Development of a tractor mounted site-specific herbicide applicator for sugarcane fields | |
| Author | Ratana Tangwongkit |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.AE-06-07 |
| Subject(s) | Sugarcane--Weed control Tractors |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctoral of Philosophy in Agricultural Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation ; no. AE-06-07 |
| Abstract | A tractor mounted site-specific, real-time herbicide applicator was developed for variable rate herbicide application between sugarcane rows. Using the software, based machine vision system, picture frames captured by the web camera were processed and the quantified greenness level due to weeds was used to actuate the controllers of a sprayer pump system. The pulse width modulation (PWM) drive motor speed control was based on the percentage of greenness to vary the application flow rate by adjusting the duty level of PWM motor. The developed software could be reprogrammed and the threshold levels could be adjusted according to the user preference. At five operating speeds tested, the prototype could spray on green targets almost correctly. The error of green color output from image processing was about 0.31% at SD ±0.25. The application flow rate accuracy was about 91.7%. The herbicide applicator was tested in two field conditions: a variable rate application system and traditional uniform application rate. Field tests revealed that the working speed, field capacity and field efficiency of traditional application was higher than variable rate system while fuel consumption was less for variable rate system. Herbicide used was depended on application rate, working speed and field capacity. The traditional application rate was maximum (2.78 L/min or 407.07 L/ha) at field capacity and working speed of 0.41 ha/h and 1.13 m/s respectively. For variable rate test, the field capacity and working speed were 0.33 ha/h and 0.77 m/s respectively. The average application rates were 2.00, 1.90, 1.80, 1.70 and 1.60 L/min, depending on speed of operation. At these application rates, herbicide used were 363.64, 345.45, 327.27, 309.09 and 290.91 L/ha. This was equivalent to herbicide saving of 10.67, 15.14, 19.6, 24.07 and 28.54% respectively, as compared to spraying by traditional method |
| Year | 2006 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. AE-06-07 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Salokhe, V. M.;Jayasuriya, H. P. W; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Manukid Panichkun; |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006 |