Combine Effect of Blade Type of Blower and Speed of Operation on Droplet Size in Air Assisted Orchard Sprayer

Abstract

Droplet size analysis of orchard sprayer having axial flow blower was carried out to determine the changes in droplet size at different blade types and speed of operation. Droplet size analysis was carried out at two different positions (Outer and Inner) of crop canopy and at three different heights (Top, Middle, Bottom) of each crop canopy. On outer canopy, at top position, at speed of operation 2.5 km/h, 3.0 km/h and 3.5 km/h the droplet size decreased by 6.5 %, 7.6 % and 10.3 % respectively when the blade was changes from blade type 1 to blade type 2. When the blade was changes from blade type 1 to blade type 2 in combination of speed of operation 2.5 km/h, 3 km/h and 3.5 km/h the droplet size decreased by 6.2 %, 7.3 % and 8.6 % and 5.4 %, 6.8 % and 9.0 % for middle and bottom position. On inner canopy, at top position, when the blade type was changes from blade type 1 to blade type 2 at speed of operation 2.5 km/h, 3.0 km/h, 3.5 km/h, then the droplet size decreased by 7.3 %, 9.2 % and 10.2 % respectively. Whereas at middle position the droplet size decreased by 7.1 %, 7.6 % and 9.0 % respectively. Similar trend was observed in bottom position and decrease in values of droplet size was 5.6 %, 7.1 % and 8.9 % observed respectively. Keywords: Droplet Size, orchard sprayer, axial flow blower, crop canopy.