Recipient Organization
LATITUDE-AG, LLC
117 N MAIN ST
HUMBOLDT,SD 57035
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Latitude-Ag has developed an aftermarket add-on to field sprayers that can potentially enable more precise chemical application in standard spray systems. The purpose of the research is to validate that the product and its patented technology can enable a field sprayer to more precisely apply chemicals.The research will test a prototype to determine if it is able to overcome two common issues found in standard systems by sampling the contents of the spray at various simulated speeds and stages in the spraying process.If proven, the aftermarket add-on will reduce the amount of wasted chemicals in the spraying process and will also more accurately apply chemicals to the field thereby conserving natural resources and saving applicators time and money.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
100%
Goals / Objectives
Goal:The central goal of the proposed research is to validate that the innovative design of the Merlin Injection-Cleanout (IC) System and its patented Section Recirculation Valve (also known as the SRV2 Valve) enables existing field boom sprayers to more precisely mix and accurately apply crop protection chemicals.Objectives:To reach the stated goal, two factors must be measured to determine precise mixing and application. The first objective is to measure lag time, and the second objective is to measure mixture uniformity. Lag time is defined as the duration for the proper chemical mixture to reach the spray nozzles, and mixture uniformity is defined as the consistency of chemical concentration across different nozzles at various locations on the section.Each of the main objectives has its own subobjectives:i. Measure lag timea. Determine lag time after chemical rate changesb. Determine lag time upon start-upii. Measure mixture uniformityi. Determine mixture uniformityii. Determine mixture uniformity when chemical rate increases
Project Methods
Latitude Ag is collaborating with Dr. Zhu, an Agricultural Engineer and Lead Scientist at the USDA-ARS lab to conduct validation testing. The Application Technology Research Unit in Wooster, Ohio has experienced researchers and well-equipped facilities required to test sprayer performance.Latitude-Ag will send a MerlinIC prototype to Dr. Zhu for testing. Lag time and mixture uniformity on the prototype will be tested and measured as a function of time with a turntable sampling system developed in Dr. Zhu's previous research.The turntable will rotate at a constant speed. Changes of chemical concentrations in the carrier will be controlled by changing PWM valve duty cycles in the Merlin IC System, mimicking travel speed changes in the range of zero to twenty miles per hour. The experiment procedure and measurements will be controlled with two modules connected to a programmed portable computer.To test the lag time, the researchers will increase or decrease the rate or start up the system. When the concentration of the mixture is changing, spray samples will be collected using the diverting tray that is mounted between the nozzle and sample bottles. A solenoid, controlled by a computer, will move the tray under the nozzle. The turntable and Merlin IC controllers will be synchronized by the computer. Samples will be collected both before and after the concentration changes. During testing, there will be a cone-shaped polyglass pipe connected to the bottom of the nozzle to ensure the entire spray sample is funneled into the bottle.Fluorescence will be continuously measured with a flow-through sensor, and lag time will be calculated by observing the concentration and the number of bottles that pass under the nozzle. The researchers will use the turntable speed and the distance between the bottles to determine the time interval between bottles.To measure the effect of rate changes on mixture uniformity, the researchers will increase the rate, and after the lag time has been achieved, collections will be taken from all nozzles into 8.5 oz graduated cylinders. Concentrations will be determined with a fluorescence sensor and compared against the programmed rate to determine if the proper blend was achieved.Because handling herbicides and pesticides can be unsafe, the measurements will be taken with liquids that mimic the chemicals. Since pesticides vary in viscosity, the measurements will be taken with a range of viscous fluids mimicking different pesticides. Tap water, Prime Oil, Prime Oil II, and Silicone Oil will be used to simulate pesticides of various viscosities. Fluorescent tracers will be mixed into the test materials, and a fluorescence detector will be used to measure the concentrations. Mix ratios will be validated with a fluorometer, quantifying the emitted fluorescence and enabling precise measurements.