Automated dibble fertilizer applicator for lettuce transplanter (Part 2): Refinements and field performance
2014
Nguyen Van, N. (Shizuoka Prefectural Research Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, Iwata city, Shizuoka (Japan)) | Yamane, S. | Mochizuki, S.
In this succeeding study, some refinements were made to develop the second prototype of a dibble fertilizer applicator (DFA2) to improve its delivering ability and field traveling performance. In addition, field tests were carried out to assess the performance of the DFA2 under different field conditions and to determine whether the growth and yield of winter head lettuce can be improved using the DFA2, in comparison to conventional broadcast fertilizer application. By optimizing component weights and locations, the weight of the DFA2 was reduced by half, from 30 kg to 15 kg, improving the field performance of the Chidorisan lettuce transplanter mounted with the applicator. The test results indicated that the DFA2 could accurately deliver coated fertilizer without residues within the discharge tube and that the reductions in the working rate and battery discharge time of Chidorisan when transplanting lettuce with dibble dressing were limited to 10 % and 8 %, respectively, in comparison to conventional transplantation. In addition, there is considerable potential for the use of starter fertilizer as part of an overall broadcast fertilizer to enable winter lettuce growers to increase profitability through increased marketable yields.
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