Abstract
The objective of this study was to test the performance of a Field-IQ sprayer control system which was interfaced with a John Deere liquid fertilizer applicator. The sprayer control system includes Case IH FM-1000 display integrated with DGPS, Field-IQ spray control with full harness, flowmeter and auto-range valve, and the pump. Tap water was used to simulate the UAN 32% nitrogen fertilizer solution in the test. A total of 120 samples from 8 rows of the applicator in 5 application rates (34, 67, 101, 135, and 168 kg/ha) were collected, and the data were analyzed for application uniformity and application rate accuracy of the system. Results showed the greatest variation from the application rate baseline among the rows was 10.1% and occurred at a swath-end row with the lowest application rate of 34 kg/ha. The rows in the middle section of the swath had the lower variation than the rows at the two swath-ends. The application uniformity increased as the application rate increased. The absolute error of application rate ranged from 1.3% to 6.5% with an average of 3.76%. There was no significant difference between the selected application rate and actual application rate (p > 0.8686).
Highlights
Precision agriculture is the use of detailed information within agricultural fields to optimize production inputs on a spatially variable basis, rather than to apply uniform applications across the entire field
A Liquid fertilizer applicator equipped with a Field-IQ sprayer control system was tested for application uniformity and accuracy of application rate
The application rate was changed by adjusting the effluent flow rate at each row
Summary
Precision agriculture is the use of detailed information within agricultural fields to optimize production inputs on a spatially variable basis, rather than to apply uniform applications across the entire field. It allows producers to apply appropriate amounts of production inputs on each location in the field. This can maximize farm profit, and minimize environmental impact. Variable rate technology (VRT) plays an important role in precision agriculture. It involves the use of site-specific information in applying a desired rate of an agricultural input such as fertilizer at a specific site within a field. This practice demands accurate, reliable, and high-resolution VRT equipment to physically apply the materials in agricultural production
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