Pendant for applying liquid fertilizer

Fertilizing cover nitrogen

A Fertilization can contribute to maintaining and increasing productivity in crops agricultural. The practice is carried out to supplement the natural availability of nutrients in the soil, meet the demand of agricultural crops with high yield potential, compensate for nutrient losses to the environment, or improve soil conditions for agricultural production. Currently, the mechanized operation of top dressing in corn crops is commonly carried out by the total area application method, using a distribution of solid granular fertilizer by broadcast. The conventional operation of broadcast coverage fertilization has limitations such as distribution does not uniformity throughout the crop (quality of the operation), the deposition of fertilizer on the leaves (phytotoxicity problems), and application in an area total (less absorption efficiency by the roots).

Proposed solution

A proposed alternative to improve the management of fertilizer operations nitrogen cover on crops is to implement a process of applying liquid fertilizer associated with the equipment used to spray pesticides. The application strategy can aggregate on one machine two processes carried out in different stages (spraying and fertilization via liquid). In liquid fertilizer application mode, the main difference is at the end of the application. While the pesticide spraying operation agriculture is directed to the plant canopy, in top dressing fertilization, the jet Liquid fertilizer can be directed into bands on the soil, close to the base of the plant. cultivation line, area that covers the root bulb region.

Technology developed

To make the operation viable, a liquid fertilizer application pendant was designed and manufactured to directed jet distribution on both sides of the cultivation rows, This ensures that the fertilizer is applied close to the roots, facilitating the process of infiltration into the soil and the absorption of nutrients for plants. The pendants are mounted on the spray bar using the “nozzle holders”. The pendant allows application with greater proximity to the soil, representing an advantage for directing the fertilizer jet liquid to the base of the plants (Figure 1). The pendant for applying liquid fertilizer has a cover for quick attachment to the nozzle holder and another cover for the application tip; rubber rings for sealing; a pipe rubber to extend the application close to the ground; a winding of wire to maintain the vertical alignment and flexibility of the pendant; in addition to hydraulic connections between components. The technology “pendant to the application of liquid fertilizer” was registered in a patent deposit with to the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). Details can be consulted based on the registration number BR 10 2021 011618 8 in the INPI patent search area (https://www.gov.br/inpi/pt-br).

The set (nozzle holder + pendant + tip application) must be placed in the center between the rows of the corn crop (Figure 2). The application tip is equipped with two exit holes that divert the fluid close to the base of the crop plants. For Therefore, the distance of the pendant tip in relation to the ground is a sufficient height so that the jet is applied close to the base of the plants. The holes project the jet at an angle of 60º. Maintaining the angle is necessary to that the jets reach a distance of approximately 50 mm from the base of the plants. Maintaining a distance between the fertilizer application and the lines cultivation, prevents the jet from being directed towards the leaves or stem of the corn.

You pendants for the application of liquid fertilizer were made and tested (Figure 3). In general, relatively simple assembly can represent an advantage for the adoption of the system by farmers. Another advantage is that assembly does not change the structure of the spraying machine. A change is related to the form of application, which requires a liquid fertilizer, with low level of suspended solids, with nutrient concentration enough to fertilize the crop. Furthermore, special attention should be applied to cleaning the machine after applying liquid fertilizer. The components of the hydraulic circuit (filters, pipes, reservoir, pump, valves, ...) must be washed with water.

Assessment of the application method

Tests were conducted in a commercial corn farm, in the municipality of Marumbi - PR (Figure 4). In preparing the fertilizer mixture, the proportion of 1 kg of urea (granulated solid) for every 2 liters of water. solid urea granulated was added to water in a premix tank. In that reservoir, the syrup was stirred for approximately 3 to 5 minutes, until total dilution of the urea mixture in the syrup. The final product of the dilution resulted in a concentration of 0,36 kg of urea per liter of syrup, resulting in 0,16 kg of N per liter from the composition of urea with 45% Nitrogen. After the dilution process, the product was transferred to the sprayer mounted on the tractor's three hitching points. Altogether, the tests were conducted to survey the flow rate through the tips of the pendants and the general coefficient of variation of the application. Therefore, the collections were carried out with the aid of a test tube (application volume) and a timer (collection time interval).

In between of the sixteen pendants evaluated, the average flow was 1,43 L min-1 (Figure 5). The variation in flow demonstrated by the upper and lower limits of quality were associated with the loss of pressure through the application. In general, the flow through the pendants was greater in the center and lower at the ends. After the general characterization of the average flow applied in the working rotation (1600 rpm), the operation was developed in corn farming under a speed of 6 km h-1. In this condition, the fertilizer rate applied was 51 kg of N ha-1 (113 kg of urea ha-1).