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Development and Evaluation of a Prototype Self-Propelled Crop Sprayer for Agricultural Sustainability in Small Farms

Author

Listed:
  • Abdul Ghafoor

    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

  • Fraz Ahmad Khan

    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
    Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Farzaneh Khorsandi

    (Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Muhammad Azam Khan

    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

  • Hafiz Muhammad Nauman

    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Usman Farid

    (Department of Structures & Environmental Engineering, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

Abstract

In most Asian countries, farmers have smallholdings ranging from one to two hectares. The tractor-mounted boom sprayers cannot practically be used in small size farms with divided plots and complex terrain. To cope with these issues, a prototype self-propelled crop sprayer was developed, including a 20-hp engine, 300 L liquid tank, and hydraulically-controlled spray boom with eight hollow cone nozzles. The spray symmetry of the hollow cone nozzle was evaluated under four pressures (2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 bar) in the laboratory. The operating parameters of the sprayer, such as forward speed (4, 6, and 8 km h −1 ), spray height (40, 55, and 70 cm), and pressure (3, 5, and 7 bar) were optimized by measuring three spray characteristics including droplet density, coverage percentage, and Volume Median Diameter (VMD) in the cotton field. The results revealed that the nozzle spray was symmetrical at 2.5 and 3 bar pressure as the R 2 value was higher than 0.96. The field test result showed that in all treatments, treatments T14 (6 km h −1 , 55 cm, 5 bar) and T22 (8 km h −1 , 55 cm, 3 bar) were suitable for spraying medium-to-low concentration solution (post-emergence herbicides and fungicides) and high concentration solution (insecticides and pre-emergence herbicides), respectively. The spray characteristics at treatments T14 and T22 were 64.7 droplets cm −2 , 26.7%, 230 µm, and 39 droplets cm −2 , 14.9%, and 219.8 µm respectively. The field efficiency of the sprayer was 61%. The spraying cost per unit area was 55–64% less compared to manual labor cost. In conclusion, a prototype self-propelled crop sprayer is an efficient and environment-friendly technology for small farms. Operating the sprayer at the optimal parameters also saves operational costs and time.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdul Ghafoor & Fraz Ahmad Khan & Farzaneh Khorsandi & Muhammad Azam Khan & Hafiz Muhammad Nauman & Muhammad Usman Farid, 2022. "Development and Evaluation of a Prototype Self-Propelled Crop Sprayer for Agricultural Sustainability in Small Farms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-22, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9204-:d:872983
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Akbar Zaidi, S., 2015. "Issues in Pakistan's Economy: A Political Economy Perspective," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, edition 3, number 9780199401833.
    2. Ovidiu Ranta & Ovidiu Marian & Mircea Valentin Muntean & Adrian Molnar & Alexandru Bogdan Ghețe & Valentin Crișan & Sorin Stănilă & Tibor Rittner, 2021. "Quality Analysis of Some Spray Parameters When Performing Treatments in Vineyards in Order to Reduce Environment Pollution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Shenggen Fan & Connie Chan‐Kang, 2005. "Is small beautiful? Farm size, productivity, and poverty in Asian agriculture," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 32(s1), pages 135-146, January.
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