Row-Targeted Fluid Applicators for Precise Rhizosphere Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid applicators face challenges in precisely applying fertilizers, chemicals, or other fluid applications between rows of agricultural plants, particularly in controlling the application to target regions such as the rhizosphere, root ball, or crown of the plants.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of application units with flexible members and plant contacting mechanisms that adjust the orientation of fluid outlets based on plant proximity, ensuring precise application to the rhizosphere or base regions of plants, using feelers, linkage members, and biasing elements to maintain equidistance from plant rows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional sprayers and sidedress bars are used for fluid application between rows, then coverage area is increased, but application precision to target regions (rhizosphere, root ball, crown) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The implement is divided into multiple independent row units, each with its own application member positioned between individual rows of plants. This segmentation allows precise targeting of specific plant rows and their root zones without affecting adjacent rows, resolving the contradiction between application precision and coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
Each application member is specifically designed to deliver fluid applications to localized target regions (rhizosphere, root ball, crown) of individual plants. The system transitions from uniform broad coverage to differentiated local application, where each row unit applies fluid only to its designated target zone, improving precision while maintaining overall field coverage through multiple distributed units.
2Measurement precision
If application members are positioned close to plant rows for precise application, then application precision improves, but risk of plant contact and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The application members are mounted on adjustable and movable mechanisms that allow dynamic positioning relative to the plant rows. The system can adapt its position based on row spacing variations and plant growth stages, maintaining optimal application precision while avoiding plant contact through real-time positional adjustment rather than fixed close positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that allow the application members to automatically detect plant positions and adjust their own positioning to achieve precise application without manual intervention. This self-adjusting capability enables the system to maintain safe distances from plants while ensuring accurate fluid delivery to target zones.
3Device complexity
If multiple row units are served by a single fluid source, then system complexity is reduced, but fluid application control for different rows deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery system is segmented into multiple independent circuits, with each row unit having its own fluid conduit and application member. This segmentation enables independent control of fluid application for each row, allowing different application rates, timings, and patterns for different rows while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design and standardized components.
Data Source
AI summary
Implements and applicators provide for placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, a fluid applicator for applying fluids to plants in rows in a field includes a base disposed between adjacent rows of plants, and at least one application member connected to the base and disposed to apply fluid to a rhizosphere of a row of the plants.