Measuring the response of variable bulk solid fertiliser application by computer-controlled delivery from aircraft

Grafton, Miles; Irwin, Matthew; Sandoval-Cruz, Eduardo A.

doi:10.1080/00288233.2021.1936573

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…It was equipped with a speed feedback mechanism to effectively avoid wasting fertilizer. Grafton et al [38] tested the boundary delivery efficiency of a computer-controlled aircraft delivery system for bulk solids and showed that the delivery system improved the efficiency of fertilizer utilization, increased forage production, and reduced the loss of fertilizer to the environment. Li et al [39] designed a hollow-rotor UAV for the efficient spreading of rice seeds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single-Neuron PID UAV Variable Fertilizer Application Control System Based on a Weighted Coefficient Learning Correction

Yao

et al. 2022

Agriculture

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Agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are a new type of fertilizer application technology, have been rapidly developed internationally. This study combines the agronomic characteristics of rice fertilization with weighted coefficient learning-modified single-neuron adaptive proportional–integral–differential (PID) control technology to study and design an aerial real-time variable fertilizer application control system that is suitable for rice field operations in northern China. The nitrogen deficiency at the target plot is obtained from a map based on a fertilizer prescription map, and the amount of fertilizer is calculated by a variable fertilizer application algorithm. The advantages and disadvantages of the two control algorithms are analyzed by a MATLAB simulation in an indoor test, which is integrated into the spreading system to test the effect of actual spreading. A three-factor, three-level orthogonal test of fertilizer-spreading performance is designed for an outdoor test, and the coefficient of variation of particle distribution Cv (a) as well as the relative error of fertilizer application λ (b) are the evaluation indices. The spreading performance of the spreading system is the best and can effectively achieve accurate variable fertilizer application when the baffle opening is 4%, spreading disc speed is 600 r/min, and flight height is 2 m, with a and b of evaluation indexes of 11.98% and 7.02%, respectively. The control error of the spreading volume is 7.30%, and the monitoring error of the speed measurement module is less than 30 r/min. The results show that the centrifugal variable fertilizer spreader improves the uniformity of fertilizer spreading and the accuracy of fertilizer application, which enhances the spreading performance of the centrifugal variable fertilizer spreader.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single-Neuron PID UAV Variable Fertilizer Application Control System Based on a Weighted Coefficient Learning Correction

Yao

et al. 2022

Agriculture

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“…In addition, several UAV companies have launched commercial UAV spreading products [20,21]. Because of continuous technical iteration and structural optimization, UAV spreading technology has been improved, and the application and demonstration area has gradually expanded, which can provide a reliable work platform for field fertilization [22,23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particle Deposition Distribution of Multi-Rotor UAV-Based Fertilizer Spreader under Different Height and Speed Parameters

Song

Liu

Wang

et al. 2023

Drones

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As an effective supplement to ground machinery, UAVs play an important role in agriculture and have become indispensable intelligent equipment in the development of precision agriculture. Various types of agricultural UAV-based spreading devices, mainly disc-type and pneumatic-type, have appeared in domestic and foreign markets. UAV-based rice topdressing has gradually become a widely recognized application with great market potential. In the process of UAV-based low-altitude fertilization, due to the existence of the rotor wind field, the environment for particle air diffusion is complex, and the movement trajectory and deposition distribution of fertilizer are affected by many factors, resulting in large differences in the spreading. The flight height and speed have a great influence on particle movement and deposition, and a reasonable combination of work parameters can be used for efficient and high-quality particle deposition. In order to obtain better particle deposition distribution, this paper uses the method of a single flight line to test and analyze the characteristics of particle deposition distribution for fertilization using multi-rotor UAVs at different flight heights and speeds. The effective swath width and deposition uniformity obtained via the simulation of overlapped route superposition were used to optimized the appropriate work parameters to ensure that a reasonable and effective deposition amount can be obtained during actual application. The results show that the flight height and speed and the interaction of both have an important influence on the deposition amount and the effective width, but it is not a simple linear relationship. On the whole, as the flight height increases, the coefficient of variation decreases and the effective width increases, but it is not obvious when the speed is low. For the R20, when the flight speed is 2 m/s, the effective width first increases and then decreases with the increase in flight height, and the difference in the deposition amount at a height of 5 m is larger than that at other heights. Under the three working heights, the effective swath width is the same when the flight speed is 4 m/s and 6 m/s, and the effective swath width is also the same when the speed is 7 m and 9 m. For the T16, when the flight speed is 4 m/s, the deposition uniformity is relatively good, and the effective width increases with the increase in flight height. Therefore, the combination of 7–6 m/s and 9–4 m/s parameters will be the best operating parameters for R20 and T16. However, considering the actual dynamic meteorological environment in the field, the operating height can be appropriately lowered according to the influence of the crosswind during actual operation. The research results of this paper can provide scientific reference and suggestions for further improving the effect of UAV-based fertilization.

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“…Internationally, this technology has been developed for use in many crops e.g., wheat (Robertson et al, 2012), rice (Bakar et al, 2021) and maize (Lan et al, 2008, Sharma andIrmak 2020), but rarely in pastures (Hills et al, 2014;Corrêdo et al, 2019). In New Zealand, it has been developed for application of fertilisers to hill country pastures from aircraft (Morton et al, 2016, White et al, 2017Grafton et al, 2021) and is now being developed for ground spreading of urea on dairy farms (Wigley et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable-rate application of fertiliser – a new tool for farm system and environmental performance?

King

Pletnyakov²,

Taylor³

et al. 2022

Journal of NZ Grasslands

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Nitrogenous fertilisers – especially urea – are key inputs into many farming systems. With increasing restrictions on nitrogen fertiliser application, there is an urgent need to ensure that nitrogen is used effectively. One technology that has been developed to contribute to this challenge is variable-rate application (VRA) of fertiliser. The theory is that fertiliser is applied at higher rates where there is sufficient grass cover to utilise the fertiliser, and at lower rates where grass cover is reduced (or absent). This trial looked at the effect of VRA on pasture production on five farms over one season and estimated the impact of those changes on farm system metrics, including environmental performance. Averaged over all five farms, there was no statistically significant difference between VRA and blanket-rate application of fertiliser on pasture production. However, one farm did show a significant difference. Although the absolute difference was small, it suggested that VRA could be a useful tool in addressing the challenge of driving better farm performance with reduced environmental impact.

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Measuring the response of variable bulk solid fertiliser application by computer-controlled delivery from aircraft

Cited by 5 publications

References 10 publications

Single-Neuron PID UAV Variable Fertilizer Application Control System Based on a Weighted Coefficient Learning Correction

Single-Neuron PID UAV Variable Fertilizer Application Control System Based on a Weighted Coefficient Learning Correction

Particle Deposition Distribution of Multi-Rotor UAV-Based Fertilizer Spreader under Different Height and Speed Parameters

Variable-rate application of fertiliser – a new tool for farm system and environmental performance?

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