Ultrasonic sensor-based automatic control volume sprayer for pesticides and growth regulators application in vineyards

A study was conducted to design a sensor-based control volume sprayer for vineyard cultivation. The study aimed to develop cluster-specific pesticide and growth regulator application systems with improved penetration and minimum off-target losses, thus saving chemicals and overall cost. For the dete...

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Main Authors: Dattatray G. Bhalekar, Roaf Ahmad Parray, Indra Mani, Harilal Kushwaha, Tapan Kumar Khura, Susheel Kumar Sarkar, Satish Devram Lande, M.K. Verma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-08-01
Series:Smart Agricultural Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277237552300062X
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author Dattatray G. Bhalekar
Roaf Ahmad Parray
Indra Mani
Harilal Kushwaha
Tapan Kumar Khura
Susheel Kumar Sarkar
Satish Devram Lande
M.K. Verma
author_facet Dattatray G. Bhalekar
Roaf Ahmad Parray
Indra Mani
Harilal Kushwaha
Tapan Kumar Khura
Susheel Kumar Sarkar
Satish Devram Lande
M.K. Verma
author_sort Dattatray G. Bhalekar
collection DOAJ
description A study was conducted to design a sensor-based control volume sprayer for vineyard cultivation. The study aimed to develop cluster-specific pesticide and growth regulator application systems with improved penetration and minimum off-target losses, thus saving chemicals and overall cost. For the determination of design values of the control volume unit, physical properties (cluster length, width, and level of compactness) of grape clusters from seventeen major genotypes selected from vineyard research farm ICAR-IARI New Delhi were studied. For the design of the grape cluster detection unit, two different types of sensors, i.e., ultrasonic sensor (HC SR-04) and infrared proximity sensor (B0115NCT4U), were evaluated for their ability to detect the target (grape cluster) and the response time. The design of the spraying unit for the control volume sprayer also involved selecting suitable nozzles and operational parameters. The developed sprayer was evaluated for application of plant growth hormone (Gibberellic acid), and the performance was assessed in terms of droplet size, chemical application per cluster, cluster and berry growth characteristics, sprayer application rate, uniformity coefficient, and application time. The data on the physical properties of grape clusters revealed a maximum cluster length and width of 24.00 ± 0.91 cm and 18.80 ± 0.15 cm, respectively. The ultrasonic sensor had a comparatively higher sensing range, beam angle, and lower price than the infrared sensor. The spray uniformity for the hollow cone and flat fan nozzle varied significantly for the operating pressure range of 2–4.5 kg.cm−2. The developed sprayer consisted of a 3D printed control volume unit, ultrasonic sensor, two flat fan nozzles, microcontroller (Atmega 328P), relay switch, voltage converter, spray tank of 16-liter capacity, and 12 VDC battery. In case of developed sensor-based control volume sprayer, 30% and 35.48% saving in chemical use and application time, respectively, were observed compared to the conventional dipping method. The PGR application method has significant interaction with cluster length and berry growth as the main effect; however, failed to show a significant interaction with cluster width. Maximum cluster growth (16.89 ± 1.72 mm) was observed in PGR application with a developed sprayer.
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spelling doaj.art-5706981b82874b24aaf5e8e7c40974ee2023-04-27T06:09:23ZengElsevierSmart Agricultural Technology2772-37552023-08-014100232Ultrasonic sensor-based automatic control volume sprayer for pesticides and growth regulators application in vineyardsDattatray G. Bhalekar0Roaf Ahmad Parray1Indra Mani2Harilal Kushwaha3Tapan Kumar Khura4Susheel Kumar Sarkar5Satish Devram Lande6M.K. Verma7Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USADivision of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, India; Corresponding author.Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, IndiaDivision of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, IndiaDivision of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, IndiaDivision of Design of Experiment, ICAR-IASRI, New Delhi, IndiaDivision of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, IndiaDivision of Fruits & Horticultural technology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, IndiaA study was conducted to design a sensor-based control volume sprayer for vineyard cultivation. The study aimed to develop cluster-specific pesticide and growth regulator application systems with improved penetration and minimum off-target losses, thus saving chemicals and overall cost. For the determination of design values of the control volume unit, physical properties (cluster length, width, and level of compactness) of grape clusters from seventeen major genotypes selected from vineyard research farm ICAR-IARI New Delhi were studied. For the design of the grape cluster detection unit, two different types of sensors, i.e., ultrasonic sensor (HC SR-04) and infrared proximity sensor (B0115NCT4U), were evaluated for their ability to detect the target (grape cluster) and the response time. The design of the spraying unit for the control volume sprayer also involved selecting suitable nozzles and operational parameters. The developed sprayer was evaluated for application of plant growth hormone (Gibberellic acid), and the performance was assessed in terms of droplet size, chemical application per cluster, cluster and berry growth characteristics, sprayer application rate, uniformity coefficient, and application time. The data on the physical properties of grape clusters revealed a maximum cluster length and width of 24.00 ± 0.91 cm and 18.80 ± 0.15 cm, respectively. The ultrasonic sensor had a comparatively higher sensing range, beam angle, and lower price than the infrared sensor. The spray uniformity for the hollow cone and flat fan nozzle varied significantly for the operating pressure range of 2–4.5 kg.cm−2. The developed sprayer consisted of a 3D printed control volume unit, ultrasonic sensor, two flat fan nozzles, microcontroller (Atmega 328P), relay switch, voltage converter, spray tank of 16-liter capacity, and 12 VDC battery. In case of developed sensor-based control volume sprayer, 30% and 35.48% saving in chemical use and application time, respectively, were observed compared to the conventional dipping method. The PGR application method has significant interaction with cluster length and berry growth as the main effect; however, failed to show a significant interaction with cluster width. Maximum cluster growth (16.89 ± 1.72 mm) was observed in PGR application with a developed sprayer.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277237552300062XUltrasonic sensorFlat fan nozzleControl volumeCluster compactnessOff-target lossesSpray uniformity
spellingShingle Dattatray G. Bhalekar
Roaf Ahmad Parray
Indra Mani
Harilal Kushwaha
Tapan Kumar Khura
Susheel Kumar Sarkar
Satish Devram Lande
M.K. Verma
Ultrasonic sensor-based automatic control volume sprayer for pesticides and growth regulators application in vineyards
Smart Agricultural Technology
Ultrasonic sensor
Flat fan nozzle
Control volume
Cluster compactness
Off-target losses
Spray uniformity
title Ultrasonic sensor-based automatic control volume sprayer for pesticides and growth regulators application in vineyards
title_full Ultrasonic sensor-based automatic control volume sprayer for pesticides and growth regulators application in vineyards
title_fullStr Ultrasonic sensor-based automatic control volume sprayer for pesticides and growth regulators application in vineyards
title_full_unstemmed Ultrasonic sensor-based automatic control volume sprayer for pesticides and growth regulators application in vineyards
title_short Ultrasonic sensor-based automatic control volume sprayer for pesticides and growth regulators application in vineyards
title_sort ultrasonic sensor based automatic control volume sprayer for pesticides and growth regulators application in vineyards
topic Ultrasonic sensor
Flat fan nozzle
Control volume
Cluster compactness
Off-target losses
Spray uniformity
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277237552300062X
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