Capability of ground fertiliser placement when spread from fixed wing aircraft

Authors

  • S.E. Chok
  • M.C.E. Grafton
  • I.J. Yule
  • M.J. Manning

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33584/rps.16.2016.3230

Abstract

Aerial topdressing using differential rate application technology improves fertiliser spreading on hill country farms. However, the system's ability to place fertiliser accurately and precisely within an area needs to be determined. Accuracy was determined by comparing measured and intended application rates. Precision was indicated by the coefficient of variation (CV), which is the standard deviation of the measured application rate over the mean of this rate. Two trials were carried out, where aircraft deposited fertiliser at two application rates and fertiliser was captured using cone-shaped collectors. The average measured application rate for both trials was less than the intended rate. The CV ranged from 35 to 57%, and was lower than CV's from pilot-operated hopper systems (78%). A one-way analysis of variance test found the difference between measured application rate in the high and low application zone was statistically significant. The results indicate work is required to improve the accuracy and precision of the differential rate system, however, the system shows promise. Keywords: differential rate application technology, aerial spreading, fertiliser placement

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Published

2016-01-01

How to Cite

Chok, S., Grafton, M., Yule, I., & Manning, M. (2016). Capability of ground fertiliser placement when spread from fixed wing aircraft. NZGA: Research and Practice Series, 16, 191–195. https://doi.org/10.33584/rps.16.2016.3230

Issue

Vol. 16 (2016): Hill Country Symposium

Section

Past volumes

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Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Rights granted to the New Zealand Grassland Association through this agreement are non-exclusive. You are free to publish the work(s) elsewhere and no ownership is assumed by the NZGA when storing or curating an electronic version of the work(s). The author(s) will receive no monetary return from the Association for the use of material contained in the manuscript. If I am one of several co-authors, I hereby confirm that I am authorized by my co-authors to grant this Licence as their agent on their behalf. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes the rights to supply the article in electronic and online forms and systems.