Design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees

This research study focuses on the design of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator which can measure the NPK status of soil and applies N, P and K nutrients simultaneously at separate variable rates around the oil palm trees in the form of aqueous solutions of straight fertilizers having single...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yamin, Muhammad, Wan Ismail, Wan Ishak, Abd Aziz, Samsuzana, Mohd Kassim, Muhamad Saufi, Akbar, Farah Naz, Ibrahim, Muhammad
Format: Article
Published: Springer 2022
_version_ 1825938455224385536
author Yamin, Muhammad
Wan Ismail, Wan Ishak
Abd Aziz, Samsuzana
Mohd Kassim, Muhamad Saufi
Akbar, Farah Naz
Ibrahim, Muhammad
author_facet Yamin, Muhammad
Wan Ismail, Wan Ishak
Abd Aziz, Samsuzana
Mohd Kassim, Muhamad Saufi
Akbar, Farah Naz
Ibrahim, Muhammad
author_sort Yamin, Muhammad
collection UPM
description This research study focuses on the design of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator which can measure the NPK status of soil and applies N, P and K nutrients simultaneously at separate variable rates around the oil palm trees in the form of aqueous solutions of straight fertilizers having single nutrient. A fertilizer flow control and spray system was designed to apply liquid fertilizer around the oil palm tree on a 5 m × 5 m (25 m2) area of most effective roots. On the basis of simulation and calculations, six 8006 flat fan nozzles were selected to maintain the adequate swath coverage of fertilizer spray. The nozzles 1–3 were mounted vertically on the horizontal boom to spray on the machine side of an oil palm tree, i.e. the side of an oil palm where the machine is passing through. Whereas nozzles 4–6 were fixed at − 22°, − 21° and − 20° angles with respect to the horizontal plane on a 45° angled boom to spray across the tree using trajectory method. An average simulated liquid velocity of 14.05 m/s from each nozzle was found to spray at 2.5 m distance across the tree using trajectory method. Thus an improved distribution of fertilizer around the tree at 25 m2 area of most effective roots can be achieved using this system. Mechanical structure of the applicator which carries all the equipment and fertilizer tanks was designed by using the finite element analysis. Minimum safety factors of 3.13 and 11.34 were found for mechanical structure and fertilizer tank assembly respectively which were satisfactory to bear the necessary loads during field operation.
first_indexed 2024-03-06T11:14:07Z
format Article
id upm.eprints-100900
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
last_indexed 2024-03-06T11:14:07Z
publishDate 2022
publisher Springer
record_format dspace
spelling upm.eprints-1009002023-07-14T04:02:06Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100900/ Design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees Yamin, Muhammad Wan Ismail, Wan Ishak Abd Aziz, Samsuzana Mohd Kassim, Muhamad Saufi Akbar, Farah Naz Ibrahim, Muhammad This research study focuses on the design of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator which can measure the NPK status of soil and applies N, P and K nutrients simultaneously at separate variable rates around the oil palm trees in the form of aqueous solutions of straight fertilizers having single nutrient. A fertilizer flow control and spray system was designed to apply liquid fertilizer around the oil palm tree on a 5 m × 5 m (25 m2) area of most effective roots. On the basis of simulation and calculations, six 8006 flat fan nozzles were selected to maintain the adequate swath coverage of fertilizer spray. The nozzles 1–3 were mounted vertically on the horizontal boom to spray on the machine side of an oil palm tree, i.e. the side of an oil palm where the machine is passing through. Whereas nozzles 4–6 were fixed at − 22°, − 21° and − 20° angles with respect to the horizontal plane on a 45° angled boom to spray across the tree using trajectory method. An average simulated liquid velocity of 14.05 m/s from each nozzle was found to spray at 2.5 m distance across the tree using trajectory method. Thus an improved distribution of fertilizer around the tree at 25 m2 area of most effective roots can be achieved using this system. Mechanical structure of the applicator which carries all the equipment and fertilizer tanks was designed by using the finite element analysis. Minimum safety factors of 3.13 and 11.34 were found for mechanical structure and fertilizer tank assembly respectively which were satisfactory to bear the necessary loads during field operation. Springer 2022-03-02 Article PeerReviewed Yamin, Muhammad and Wan Ismail, Wan Ishak and Abd Aziz, Samsuzana and Mohd Kassim, Muhamad Saufi and Akbar, Farah Naz and Ibrahim, Muhammad (2022) Design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees. Precision Agriculture, 23 (4). pp. 1413-1448. ISSN 1385-2256; ESSN: 1573-1618 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11119-022-09892-5 10.1007/s11119-022-09892-5
spellingShingle Yamin, Muhammad
Wan Ismail, Wan Ishak
Abd Aziz, Samsuzana
Mohd Kassim, Muhamad Saufi
Akbar, Farah Naz
Ibrahim, Muhammad
Design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees
title Design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees
title_full Design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees
title_fullStr Design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees
title_full_unstemmed Design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees
title_short Design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees
title_sort design considerations of variable rate liquid fertilizer applicator for mature oil palm trees
work_keys_str_mv AT yaminmuhammad designconsiderationsofvariablerateliquidfertilizerapplicatorformatureoilpalmtrees
AT wanismailwanishak designconsiderationsofvariablerateliquidfertilizerapplicatorformatureoilpalmtrees
AT abdazizsamsuzana designconsiderationsofvariablerateliquidfertilizerapplicatorformatureoilpalmtrees
AT mohdkassimmuhamadsaufi designconsiderationsofvariablerateliquidfertilizerapplicatorformatureoilpalmtrees
AT akbarfarahnaz designconsiderationsofvariablerateliquidfertilizerapplicatorformatureoilpalmtrees
AT ibrahimmuhammad designconsiderationsofvariablerateliquidfertilizerapplicatorformatureoilpalmtrees