Performance test and parameter optimization of variable spraying liquid fertilizer machine

Abstract

The performance test and parameter optimization of variable spraying liquid fertilizer machine was conducted in this research for the uniform spraying of foliar fertilizer. A crop protection of high-clearance tractor with a variable sprayer was used in the experiment. According to the parameter design, three factors and three levels of test were performed based on the Box-Behnken center-united experimental design principles. The performance tests were combined with response surface methodology to analyze spray parameters such as machine walking speed, spray flow rate and plot distance test which would influence Droplet distribution uniformity. A mathematical model was established by using Design-Expert 8.0 software, and the model was analyzed to obtain the optimal combination of spray parameters. The optimized spray parameter combination is: machine walking speed is 4.5km/h, the spray flow rate is 375L/hm2, and the distance between the plots is 3m. Under this condition, the minimum variation coefficient of droplet distribution is 10.759%, and the relative error is 9.1% compared with the model prediction value of 9.78%. The results of the study can provide operators with reasonable operating conditions when fertilizing.