Analysis of Herbicide Incorporation by Tillage Tools Using Image Processing
Dowell, Floyd Ercell
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/70962
Description
Title
Analysis of Herbicide Incorporation by Tillage Tools Using Image Processing
Author(s)
Dowell, Floyd Ercell
Issue Date
1988
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Siemens, John C.
Bode, Loren E.
Department of Study
Agricultural Engineering
Discipline
Agricultural Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Agriculture, Agronomy
Engineering, Agricultural
Computer Science
Abstract
The effect of tool speed, sweep spacing, and sweep size on the incorporation of herbicides by a field cultivator was studied. A system was developed to quickly and accurately record the distribution of fluorescent dye, which represented the herbicide, after incorporation into the soil. The system involved spreading fluorescent dye coated granules on the soil surface and then incorporating the dye. Blacklights fluoresced a cross-section of the incorporation profile. A video camera recorded the profiles on video tape. The profiles were stored on computer using a computer vision system. Programs were written to transfer the profiles to the computer.
A quantitative procedure was developed to analyze the incorporation profiles. The procedure involved writing programs to find the total amount of dye in the cross-section, the mean depth of the dye, the centroid of the dye, the vertical and horizontal average amounts of dye, and plot the profiles. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov two sample statistical test was used to compare wave forms derived from the incorporation profiles.
Tool speeds of 6.4 km/hr, 9.6 km/hr, and 12.8 km/hr, a 15 cm wide sweep on 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm spacings, and a 23 cm wide sweep on 15 cm, 23 cm, and 30 cm spacings, were tested in a sandy loam and a silty loam soil. Windrowing, or non-uniform dye placement, was shown to occur at narrow sweep spacings and high tool speeds. Dye was placed deeper in the profile as tool speed was increased and as spacing was decreased. Previous recommendations were that high tool speeds and sweep spacings equal to the sweep width would most uniformly incorporate herbicides.
The conclusions reached in this research show that 23 cm wide sweeps, run at 6.4 km/hr, on 15 cm spacings should be used to minimize windrowing of incorporated herbicides.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
