RAMPs in SBNM In-Service Training Stillwater, OK January 18-19, 2007

Ramp Program  586 farmer’s fields have had Ramp Calibration Strips placed in them

Documenting Impact  Each RCS has an associated contact person who will collect sensor data. complete the data sheet.  We know many of the fields have or will be receiving N soon.

RCS Applicator Components

We constructed a sprayer with sets of 4 StreamJet nozzles from TeeJet per location. Nozzles are spaced on 24 inch centers. The four nozzles are an 01, 02, 04, and 08. We are using a design pressure of 40 psi.

Nozzle Control RCS Starts RCS Ends GPM flow rates are for 28% fertilizer solution. Each step lasts approximately 10 feet.

Standard Industry Components Can we build a ramp applicator with these?

Potential Road Blocks  Flow Limitations Orifice metering is pressure limited Quadruple the pressure to double the flow  Potential Solutions VariTarget TM Nozzles Synchro PWM Variable Rate TurboDrop ®

VariTarget TM Nozzle Variable Orifice

VariTarget TM Nozzle - Operation

VeriTarget TM Flow Data They claim a 10x flow rate change with a 6.7x pressure change. Data collected by OSU BAE students seem similar to mfg. data.

VeriTarget TM Nozzle Flow Flow data from three individual VeriTarget TM nozzles collected by OSU BAE students.

Should be released soon. Double the pressure, double the flow rate.

Synchro Nozzles  Independent Flow Control (1-8X)  Independent Drop Size Control

Synchro Controller Components

How it Works  Uses high speed solenoid valves to regulate flow  Varies application rate with duty cycle, independent of pressure

What is Pulse Width?  Type of control system  Modulates a DC square wave signal

Spatial Information

GreenSeeker Data  Measuring NDVI directly over the row with four sensors and between the rows with three sensors  Collected data from research plots and farmers’ fields on multiple dates

Estimating Canopy Closure

NDVI by Initial N Applied Significant Difference

Ramp Task List 1.Read ramp strips/Save file 2.Process data 3.Record information on data sheet 4.Mail copy of data sheet to me 5.Download saved data files and to me

Ramps in 2007  Limited ramps in corn, cotton  Some interest in bermuda, grazing  Plans for wheat ??

Wrap Up  We need to collect quality data from Ramp Calibration Strips  We need an ‘easier to build’ applicator Randy Taylor 111 Ag Hall Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK voice fax