• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 1996.06c
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• pp.519-527
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• 1996

Most operation related to the application granular agrochemicals in korea are manual and labour consuming. As a multipurpose granular applicator, a pneumatic granular applicator that can be attached to conventional ride -on machines for paddy field was designed in this study. Experiments and simulations were carried out for determine in the design factors with one fertilizer (DongBu 21-17-17) and one pesticide (SamKong Ivi). The maximum terminal velocity of granular chemicals was estimated as 14.2m/s. A better distribution pattern was obtained at the diffuser having only deflectors without dividing guides. The diffuser spacing 1.0m for the fertilizer and the diffuser spacing 0.8m for the pesticide at the boom height over 0.80m were acceptable for the uniform distribution. In the case that the forward speed of ride-on machines was 0.7m/s, the groove opening and the roller speed of the selected metering device were13mm -15mm at 2 rps for the fertilizer, and 9 mm-11mm at 0.25rps or the pesticide. This study suggested a method of developing a pneumatic applicator for granular agrochemicals.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 1997

This study was accomplished to develop a pneumatic granular applicator that can be attached to the conventional ride-on rice transplanter. Operating conditions of a metering device for the applicator were determined so as to obtain the required discharge rate of granules for field application. The shape and size of diffuser was selected for the applicator and the spacing between diffusers on a boom and the boom height were determined as an optimal application condition for uniform distribution. The diffuser spacing of 1m for the fertilizer and the diffuser spacing of 0.8m for the pesticide at the boom height over 0.8m were acceptable.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.31 no.5 s.118
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• pp.389-394
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• 2006

The characteristic of moisture absorption of granular fertilizer was measured at several different opening sizes on the top cover of a hopper in a humid weather. The size of the opening was to represent the degree of looseness of sealing of the top cover of the hopper. The application distribution was characterized by the scattering distance of granular fertilizer with different degree of moisture absorption in a pneumatic granular fertilizer applicator. The moisture absorption rates were 12.92 and 12.26 mg of moisture an hour for one gram of each granular fertilizers of NPK 22-12-12 and 21-17-17, respectively. The moisture absorption increased linearly as the opening size increased. The median value of the scattering distance distribution decreased with time of absorption, however, it decreased very slowly after three hours of absorption.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.383-388
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• 2007

In precision farming, proper calibration and operation of a variable rate machine are critical to reduce input of agrochemicals and to ensure productivity and quality of agricultural products. As an effort to introduce precision farming to rice production in Korea, a pneumatic granular applicator was developed. This investigation intended to evaluate the application performance such as application accuracy, application uniformity and to suggest how to adjust the blow-heads to get uniform application pattern, and to suggest a practical way of adjustment of the blow-heads for uniform application. Tests to evaluate the application performance were conducted. The application uniformities (CV) in both transverse direction and longitudinal direction were less than 15% and application accuracy was greater than 81%. A simple method for adjusting the inserting length of blow-heads was suggested.