Evaluation of a Prototype Variable Rate Sprayer for Spot-Specific - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Evaluation of a Prototype Variable Rate Sprayer for Spot-Specific Application of Agrochemicals in Wild Blueberry Authors: Q. Zaman, T. Esau, A. Schumann, D. Percival, S. Read Nova Scotia 10 th International Conference Precision Agriculture Agricultural Meeting July , 2010 College

Background – Wild Blueberry • Only grow in Eastern North America • Unlike high bush cultivated blueberries, wild blueberries grow naturally. • Wild blueberries spread by rhizomes under the soil. • Grow on a two-year cycle. (one vegetative growth, and the other a fruit year) www.fruitandveggie.com

Wild Blueberry Fields Need to be Managed Site-Specifically Grasses and Weeds Soil and crop variability Bare spots: 30%-50% of total field area Site Site-specific Technology Can: specific Technology Can:  Reduce agrochemical use Reduce agrochemical use  Increase farm profitability Increase farm profitability  Decrease environmental pollution Decrease environmental pollution

Cost-Effective Prototype Variable Rate Sprayer Boom width = 20ft Boom sections = 8 @ 2.5ft spacing Boom height = 30in Each section = 1 ultrasonic/nozzle 8-channel computerized controller DJ Land Manager II controller

Determining Mechanical Delay Time Canon FS100 digital camcorder Bulb

Delay in Real-Time

Video Frames Analysis

Video - VR Sprayer Testing in Hay Field

Variable Rate Sprayer Field Test (Goldenrod)

Video Clip - Uniform

Video Clip - Variable Rate

Water Sensitive Papers Coverage Results Uniform Variable Rate

Relationship Between Weed Height and Area Coverage of the Target (Goldenrod) Track 1 Track 2 variable uniform 100 R 2 = 0.66 Uniform R 2 = 0.75 100 Variable Uniform Variable Uniform R 2 = 0.77 R 2 = 0.83 80 Variable 80 Area coverage (%) 60 60 40 40 20 20 0 0 50 55 60 65 70 50 55 60 65 70 Weed height (cm^2) Weed height (cm^2)

Determine Sprayer Accuracy by Mapping Tall Weed Coverage (GPS) Real-Time Kinematic DGPS Base Station

Comparison of Weed and Spray maps using RTK-GPS

VR Sprayer Evaluation in a Wild Blueberry Field Consisting of Fern, Grass, and Dogbane

Weeds and Spray Maps

Weeds and Spray Maps

Relationship Between Weed Height and Coverage Area of the Target (Fern, Grass, and Dogbane) Track 2 Track 1 Paper area sprayed (%) 100 Variable Variable, y = -1.9885x + 159.34 (Variable) y = -2.6131x + 186.2 100 paper sprayed area (%) Variable R 2 = 0.66 R 2 = 0.60 Uniform Uniform 80 80 (Uniform) y = -3.3065x + 228.49 Uniform, y = -1.651x + 139.79 R 2 = 0.75 R 2 = 0.66 60 60 40 40 20 20 0 0 50 55 60 65 70 50 55 60 65 70 Weed height (cm^2) Weed height (cm^2)

Chemical Saving with Spot-Application 180 180 Variable (L/ha) Uniform (L/ha) 160 160 Weed area (%) VR Saving (%) 140 140 120 120 Percent 100 100 L/ha 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 0 0 Track 1 Track 2 Test Tracks

Conclusions • VR sprayer could be used for in-season spot application of agrochemicals in wild blueberry cropping systems to significantly reduce the amount of agrochemical usage • Offers a huge cost saving for farmers • Accurate. • Environmentally friendly

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Nova Scotia Agricultural College

QUESTIONS?