DirectInjection Spraying

1
Direct-Injection Spraying

• Glen Rains
• Assistant Professor
• Coastal Plain Experiment Station
• Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept.
• University of Georgia

2
Conventional Spraying and Direct Injection
3
Applications Map
4
Direct-Injection
5
Variable rate system
6
Direct-Injection Advantages

• Time
• Fewer Field Passes
• No chemical mixing
• Money
• Less wasted material
• Time
• Higher crop production
• Environment
• variable rate applies only chemical needed
• No discarding of un-used mixed chemicals
• Reduced exposure of farmer to toxic chemicals
• Precision Agriculture

7
Direct-Injection Characteristics

• Lag-Time (Lag-Distance)
• All systems have lag-time
• Lag-time is a function of the volume of chemical
  from the injection point to the nozzle and the
  rate the fluid is being delivered (unless
  predictive software used)
• Lag-Distance Calculation
• Determine feet traveled to cover one acre with
  boom width used
• Feet/acre 1/(boom width)43560
• Multiply by the application of carrier and
  chemical per acre
• Feet/gallon feet/acre1/(gal/acre)
• Multiply feet/gallon by the volume of fluid in
  the lines from the injection point to the
  farthest nozzle
• Feet feet/gallon(gallons in line from
  injection to nozzle)

8
Direct-Injection Characteristics

• Reducing Lag-Time
• Reduce volume from injection point to nozzle
• Predictive software
• Calibration
• Flow meter and metering pump
• Viscosity
• Flow rate accuracy
• Range of flow rate
• Low-flow accuracy

9
Precision Agriculture Applications of
Direct-InjectionA management strategy that
brings precise information and information
gathering technology to bear on decisions
associated with agricultural production to
increase profits and reduce environmental impact
-Scouting -Yield Monitor -Aerial Photo -Soil
Sample
10
Summary

• Direct-Injection can save time, money, and the
  environment
• Be aware of lag-time and additional maintenance
  requirements
• Direct-injection is a technology tool that can be
  used in the implementation of management
  decisions for precision agriculture