41–48.References
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[18] Su N, Xu T S, Song L T, Wang R J, Wei Y Y. Variable rate fertilization system with adjustable active feed-roll length. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2015; 8(4): 19–26.
[19] Dong X Q, Song J N, Zhang J K, Kang X J, Wang J C. Working performance and experiment on granular fertilizer spreader with cone disk. Transactions of the CSAE, 2013; 29(19): 33–40. (in Chinese)
[20] Lv J Q, Shang Q Q, Yang Y, Li Z H, Li J C, Liu Z Y. Performance analysis and experiment on granular fertilizer spreader with cone disc. Transactions of the CSAE, 2016; 32(11): 16–24. (in Chinese)
[21] Chen S F, Zhang S P, Sun X Z, Li Y M. Design and experiment of self-propelled high-ground-clearance spreader for paddy variable-rate fertilization. Transactions of the CSAE, 2012; 28(11): 16–21. (in Chinese)
[22] Hu Y G, Yang Y C, Xiao H R, Li P P. Simulation and parameter optimization of centrifugal fertilizer spreader for tea plants. Transactions of the CSAM, 2016; 47(5): 77–82.
[23] Shi Y Y, Chen M, Wang X C, Odhiambo M O, Zhang Y N, Ding W M. Analysis and experiment of fertilizing performance for precision fertilizer applicator in rice and wheat. Transactions of the CSAM, 2017; 48(7): 97–103. (in Chinese)
[24] ISO5690-2-1984. Equipment for distributing fertilizers-test methods-Part 2: Fertilizer distributors in lines.
[25] ASAE S341.2. Procedure for measuring distribution uniform and calibrating granular broadcast spreaders.
[26] Yu H, Liu B Q, Ying J J, Hu W G. One-dimension image edge detection method based on sigmoidal function fitting. Infrared Technology, 2014; 36(10): 816–819.
[2] Song X Y, Wang J H, Huang W J, Yan G J, Chang H. Monitoring spatial variance of winter wheat growth and grain quality under variable-rate fertilization conditions by remote sensing data. Transactions of the CSAE, 2009; 25(9): 155–162. (in Chinese)
[3] Sui R X, Thomasson J A, Ge Y F. Development of sensor systems for precision agriculture in cotton. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2012; 5(4): 1–14.
[4] Chen L P. Theoretical and experimental studies on variable-rate fertilization in precision farming. Beijing: China Agricultural University, 2003: 83–97.
[5] Yuan X, Qi L J, Wang H, Huang S K, Ji R H, Zhang J H. Spraying parameters optimization of swing, automatic variables and greenhouse mist sprayer with response surface method. Transactions of the CSAM, 2012; 43(4): 45–50, 54. (in Chinese)
[6] Wang H, Bai X P, Liang H B. Proportional distribution method for estimating actual grain flow under combine harvester dynamics. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2017; 10(4): 158–164.
[7] Aphale A, Bolander N, Park J, Shaw L, Svec J, Wassgren C. Granular fertiliser particle dynamics on and off a spinner spreader. Biosystems Engineering, 2003; 85(3): 319–329.
[8] Jones J R, Lawrence H G, Yule I J. A statistical comparison of international fertiliser spreader test methods-Confidence in bout width calculations. Powder Technology, 2008; 184(3): 337–351.
[9] Dintwa E, Tijskens E, Olieslagers R, de Baerdemaeker J, Ramon H. Calibration of a spinning disc spreader simulation model for accurate dite-specific fertiliser application. Biosystems Engineering, 2004; 88(1): 49–62.
[10] Cool S, Pieters J, Mertens K C, Hijazi B, Vangeyte J. A simulation of the influence of spinning on the ballistic flight of spherical fertiliser grains. Computers & Electronics in Agriculture, 2014; 105(5): 121–131.
[11] Van Liedekerke P, Tijskens E, Dintwa E, Rioual F. Vangeyte J, Ramon H. DEM simulations of the particle flow on a centrifugal fertilizer spreader. Biosystems Engineering, 2009; 190(3): 348–360.
[12] Van Liedekerke P, Tujskens E, Dintwa E, Ramon H. A discrete element model for simulation of a spinning disc fertilizer spreader I. Single particle simulations. Communications in Agricultural & Applied Biological Sciences, 2006; 170(2): 71–85.
[13] Van Liedekerke P, Tujskens E, Ramon H. Discrete element simulations of the influence of fertiliser physical properties on the spread pattern from spinning disc spreaders. Biosystems Engineering, 2009; 102(4): 392–405.
[14] Coetzee C J, Lombard S G. Discrete element method modelling of a centrifugal fertiliser spreader. Biosystems Engineering, 2011; 109(4): 308–325.
[15] Kweon G, Grift T E. Feed gate sdaptation of a spinner spreader for uniformity control. Biosystems Engineering, 2006; 95(1): 19–34.
[16] Fulton J P, Shearer S A, Higgins S F, Hancock D W, Stombaugh T S. Distribution pattern variability of granular VRT applicators. Transactions of the ASAE, 2005; 48(6): 2053–2064.
[17] Campbell C M, Fulton J P, Mcdonald T P, Wood C W, Zech W C, Srivastava P. Spinner-disc technology to enhance the application of poultry litter. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2010; 26(5): 759–767.
[18] Su N, Xu T S, Song L T, Wang R J, Wei Y Y. Variable rate fertilization system with adjustable active feed-roll length. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2015; 8(4): 19–26.
[19] Dong X Q, Song J N, Zhang J K, Kang X J, Wang J C. Working performance and experiment on granular fertilizer spreader with cone disk. Transactions of the CSAE, 2013; 29(19): 33–40. (in Chinese)
[20] Lv J Q, Shang Q Q, Yang Y, Li Z H, Li J C, Liu Z Y. Performance analysis and experiment on granular fertilizer spreader with cone disc. Transactions of the CSAE, 2016; 32(11): 16–24. (in Chinese)
[21] Chen S F, Zhang S P, Sun X Z, Li Y M. Design and experiment of self-propelled high-ground-clearance spreader for paddy variable-rate fertilization. Transactions of the CSAE, 2012; 28(11): 16–21. (in Chinese)
[22] Hu Y G, Yang Y C, Xiao H R, Li P P. Simulation and parameter optimization of centrifugal fertilizer spreader for tea plants. Transactions of the CSAM, 2016; 47(5): 77–82.
[23] Shi Y Y, Chen M, Wang X C, Odhiambo M O, Zhang Y N, Ding W M. Analysis and experiment of fertilizing performance for precision fertilizer applicator in rice and wheat. Transactions of the CSAM, 2017; 48(7): 97–103. (in Chinese)
[24] ISO5690-2-1984. Equipment for distributing fertilizers-test methods-Part 2: Fertilizer distributors in lines.
[25] ASAE S341.2. Procedure for measuring distribution uniform and calibrating granular broadcast spreaders.
[26] Yu H, Liu B Q, Ying J J, Hu W G. One-dimension image edge detection method based on sigmoidal function fitting. Infrared Technology, 2014; 36(10): 816–819.
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Published
2018-12-08
How to Cite
Shi, Y., Hu, Z., Wang, X., Odhiambo, M. O., & Sun, G. (2018). Fertilization strategy and application model using a centrifugal variable-rate fertilizer spreader. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 11(6), 41–48. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/3789
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Power and Machinery Systems
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