Development of sensor system for real-time measurement of droplet deposition of agricultural sprayers
Keywords:
deposition measurement, agricultural sprayer, droplets, intelligent sensorAbstract
During the chemical application process, droplet deposition on a target is an important reference indicator for evaluating the spraying technique and its performance. In order to quickly obtain deposition results in the field, this study proposed a novel system based on surface humidity sensors. The basic principle is to convert the measured physical quantity change into a capacitance change, thereby realizing the physical quantity to electrical signal conversion. An Android application for mobile terminal and the corresponding coordinator were developed, which allowed operators to control multiple sensors simultaneously through the Bluetooth. The soluble tracer detected by spectrophotometer was used to calibrate the system. The obtained results indicated a good correlation between deposition volume and voltage increment output from the newly developed system (R2 of the six nozzles with Dv0.5 ranging from 107.28 μm to 396.20 μm were 0.8674-0.9729), and a power regression model based on the least squares technique (R2=0.8022) was developed. In the field test, the system exhibited an optimal performance in predicting the deposition volume. Compared with the conventional method of measuring tracer concentration, the deviation was less than 10%. In addition, the system exhibited good fitting curve of the deposition distribution with droplet number results measured by the water sensitive paper method. Keywords: deposition measurement, agricultural sprayer, droplets, intelligent sensor DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20211405.5528 Citation: Li L L, Zhang R R, Chen L P, Yi T C, Xu G, Xue D X, et al. Development of sensor system for real-time measurement of droplet deposition of agricultural sprayers. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2021; 14(5): 19–26.References
[1] Huang Y, Hoffmann W C, Lan Y, Wu W, Fritz B K. Development of a spray system for an unmanned aerial vehicle platform. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2008; 25(6): 803–809.
[2] Chen S D, Lan Y B, Li J Y, Zhou Z Y, Jin J, Liu A M. Effect of spray parameters of small unmanned helicopter on distribution regularity of droplet deposition in hybrid rice canopy. Transactions of the CSAE, 2016; 32(17): 40–46. (in Chinese)
[3] Li L L, He X K, Song J L, Liu Y J, Zeng A J, Liu Y J. Design and experiment of variable rate orchard sprayer based on laser scanning sensor. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(1): 101–108.
[4] Dekeyser D, Foqué D, Duga A T, Verboven P, Hendrickx N, Nuyttens D. Spray deposition assessment using different application techniques in artificial orchard trees. Crop Protection, 2014; 64: 187–197.
[5] Gil E, Llorens J, Landers A, Llop J, Giralt L. Field validation of DOSAVINA, a decision support system to determine the optimal volume rate for pesticide application in vineyards. European Journal of Agronomy, 2011; 35(1): 33–46.
[6] Cunha J P A R, Farnese A C, Olivet J J. Computer programs for analysis of droplets sprayed on water sensitive papers. Planta Daninha, 2013; 31(3): 715–720.
[7] Wen Y, Zhang R R, Chen L P, Huang Y B, Yi T C, Xu G, et al. A new spray deposition pattern measurement system based on spectral analysis of a fluorescent tracer. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2019; 160:14–22.
[8] Gao S, Wang G, Zhou Y Y, Wang M, Yang D B, Yuan H Z, et al. Water soluble food dye of allura red as a tracer to determine the spray deposition of pesticide on target crops. Pest Management Science, 2019; 75: 2592–2597.
[9] Qiu J, Zheng J Q, Zhou H P. Summarization of droplet size determination and treatment methods. Forestry Machinery & Woodworking Equipment, 1999; 27(7): 10–12. (in Chinese)
[10] Xue Feng. Application of digital image processing in droplet key parameters measurement. Master dissertation. Beijing: China Agriculture University, 2005; 2. 24 p.
[11] Justin J N, Forster W A. Due diligence required to quantify and visualise agrichemical spray deposits using dye tracers. Crop Protection, 2019; 115: 92–98.
[12] Wang X N, He X K, Song J L, Wang Z C, Wang CL, Wang S L. Drift potential of UAV with adjuvants in aerial applications. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(5): 54–58.
[13] Liop J, Gil E, Llorens J, Gallart M, Balsari P. Influence of air-assistance on spray application for tomato plants in greenhouses. Crop Protection, 2015; 78: 293–301.
[14] Cross J V, Murray R A, Ridout M S, Walklate P J. Quantification of spray deposits and their variability on apple trees. Aspects of Applied Biology (United Kingdom), 1997; 48: 217–224.
[15] Nairn J J, Forster W A. Photostability of pyranine and suitability as a spray drift tracer. New Zealand Plant Protection, 2015; 68: 32–37.
[16] Gil Y, Sinfort C. Emission of pesticides to the air during sprayer application: A bibliographic review. Atmospheric Environment, 2005; 39(28): 5183–5193.
[17] Gil E, Escolà A, Rosell J R, Planas S, Val L. Variable rate application of plant protection products in vineyard using ultrasonic sensors. Crop Protection, 2007; 26(8): 1287–1297.
[18] Cruvinel P E, Vieira S R, Crestana S, Minatel E R, Mucheroni M L, Neto A T. Image processing in automated measurements of raindrop size and distribution. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 1999; 23(3): 205–217.
[19] Cunha M, Carvalho C, MarcalA R S. Assessing the ability of image processing software to analyse spray quality on water-sensitive papers used as artificial targets. Biosystems Engineering, 2012; 111(1): 11–23.
[20] Salyani M, Zhu H, Sweeb R D, Pai N. Assessment of spray distribution with water-sensitive paper. Agricultural Engineering International: The CIGR e-journal, 2013; 15(2): 101–111.
[21] Salyani M, Serdynski J. Development of a sensor for spray deposition assessment. Transactions of the ASAE, 1990; 33(5): 1464–1469.
[22] Zhang R R, Wen Y, Yi T C, Chen L P, Xu G. Development and application of aerial spray droplets deposition performance measurement system based on spectral analysis technology. Transactions of the CSAE, 2017; 33(24): 80–87. (in Chinese)
[23] Musiu E M, Qi L, Wu Y. Spray deposition and distribution on the targets and losses to the ground as affected by application volume rate, airflow rate and target position. Crop Protection, 2019; 116: 170–180.
[24] Pergher G, Gubiani R, Cividino S R S, Dell'Antonia D, Lagazzio C. Assessment of spray deposition and recycling rate in the vineyard from a new type of air-assisted tunnel sprayer. Crop Protection, 2013; 45: 6–14.
[25] Paolo B, Marco G, Paolo M, Matta F, Miranda F A. Assessing the influence of air speed and liquid flow rate on the droplet size and homogeneity in pneumatic spraying. Pest Management Science, 2019; 75(2): 366–379.
[26] Zhu H, Salyani M, Fox R D. A portable scanning system for evaluation of spray deposit distribution. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2011; 76(1): 38–43.
[2] Chen S D, Lan Y B, Li J Y, Zhou Z Y, Jin J, Liu A M. Effect of spray parameters of small unmanned helicopter on distribution regularity of droplet deposition in hybrid rice canopy. Transactions of the CSAE, 2016; 32(17): 40–46. (in Chinese)
[3] Li L L, He X K, Song J L, Liu Y J, Zeng A J, Liu Y J. Design and experiment of variable rate orchard sprayer based on laser scanning sensor. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(1): 101–108.
[4] Dekeyser D, Foqué D, Duga A T, Verboven P, Hendrickx N, Nuyttens D. Spray deposition assessment using different application techniques in artificial orchard trees. Crop Protection, 2014; 64: 187–197.
[5] Gil E, Llorens J, Landers A, Llop J, Giralt L. Field validation of DOSAVINA, a decision support system to determine the optimal volume rate for pesticide application in vineyards. European Journal of Agronomy, 2011; 35(1): 33–46.
[6] Cunha J P A R, Farnese A C, Olivet J J. Computer programs for analysis of droplets sprayed on water sensitive papers. Planta Daninha, 2013; 31(3): 715–720.
[7] Wen Y, Zhang R R, Chen L P, Huang Y B, Yi T C, Xu G, et al. A new spray deposition pattern measurement system based on spectral analysis of a fluorescent tracer. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2019; 160:14–22.
[8] Gao S, Wang G, Zhou Y Y, Wang M, Yang D B, Yuan H Z, et al. Water soluble food dye of allura red as a tracer to determine the spray deposition of pesticide on target crops. Pest Management Science, 2019; 75: 2592–2597.
[9] Qiu J, Zheng J Q, Zhou H P. Summarization of droplet size determination and treatment methods. Forestry Machinery & Woodworking Equipment, 1999; 27(7): 10–12. (in Chinese)
[10] Xue Feng. Application of digital image processing in droplet key parameters measurement. Master dissertation. Beijing: China Agriculture University, 2005; 2. 24 p.
[11] Justin J N, Forster W A. Due diligence required to quantify and visualise agrichemical spray deposits using dye tracers. Crop Protection, 2019; 115: 92–98.
[12] Wang X N, He X K, Song J L, Wang Z C, Wang CL, Wang S L. Drift potential of UAV with adjuvants in aerial applications. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(5): 54–58.
[13] Liop J, Gil E, Llorens J, Gallart M, Balsari P. Influence of air-assistance on spray application for tomato plants in greenhouses. Crop Protection, 2015; 78: 293–301.
[14] Cross J V, Murray R A, Ridout M S, Walklate P J. Quantification of spray deposits and their variability on apple trees. Aspects of Applied Biology (United Kingdom), 1997; 48: 217–224.
[15] Nairn J J, Forster W A. Photostability of pyranine and suitability as a spray drift tracer. New Zealand Plant Protection, 2015; 68: 32–37.
[16] Gil Y, Sinfort C. Emission of pesticides to the air during sprayer application: A bibliographic review. Atmospheric Environment, 2005; 39(28): 5183–5193.
[17] Gil E, Escolà A, Rosell J R, Planas S, Val L. Variable rate application of plant protection products in vineyard using ultrasonic sensors. Crop Protection, 2007; 26(8): 1287–1297.
[18] Cruvinel P E, Vieira S R, Crestana S, Minatel E R, Mucheroni M L, Neto A T. Image processing in automated measurements of raindrop size and distribution. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 1999; 23(3): 205–217.
[19] Cunha M, Carvalho C, MarcalA R S. Assessing the ability of image processing software to analyse spray quality on water-sensitive papers used as artificial targets. Biosystems Engineering, 2012; 111(1): 11–23.
[20] Salyani M, Zhu H, Sweeb R D, Pai N. Assessment of spray distribution with water-sensitive paper. Agricultural Engineering International: The CIGR e-journal, 2013; 15(2): 101–111.
[21] Salyani M, Serdynski J. Development of a sensor for spray deposition assessment. Transactions of the ASAE, 1990; 33(5): 1464–1469.
[22] Zhang R R, Wen Y, Yi T C, Chen L P, Xu G. Development and application of aerial spray droplets deposition performance measurement system based on spectral analysis technology. Transactions of the CSAE, 2017; 33(24): 80–87. (in Chinese)
[23] Musiu E M, Qi L, Wu Y. Spray deposition and distribution on the targets and losses to the ground as affected by application volume rate, airflow rate and target position. Crop Protection, 2019; 116: 170–180.
[24] Pergher G, Gubiani R, Cividino S R S, Dell'Antonia D, Lagazzio C. Assessment of spray deposition and recycling rate in the vineyard from a new type of air-assisted tunnel sprayer. Crop Protection, 2013; 45: 6–14.
[25] Paolo B, Marco G, Paolo M, Matta F, Miranda F A. Assessing the influence of air speed and liquid flow rate on the droplet size and homogeneity in pneumatic spraying. Pest Management Science, 2019; 75(2): 366–379.
[26] Zhu H, Salyani M, Fox R D. A portable scanning system for evaluation of spray deposit distribution. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2011; 76(1): 38–43.
Downloads
Published
2021-10-13
How to Cite
Li, L., Zhang, R., Chen, L., Yi, T., Xu, G., Xue, D., … An, Y. (2021). Development of sensor system for real-time measurement of droplet deposition of agricultural sprayers. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 14(5), 19–26. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/5528
Issue
Section
Applied Science, Engineering and Technology
License
IJABE is an international peer reviewed open access journal, adopting Creative Commons Copyright Notices as follows.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
