Performance of furrow closers for deep placement fertilizer applicators

Date

1983

Abstract

A soil bin study was conducted to evaluate the sealing performance and draft of four furrow closers for deep placement of fertilizer. The furrow closers evaluated were the plain skid, inverted U, staggered V and staggered V with rear press plate. Factors studied affecting the furrow closers? performance were soil water regime (submerged and drained), settling days after puddling (5, 10 and 15) and the normal pressure exerted by the skid on the soil (0.646, 0.969 and 1.292 kPa) when closing furrows. Sealing effectiveness was expressed as the flow rate of collared liquid in a buried tube having 1.6 mm ID x 3.2 mm OD under a pressure head of 10 cm. Lower flow rate therefore corresponds to better sealing effectiveness. Results indicated that sealing effectiveness, draft and drag coefficient were significantly affected by settling days after puddling, normal pressure exerted on the soil surface by the skid and by the geometry of the furrow closer. The presence of water on the soil surface was also recognized as an important factor that influenced draft. The results also indicated that the staggered V and the staggered V with rear press plate sealed the furrow opening more effectively but required relatively higher draft. All the furrow closers when evaluated under submerged soil condition resulted in better sealing effectiveness when the soil was settle for 10 and 15 days after puddling and when the skid exerted a pressure of 0.969 kPa on the soil surface. Draft and drag coefficient were not significantly different under this condition. Soil settled for 5 DAP and with a skid pressure of 0.646 kPa required the least draft. However, for the drained soil condition, better sealing effectiveness was attained when the soil was settles 5 days after puddling and when the skid exerted a pressure of 1.292 kPa on the soil surface, Soil settles for 15 DAP and with a skid pressure of 1.292 kPa required the highest draft.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 1983 A2 S26

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