Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Digital Map-Based Site-Specific Granular Fertilizer Application System


Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal 462 038, India
2 Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721 302, India
3 ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171 001, India
 

Variable rate application is the process of applying different rates of crop inputs according to the variability within an agricultural field. Variable rate fertilizer application is a technology that regulates the fertilizer application rate based on site-specific needs within a field. A GPS-based variable rate fertilizer application (VRFA) system was developed, which consisted of a differential global positioning system (DGPS), micro-processor, micro-controller, DC motor actuator, power supply, threaded screw arrangement and fluted roller metering mechanism. The digital soil nutrient availability and application maps for targeted yield were also developed. DGPS was used for real-time identification of grids. Based on the microcontroller algorithm, application rates were varied by changing the feed roller exposure length. The observed fertilizer application rate was 5 and 300 kg/ha for exposure length of 0 and 44 mm respectively. The results indicate that the fertilizer application rate changes according to the prescribed application rate at the identified grid with coefficient of variation (CV) of 11.7-15%. The values of ischolar_main mean square error and relative difference of the system for different levels of application rates were 2.62 and 3.71 respectively. It can be concluded that the developed VRFA system closely meets the target fertilizer application rate at the selected grid point.

Keywords

Differential Global Positioning System, Fertilizer Applicator, Interpolation, Micro-Controller, Soil Nutrient Map.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Mouazen, A. M., Karoui, R., Decksers, J., De Baerdemaeker, J. and Ramon, H., Potential of visible and near-infrared spectroscopy to derive colour groups utilising the Munsell soil colour charts. Biosyst. Eng., 2007, 97(2), 131–143.

  • Tola, E., Kataoka, T., Burce, M., Okamoto, H. and Hata, S., Granular fertilizer application rate control system with integrated output volume measurement. Biosyst. Eng., 2008, 101(4), 411–416.

  • Ramamurthy, V., Naidu, L. G. K., Kumar, S. C. R., Srinivas, S. and Hegde, R., Soil-based fertilizer recommendations for precision farming. Curr. Sci., 2009, 97(5), 641–647.

  • Reyes, J. F., Esquivel, W., Cifuentes, D. and Ortega, R., Field testing of an automatic control system for variable rate fertilizer application. Comput. Electron. Agric., 2015, 113, 260–265.

  • Norton, E. R., Clark, L. J. and Borrego, H., Evaluation of variable rate fertilizer application in an Arizona cotton production system. Arizona Cotton Rep., 2005, 145–151.

  • Kim, Y. J., Kim, H. J., Rye, K. H. and Rhee, J. Y., Fertilizer application performance of a variable-rate pneumatic granular applicator for rice production. Biosyst. Eng., 2008, 100, 498–510.

  • Jung, I. G., Chung, S. O., Sung, J. H. and Lee, C. K., Development of map-based variable-rate applicator. In Proceedings of the KSAM Summer Conference, 2006, vol. 11(2), pp. 345–348.

  • Forouzanmehr, E. and Loghavi, M., Design, development and field evaluation of a map-based variable rate granular fertilizer application control system. Agric. Eng. Int. J., 2012, 14(4), 255–261.

  • Cho, S. I., Choi, S. H. and Kim, Y. Y., Development of electronic mapping system for N-fertilizer dosage using real-time soil organic matter sensor and DGPS. Biosyst. Eng., 2002, 27(3), 259–266.

  • Schumann, A. W., Miller, W. M., Zaman, Q. U., Hostler, K. H., Buchanon, S. and Cugati, S., Variable rate granular fertilization of citrus groves: spreader performance with single-tree prescription zones. Appl. Eng. Agric., 2006, 22(1), 19–24.

  • Chattha, H. S., Zaman, Q. U., Chang, Y. K., Read, S., Schumann, A. W., Brewster, G. R. and Farooqu, A. A., Variable rate spreader for real-time spot-application of granular fertilizer in wild blueberry. Comput. Electron. Agric., 2014, 100, 70–78.

  • Fulton, J. P., Shearer, S. A., Higgins. S. F., Hancock, D. W. and Stombaugh, T. S., Distribution pattern variability of granular VRT applicator. Trans. ASABE, 2005, 48(6), 2053–2064.

  • Sinfield, J. V., Fagerman, D. and Colic, O., Evaluation of sensing technologies for on-the-go detection of macro-nutrients in cultivated soils. Comput. Electron. Agric., 2010, 70, 1–18.

  • Maleki, M. R., Holm, L. V., Ramon, H., Merckx, R., Baerdemaeker, J. D. and Mouazen, A. M., Phosphorus sensing for fresh soils using visible and near infrared spectroscopy. Biosyst. Eng., 2006, 95(3), 425–436.

  • Swisher, D. W., Borgelt, S. C. and Sudduth, K. A., Optical sensor for granular fertilizer flow rate measurement. Trans. ASABE, 2002, 45(4), 881–888.

  • Robinson, T. P. and Metternicht, G., Testing the performance of spatial interpolation techniques for mapping soil properties. Comput. Electron. Agric., 2006, 50, 97–108.


Abstract Views: 499

PDF Views: 144




  • Digital Map-Based Site-Specific Granular Fertilizer Application System

Abstract Views: 499  |  PDF Views: 144

Authors

N. S. Chandel
ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal 462 038, India
C. R. Mehta
ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal 462 038, India
V. K. Tewari
Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721 302, India
B. Nare
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171 001, India

Abstract


Variable rate application is the process of applying different rates of crop inputs according to the variability within an agricultural field. Variable rate fertilizer application is a technology that regulates the fertilizer application rate based on site-specific needs within a field. A GPS-based variable rate fertilizer application (VRFA) system was developed, which consisted of a differential global positioning system (DGPS), micro-processor, micro-controller, DC motor actuator, power supply, threaded screw arrangement and fluted roller metering mechanism. The digital soil nutrient availability and application maps for targeted yield were also developed. DGPS was used for real-time identification of grids. Based on the microcontroller algorithm, application rates were varied by changing the feed roller exposure length. The observed fertilizer application rate was 5 and 300 kg/ha for exposure length of 0 and 44 mm respectively. The results indicate that the fertilizer application rate changes according to the prescribed application rate at the identified grid with coefficient of variation (CV) of 11.7-15%. The values of ischolar_main mean square error and relative difference of the system for different levels of application rates were 2.62 and 3.71 respectively. It can be concluded that the developed VRFA system closely meets the target fertilizer application rate at the selected grid point.

Keywords


Differential Global Positioning System, Fertilizer Applicator, Interpolation, Micro-Controller, Soil Nutrient Map.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv111%2Fi7%2F1208-1213