SIMULATION OF DISTANCE BETWEEN FIELD AND REPLENISHMENT PUMP IN MECHANIZED SPRAYING OF SUGARCANE (Saccharum spp.)

Neisvaldo B Dos Santos

doi:10.1590/1809-4430-eng.agric.v38n5p805-812/2018

Abstract

ABSTRACT Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugarcane destined for mills. Spraying in sugarcane plantations is carried out in extensive cultivation areas and with self-propelled, tractor-driven, and aerial hydraulic equipment. For this, a good positioning of the replenishment pump of agricultural defensives close to the field where the spraying is carried out is necessary. However, it is desirable that the replenishment be carried out at short distances between the field and replenishment pump. This study aimed to assess the impact of the distance between the field and replenishment pump on the operational cost of hydraulic sprayers for sugarcane farming practices. Due to the difficulty in accomplishing the work and meeting the objective under field conditions, we decided to develop a computational model called “TratoCana” in a spreadsheet and programming language. The model was verified for possible routine errors, validated, and used in the analysis of factors and in the generation of scenarios. The results showed that the increased average distance between the field and replenishment pump has a negative impact on the operational and economic performance of the machine.

Highlights

INTRODUCTIONIn Brazil, the sugarcane planted area is estimated at 8.61 million hectares in the 2018/2019 season, which represents a total production of 625.96 million tons (CONAB, 2018)
In Brazil, the sugarcane planted area is estimated at 8.61 million hectares in the 2018/2019 season, which represents a total production of 625.96 million tons (CONAB, 2018).The mechanized spraying system of sugarcane has its productive functioning in the field and auxiliary operation in the roads, the place where the replenishment with agricultural defensives occurs
Considering the average values of agroclimatic parameters of the Mill, which is related to the agroclimatic conditions of Rio Largo, AL, Brazil, in 2014, the number of working days inappropriate for spraying (NWDIS) and time available (TA) presented values of 257 days and 2,583 hours, respectively

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In Brazil, the sugarcane planted area is estimated at 8.61 million hectares in the 2018/2019 season, which represents a total production of 625.96 million tons (CONAB, 2018). Spraying machines need to run a distance between the field and replenishment pump This distance influences the auxiliary time, especially the equipment service operational time. According to Santos et al (2015a), the service operational time expresses the managerial conditions for the equipment to perform the operation considering several means of execution such as the distance between the field and replenishment pump. According to Santos et al (2015a), the service operational time is composed of productive, accessory, auxiliary, inaptitude, lost, and worked time. These times represent the field efficiency (FE) of the machine in the system. Due to the relevance of the distance between the field and replenishment pump in the operational and economic performance of mechanized spraying system. The aim of this study is to assess the impact caused by the distance between the field and replenishment pump on the operational cost of hydraulic sprayers for sugarcane farming practices

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS