Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Automation of Pesticide
Application Systems
10
Manoj Karkee, Brian Steward,
and John Kruckeberg
CONTENTS
10.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 263
10.2 Fundamental Requirements for Chemical Application Systems.................. 267
10.2.1 Correct Application Rate .................................................................. 267
10.2.2 Uniform Deposition .......................................................................... 269
10.2.3 Limited Off-Target Application or Drift........................................... 270
10.2.4 Health and Safety of Operators ........................................................ 270
10.3 Automation of Chemical Application Systems............................................. 271
10.3.1 Background....................................................................................... 271
10.3.2 Rate Controllers ................................................................................ 272
10.3.2.1 Rate Control ....................................................................... 273
10.3.2.2 Chemical Injection............................................................. 273
10.3.3 Nozzle/Droplet Size Control............................................................. 274
10.3.4 Section Control ................................................................................. 275
10.3.5 Boom/Tower Control ........................................................................ 276
10.4 Recent Advancement in Automation of Chemical Application Systems ..... 277
10.4.1 Variable Rate Application................................................................. 278
10.4.2 Controllers for VRA ......................................................................... 279
10.4.3 Selective Application ........................................................................ 280
10.4.4 Robotic Application .......................................................................... 281
10.4.5 Sensors for Advanced Application Systems ..................................... 281
10.4.6 Auto-Guidance and Autonomous Operation .................................... 284
10.5 Current Situation and Future Direction ........................................................ 284
References .............................................................................................................. 287
10.1 INTRODUCTION
The use of chemicals for pest control began in the early b.c. era, with the Sumerians
and Romans using various poisons to control rodents in crops. The widespread use of
chemicals to control various types of pests in agricultural fields in the United States
began shortly after World War II, both a cause and an effect of a post-war agricul-
tural boom. In 1959, one farmer could feed 50 persons, whereas in 2000, more than
100 people could be fed by a single farmer, partly because of the increased use of
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