Automatic Control of Chemical Application Rate With Soil Organic Matter and Travel Speed as Inputs (Microprocessor, Digital Control)

Effective and efficient control of agricultural chemical application rate will allow a reduction in the use of pesticides for proper pest control with less environmental contamination. A microprocessor based sprayer control system was developed to regulate chemical application rate according to the soil organic matter content and sprayer ground speed. Bypass nozzles were used to maintain uniform spray characteristics over a wide range of flow rates. The application rate was controlled by regulating the pressure of the bypass line with a pressure relief valve controlled by a step motor. The major functions of the controller were to monitor the soil organic matter content and sprayer ground speed, to determine the desired application rate, and to regulate the pressure relief valve to control the nozzle flow rate. The control system also recognized abnormal operating parameters and gave appropriate warning signals.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Han, Young Jo

• Engineering, Agricultural

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8610933

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/70959