Selection of the optimal system of differentiated fertilizer application and the laboratory research results in Northern Kazakhstan

Abstract

The paper presents the analysis of systems for differentiated fertilization and the results of laboratory tests of subsurface fertilizer cultivator. The technology of the differentiated fertilizer application (DFA) is one of the priority areas in precision agriculture. The purpose of the research is to select the most effective DFA system for subsurface fertilizer cultivators applied in the northern regions of Kazakhstan and to test the design and technological scheme of pneumatic transport. The optimal system of differentiated application of fertilizers was chosen according to the generalized desirability function, the main difficulty was to create a sign that quantitatively determines the functioning of the object under study. To construct a multiple optimization parameter the idea of converting the natural values of specific object parameters into an unbounded scale was used. The obtained information on systems of differentiated fertilization was processed using standard methods of comparison, analysis, and synthesis. The results of laboratory tests were processed using methods of mathematical statistics. Based on the research results, according to the generalized desirability function the system «Agronavigator-Dozator» was chosen, which consists of a navigation system «Agronavigator Plus», GLONASS/GPS antenna, actuators, connecting cables and control panel for remote activation of the "Processing" mode. According to the laboratory tests, the functionality of the pneumatic transport system for mineral fertilizer granules and the dosing device was tested. The structural and technological scheme of pneumatic transport includes a fan driven by a hydraulic motor, airflow distributor, connecting pipelines and ejector funnels. It is established that in the range of fan revolutions from 2100 to 2700 rpm stable transportation of granules is provided without blockage of pipelines and ejector funnels, airflow speed in pipelines is provided in the range from 13 to 25 m/s. The deviation of the actual fertilizer dosage from the target was 2.1-5.0 %.