Adaptation of a conventional sprayer for site-specific chemical application.

Author(s)

Julio Cesar Dalla Mora Esquerdo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba. , ilustrações.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2002-03-07

Examining board members

Luiz Antonio Balastreire; Ulisses Rocha Antuniassi; Walter Francisco Molina Junior

• Advisor: Luiz Antonio Balastreire
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering
• Indexed in: Banco de Dados Bibliográficos da USP-DEDALUS; Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações - USP
• Location: Universidade de São Paulo. Biblioteca Central da Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; ESALQ-BC/t632.94; E77a; 78852

Abstract

Agrochemicals constitute a great part of the total cost of inputs used in the crops production. The high consumption of agrochemicals reduces the profitability and increases the risks of environmental contaminations. One of the alternatives that have been proposed to reduce the amount of chemicals used in the crop production is the site-specific management, using the Precision Agriculture’s concepts. Machines used for site-specific application of liquid agrochemicals using variable rates and products are already in the market; however, its high initial cost and operational capacity make its acquisition unfeasible for small farms. In this work, a conventional sprayer was adapted with solenoid valves to allow the site-specific application using the "on/off" strategy, and a fixed rate. A computer program was developed to control each solenoid valve installed at the two sections of the boom, according to the information of a prescription map, containing the position of the points where the application should be done. A DGPS was connected to the system to inform the tractor’s position in the field. The system was tested in a real condition of weed control. The perimeter of the weed patches was previously georeferenced. The results showed that the developed system was able to achieve the patch application using fixed rates, resulting in a significant economy of herbicides, when compared with the conventional treatment, over the total area. (AU)