Parameter Optimization of Newly Developed Self-Propelled Variable Height Crop Sprayer Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) Approach

Fraz Ahmad Khan, Abdul Ghafoor, Muhammad Azam Khan, Muhammad Umer Chattha and Farzaneh Khorsandi Kouhanestani
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Fraz Ahmad Khan: Department of Farm Machinery and Power, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Abdul Ghafoor: Department of Farm Machinery and Power, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Muhammad Azam Khan: Department of Farm Machinery and Power, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Muhammad Umer Chattha: Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Farzaneh Khorsandi Kouhanestani: Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: The number of spray deposits plays an important role in effective and efficient spraying. The spraying equipment is one of the most significant factors that affect the number of spray deposits. Therefore, the study was focused on the parameter optimization of a newly developed self-propelled variable height crop sprayer. Response surface methodology (RSM) along with Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to study the effect of the independent variables (forward speed, spray height, and spray pressure) on response variables such as droplet density, coverage per-centage, and Volume Median Diameter (VMD). The experiment was conducted in the cotton field. Additionally, the RSM model was validated in this research. The results revealed that the coefficient of determination (R2) values was good for all response variables in the quadratic polynomial model. The optimized parameters were 6.5 km/h, 60 cm, 4 bar for fungicide application, and 8 km/h, 70 cm, 3 bar for insecticide and herbicide application. The predicted response variable values at the optimal conditions were 60.4 droplet/cm 2 , 27%, 230 µm for fungicides and 37.8 droplet/cm 2 , 19.1%, 225.4 µm for insecticide and herbicides application. The model validation is confirmed by the mean of actual response variable values at the optimal condition for insecticide and herbicides application, which was 41.35 ± 3.67 droplet/cm 2 , 21.10 ± 1.72%, 227.43 ± 1.22 µm, and the prediction error was 8.46%, 9.2%, and 0.9% for droplet density, coverage percentage, and VMD, respectively. This study can provide support for further optimizing the parameters of the sprayer.

Keywords: self-propelled sprayer; response surface methodology; forward speed; spray height; spray pressure; droplet density; coverage percentage; VMD (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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