Mobile Helical Capacitive Sensor for the Dynamic Identification of Obstructions in the Distribution of Solid Mineral Fertilizers

Abstract

Modern agriculture uses techniques and technologies that have provided farmers with increased yield and a possible reduction in costs. Optimizing the use of inputs by applying exact and accurate doses, which match the real needs of the soil, in addition to supplying the necessary nutrients for the correct development of the crops, enables a reduction in costs and environmental impacts caused by the incorrect use of products such as fertilizers and pesticides. With this background, this paper presents a study on the development of a capacitive sensor to identify the absence, presence or variations in the distribution of solid mineral fertilizers. To evaluate this sensor, eight different formulations were tested in distribution analysis with an overflow dosing mechanism, both statically and dynamically, with 2% maximum moisture variation between all samples. The identification of an absence or presence of fertilizers was successful in 100% of the experiments. Tests to identify variations in the fertilizer distribution were carried out through simulated obstruction. The sensor identified a reduction in the fertilizer flow in all experiments, obtaining numeric variations above 55%. In the fertilizer formulation identification test, only the formulations 02-28-20 and 06-21-12 in experiments carried out with the overflow dosing mechanism did not differ statistically one from another, while all other formulations presented a statistically significant difference in the ANOVA analysis and the Tukey test at 5% significance.

Development of test bench to determine the distribution of granular fertilizers in planting rows using spiral roller, two spiral rollers and fluted roller

“…In contrast, variable rate technology allows streamlining fertilizer application and utilization, which is essential for modern precision agriculture sit [ 3 ]. The distribution of GFs depends mainly on the quality of dispensing systems, which are affected by external factors sit [ 4 ]. sit [ 5 ] developed mathematical models to measure application rates of granulated fertilizers at different dosing mechanisms (single helical), as well as speed and longitudinal and transverse slopes.…”

Characterization of the Transverse Distribution of Fertilizer in Coffee Plantations

“…The effectiveness of management operations and agricultural inputs application affects the coffee yield and the quality of the final product, which is directly related to the return on investment [2,3]. Thus, optimizing the use of inputs by applying exact and accurate doses that match the real needs of the soil results in better crop development, reduced costs and reduced environmental impacts caused by the incorrect use of products, such as fertilizers and pesticides [4].…”

Rapid assessment of fertilizers manufacturing methods by means of a novel waveguide vector spectrometer

“…The interaction of the electromagnetic wave gives a unique response by tracing the matrix in all its complexity, as a function of stored and lost energy. Dielectric properties are affected by the composition of samples and temperature (Dalacort and Stevan, 2018). Within the microwave frequency the main contribution to the loss spectra comes from ion conductivity and dipole polarization (Castro-Giráldez et al, 2010).…”

“…For rapid monitoring of regular bulk distribution, formulation and moisture content of fertilizers, a device based on the LMC555 oscillator integrate circuit was developed by using a mobile helical capacitive sensor, designed according to the dielectric properties of water-soluble fertilizers. An optical sensor was adapted to count the axis rotations per minute and to adjust the axis rotation to simulate the same distribution speed in the field (Dalacort and Stevan, 2018). The dielectric constant (ε′) and the dielectric loss (ε′′) have been measured at 8 and 10 GHz, at room temperature on black soil with the addition of chemical fertilizers.…”

“…In particular, granulated fertilizers are more expensive than blended ones. Moreover, fertilizers differ also for their agronomical characteristics, since granulated fertilizers can be homogeneously spread in the soil, while the distribution of blended fertilizers might result in an aggregation of particles and in the end nutrients may not be evenly distributed in the soil (Dalacort and Stevan, 2018). A rapid technique to identify which production methods was used to make fertilizers +could be very useful.…”