Proposed methodology for evaluation of automatic controller of boom sections and spray

Na aplicação de produtos fitossanitários, a utilização de equipamentos que controlam automaticamente as seções da barra e a pulverização já é realidade; entretanto, ainda não há resultados que demonstrem a sua eficácia. Por esse motivo, este trabalho teve por finalidade desenvolver uma metodologia para a avaliação de um equipamento que controla automaticamente as seções e a pulverização. Avaliou-se um controlador automático de seções e pulverização de mercado, e, para tanto, foram utilizados três níveis de acurácia do sinal de GPS (algoritmo interno, SBAS e RTK), três ângulos para a simulação de entrada e saída da barra de pulverização em relação à borda do talhão (0; 45 e 60º ) e três velocidades de trabalho (1,66; 5,00 e 8,33 m s-1). A metodologia proposta possibilitou a determinação dos tempos e distâncias de abertura e fechamento das seções. Os coeficientes de variação para os tempos e distâncias de abertura e fechamento das seções indicaram uma variação considerável. Houve interações significativas em função do tipo de sinal de GPS. A configuração recomendada pelo fabricante e adotada para a avaliação do controlador automático de seções e pulverização não atende a todas as situações simuladas.In the application of pesticides, the use of equipment that automatically controls the sections of the boom and the spray is already reality. However, there are no results to show its effectiveness. Therefore, this work was to develop a methodology for the evaluation of equipments which automatically controls the boom sections and the spraying pattern. A commercial automatic controller of boom spraying sections was evaluated using three levels of GPS accuracy (internal algorithm, SBAS and RTK), three angles for the simulation of entry and exit of the spray bar on field edges (0, 45 and 60 º ) and three forward speeds (1.66, 5.00 and 8.33 m s-1). The proposed methodology allowed the determination of opening and closing times of the electric valves. The coefficients of variation indicated a considerable variation. There were significant interactions depending on the type of GPS signal used. The manufacturer recommended configuration, used for the evaluation of the automatic boom sections and spraying controller, does not attended all the simulated situations

Performance of spray nozzles to control fusarium head blight and mycotoxin in the barley crop

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the performance of spray nozzles to control fusarium head blight (FHB) and mycotoxins in barley grains. The barley cultivar used in the test was ‘BRS Aliansa’, with a density of 300 plants m-2. Fungicide applications were performed using a mechanized set formed by a sprayer (Jacto, model Falcon Vortex) and a tractor (Massey Ferguson, Model 283). The spray volume used was 150 L ha-1. The nozzles used were single fan, single fan with air induction, hollow cone and double fan. The assay was performed in strips, totaling an area of 350 m2 and the variables yield and concentration of mycotoxin in the grains were determined along the strips. The data were submitted to descriptive statistics; the results were compared by F test and the means were compared by Dunnett test, both at a minimum significance level of 0.05. The nozzle TurboDrop TD02 caused reduction of 9.18% in the mycotoxin concentrations in barley grains. There was significant difference in yield when specific control was performed for FHB and improved quality of the product

Vertical and horizontal oscillation of three models of self-propelled boom sprayers

ABSTRACT The spray boom is one of the sprayer components that most affect the application quality and may cause phytotoxicity and overlay application problems. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the displacement in the vertical and horizontal movements of the spray booms in three models of self-propelled boom sprayers. The vibrations of the spray boom in the vertical direction was measured using three receivers (GNSS) with RTK differential correction. The vibration measurements in the horizontal direction were determined using a high resolution camera. At the end, the processed data were entered into a spreadsheet for the descriptive statistics. The smallest spray boom movement in the horizontal direction was obtained by the specimen 2. No statistical differences were observed between the different speeds for the spray boom vibration in the horizontal and vertical directions, in the evaluated sprayers. The largest vertical movements of the spray booms were observed for the self-propelled specimen 3. The impact/collision route type showed the highest deviations and, in undulating and gentle to undulating types, there was no significant difference in deviation values