A Study on the Time Lag and Compensation of a Variable-Rate Fertilizer Applicator

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52
Author(s):  
Jinqin Zhang ◽  
Gang Liu ◽  
Jiayun Huang ◽  
Yaohui Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Control Function ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Lag Time ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Compensation Method ◽  
Rate Change ◽  
List Type ◽  
Variable Rate

HighlightsA lag time detection system for variable-rate fertilization was developed.The lag time of a variable-rate fertilizer applicator was obtained and analyzed.A sigmoid equation was fitted to the data of rate change transition tests.The planar coordinates-based lag distance compensation method (LDCM) could reduce the lag distance effectively.Abstract. The location accuracy of fertilizer application is an essential aspect of the performance of variable-rate fertilizer applicators. The lag time of the fertilization system is an important cause of fertilizer rate transition lags. In order to obtain the lag time and make proper corrections, we developed a lag time detection system for a fluted roller-based variable-rate fertilizer applicator, taking into account the distance between the on-tractor GNSS antenna and the applicator furrow openers, and applied a planar coordinates-based lag distance compensation method (LDCM) to reduce the lag distance. To verify the performance of the LDCM, we conducted fertilization tests with and without LDCM at tractor forward speeds of 3.8, 5.5, and 8 km/h. First, the lag time detection sensors were installed on the fertilizer applicator, and the lag times were measured. Then, the corrected relative position coordinates of the fertilizer outlets were calculated according to the real-time speed and position data from the GNSS receiver. By implementing the control function of the applicator, the fertilization lags were corrected. A sigmoid equation was fitted to the rate change transition data. The results showed that for rate changes from 200 to 325 kg/ha, the delay distances were reduced from 1.10 to -0.84 m (at V = 3.8 km/h), from 1.97 to 0.09 m (at V = 5.5 km/h), and from 6.38 to 0.80 m (at V = 8 km/h). As a result, the LDCM can efficiently decrease lag distances of the variable-rate fertilizer applicator and meet the requirements of accurate fertilization in precision agriculture. Keywords: Fertilization lag, Lag distance compensation, Lag time, Variable-rate fertilization.

scholarly journals Precision for Smallholder Farmers: A Small-Scale-Tailored Variable Rate Fertilizer Application Kit

Agriculture ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelle Van Loon ◽  
Alicia Speratti ◽  
Louis Gabarra ◽  
Bram Govaerts
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
User Friendliness ◽  
The Right

Precision agriculture technology at the hands of smallholder farmers in the developing world is often deemed far-fetched. Low-resource farmers, however, are the most susceptible to negative changes in the environment. Providing these farmers with the right tools to mitigate adversity and to gain greater control of the production process could unlock their potential and support rural communities to meet the increasing global food demand. In this study, a real-time variable rate fertilizer application system was developed and tested as an add-on kit to conventional farm machinery. In the context of low investment costs for smallholder farmers, high user-friendliness and easy installment were the main concerns for the system to be viable. The system used nitrogen (N)-sensors to assess the plant nutrient status on the spot and subsequently adjust the amount of fertilizer deposited according to the plant’s needs. Test bench trials showed that the add-on kit performed well with basic operations, but more precision is required. Variability between N-sensors and metering systems, combined with power fluctuations, created inaccuracies in the resulting application rate. Nevertheless, this work is a stepping stone towards catalyzing the elaboration of more cutting-edge precision solutions to support small-scale farmers to become successful, high producing agro-entrepreneurs.

scholarly journals FARMER PERCEPTIONS OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY BENEFITS

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
NATHANAEL M. THOMPSON ◽  
COURTNEY BIR ◽  
DAVID A. WIDMAR ◽  
JAMES R. MINTERT
Keyword(s):  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Farmer Perceptions ◽  
Best Worst Scaling ◽  
Adoption Decisions ◽  
Technology Benefits ◽  
Yield Monitoring

AbstractThe objective of this research was to evaluate producers’ perspectives of four key precision agriculture technologies (variable rate fertilizer application, precision soil sampling, guidance and autosteer, and yield monitoring) in terms of the benefits they provide to their farms (increased yield, reduced production costs, and increased convenience) using a best-worst scaling choice experiment. Results indicate that farmers’ perceptions of the benefits derived from various precision agriculture technologies are heterogeneous. To better understand farmers’ adoption decisions, or lack thereof, it is important to first understand their perceptions of the benefits precision agriculture technologies provide.

scholarly journals Variable-Rate Application on Fertilizer Use in Cotton Production

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Nathanael M. Thompson ◽  
James A. Larson ◽  
Margarita Velandia ◽  
Dayton M. Lambert ◽  
Burton C. English
Keyword(s):  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Cotton Production ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Fertilizer Use ◽  
The Face ◽  
Input Prices

Precision agriculture technologies are increasingly important in cotton production because input prices continue to rise. Farmers increase input efficiency using precision agriculture technologies by adjusting inputs to match soil fertility and plant nutrition requirements. This research examines the factors affecting changes in fertilizer use following variable-rate fertilizer application in cotton production. Data from a 2009 survey of cotton producers in 12 states of the United States were used in the analysis. Farmers who used precision soil sampling, planted larger cotton area, relied on other farmers for information about PA, grew picker cotton, and had higher household income were more likely to decrease fertilizer application with VRT. Results from this analysis are useful to farmers and policy makers interested in reducing fertilizer use in the face of rising fertilizer prices and growing concerns about the environmental impacts of farming.

scholarly journals Precise Placement and Variable Rate Fertilizer Application Technologies for Horticultural Crops

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold W. Schumann
Keyword(s):  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Uniform Field ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Uptake Efficiency ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
Florida Citrus

Fertilizer spreaders capable of variable rate application are increasingly important for enhancing nutrient management in horticultural crops because they improve placement and increase nutrient uptake efficiency. Matching applied fertilizer to fertilizer requirements represents a significant input cost saving for the grower and a reduction in potential pollutant loading to ground and surface water. Variable rate fertilization (VRF) is a precision agriculture technology made possible by embedded high-speed computers, accurate Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, yield or soil maps, actuators, and electronic sensors capable of measuring and even forecasting crop properties in real time. For tree crops like Florida citrus (Citrus spp.), the most important function of the VRF spreader is to detect and avoid fertilizing spaces of the orchard not occupied by trees. Treeless spaces are becoming more common in Florida as diseases such as citrus greening (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus) and canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis) cause the removal of thousands of trees every year. VRF works best under those conditions. Because VRF exploits crop and soil variability, it has no value in a perfectly uniform field. VRF enables smaller trees including resets to be fertilized at lower, most appropriate rates, thus minimizing any excess application. This article examines the existing knowledge on using precision agriculture and variable rate technology to keep water and nutrients in the root zone of horticultural crops, thus facilitating maximum uptake efficiency.

scholarly journals GPS and Sensor Based Technologies in Variable Rate Fertilizer Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sai Mohan
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Grid Points

With an average consumption of 165.8 kg per hectare, India stands as the third-largest producer and consumer of fertilizer in the world. Farmers practice traditional methods to apply fertilizers uniformly throughout the field. This uniform and constant rate application of fertilizer is inefficient and mostly leads to over-fertilizing certain areas and at the same time, under-fertilizing others, not meeting the actual nutrient demand. Variable-rate fertilizer application (VRFA) is the process of applying various rates of crop nutrients by synchronizing existing machinery with mechatronics according to the variability within any agricultural field. One such effort are to be made to develop VRFA systems to meet the soil and plant needs. A variable rate fertilizer application (VRFA) system based on a digital map was developed in Kharagpur and achieved an appreciable target application rate at selected grid points (Chandel et al., 2016). The system was effective, accurate and showed quick response to target application rates with a negligible time lag. The coefficient of variation at all the outlets was in the range of 11.7–15.0 percent. The system was able to meet the target fertilizer application rate with a variation of up to 15 percent for a grid resolution of 8×8 m. Another VRFA system was developed for controlling the amount of fertilizer that works by measuring the NDVI of crops using an optical sensor (Zhang et al. 2014). This type of VRFA system does not use prescription maps but relies on sensors to provide real-time crop detection. The coefficient of variation was ranging from 0.35 to 2.67 percent and elapsed a response time of less than 0.875 s. The system helps in maintaining desired application rate by making real-time adjustments with on-the-go monitoring. It is revealed that the use of VRFA system helped to improve input use efficiency and decrease the negative effect on the environment. Thus, it is a promising technology through which the performance of a unit area could be tracked, mapped and analyzed. Also, the farmer will be able to know the exact production of each part of the field.

scholarly journals A novel GPU based intrusion detection system using deep autoencoder with Fruitfly optimization

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sekhar ◽  
K. Sasirekha ◽  
P. S. Raja ◽  
K. Thangavel
Keyword(s):  
Intrusion Detection ◽  
Intrusion Detection System ◽  
Missing Values ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Radial Basis Function Network ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Parameter Method ◽  
List Type ◽  
Fuzzy C Means

Abstract Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) have received more attention to safeguarding the vital information in a network system of an organization. Generally, the hackers are easily entering into a secured network through loopholes and smart attacks. In such situation, predicting attacks from normal packets is tedious, much challenging, time consuming and highly technical. As a result, different algorithms with varying learning and training capacity have been explored in the literature. However, the existing Intrusion Detection methods could not meet the desired performance requirements. Hence, this work proposes a new Intrusion Detection technique using Deep Autoencoder with Fruitfly Optimization. Initially, missing values in the dataset have been imputed with the Fuzzy C-Means Rough Parameter (FCMRP) algorithm which handles the imprecision in datasets with the exploit of fuzzy and rough sets while preserving crucial information. Then, robust features are extracted from Autoencoder with multiple hidden layers. Finally, the obtained features are fed to Back Propagation Neural Network (BPN) to classify the attacks. Furthermore, the neurons in the hidden layers of Deep Autoencoder are optimized with population based Fruitfly Optimization algorithm. Experiments have been conducted on NSL_KDD and UNSW-NB15 dataset. The computational results of the proposed intrusion detection system using deep autoencoder with BPN are compared with Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Radial Basis Function Network (RBFN), BPN, and Autoencoder with Softmax. Article Highlights A hybridized model using Deep Autoencoder with Fruitfly Optimization is introduced to classify the attacks. Missing values have been imputed with the Fuzzy C-Means Rough Parameter method. The discriminate features are extracted using Deep Autoencoder with more hidden layers.

scholarly journals A Path Model of the Intention to Adopt Variable Rate Irrigation in Northeast Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1879
Author(s):  
Maurizio Canavari ◽  
Marco Medici ◽  
Rungsaran Wongprawmas ◽  
Vilma Xhakollari ◽  
Silvia Russo
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Intention To Adopt ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

Irrigated agriculture determines large blue water withdrawals, and it is considered a key intervention area to reach sustainable development objectives. Precision agriculture technologies have the potential to mitigate water resource depletion that often characterises conventional agricultural approaches. This study investigates the factors influencing farmers’ intentions to adopt variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology. The Technology Acceptance Model 3 (TAM-3) was employed as a theoretical framework to design a survey to identify the factors influencing farmers’ decision-making process when adopting VRI. Data were gathered through quantitative face-to-face interviews with a sample of 138 fruit and grapevine producers from the Northeast of Italy (Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia). Data were analysed using partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM). The results highlight that personal attitudes, such as perceived usefulness and subjective norm, positively influence the intention to adopt VRI. Additionally, the perceived ease of use positively affects intention, but it is moderated by subject experience.

Nozzles for Variable Rate Fertilizer Application

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geetika Dilawari ◽  
Randal K Taylor ◽  
John B Solie ◽  
Praveen Bennur
Keyword(s):  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Variable Rate
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