Effects of the application system on the physical and mechanical properties of mineral fertilizers

Abstract

Mineral fertilizers have a pivotal role in contemporary agricultural production, especially when seeking to exploit the full biological potential of crops. This paper presents the results of a three-year experiment on the distribution uniformity of different mineral fertilizer application systems. One of the objectives in this study was to define the physical and mechanical properties of four different types of mineral fertilizers and examine their changes during storage, transportation and application. A total of four fertilizers were taken into account: UREA, CAN, MAP and NP. The main physical properties, i.e. particle size, particle size distribution, friction coefficient, angle of repose and particle resistance, were analyzed on samples collected from the storage, the trailer (prior to application) and the field (after application). The results obtained show that fertilizers with a particle size distribution of 3.3 to 4.75 mm exhibit higher values of the angle of repose, friction and resistance. The lowest value of the angle of friction (17.53 0 ) was observed in the UREA fertilizer after application, whereas the highest angle of friction (24.37 0 ) was measured in the MAP fertilizer obtained from the storage. The values of the static repose angle varied depending on the fertilizer type and the place of sampling (storage, trailer or field). The lowest value of the static repose angle (30.34 0 ) was measured in the MAP fertilizer after application, whereas the highest static repose angle (36.91 0 ) was measured in the NP fertilizer from the storage. The NP fertilizer exhibited the highest value of the dynamic friction angle, whereas the lowest value of the dynamic friction angle was calculated for the UREA fertilizer. The NP fertilizer particles showed the highest resistance, whereas the UREA fertilizer particles were most susceptible to breakage. REZIME Sаvremenа poljoprivrednа proizvodnjа se ne može zаmisliti bez primene đubrivа, posebno sа аspektа boljeg korišćenjа biološkog potencijаlа rodnosti gajenih biljаkа. U radu je prikazan deo rezultata trogodišnjih ispitivanja tehničko-tehnološkog sistema aplikacije mineralnih đubriva različitim tipovima centrifugalnih rasipača. Jedan od ciljeva istraživanja bio je i određivаnje fizičkomehаničkih osobinа rаzličitih tipova minerаlnih đubrivа, njihovih promena tokom samog procesa aplikacije i njihovog uticaja na kvalitet same aplikacije. U istraživanje su uključena četiri tipa mineralnih đubriva i to UREA, KAN, MAP i NP.Dobijeni rezultati tokom ispitivanja fizičko-mehaničkih osobina primenjivanih mineralnih đubriva pokazuju da đubriva koja imaju najveći procenat granula prečnika između 3,3 mm i 4,75 mm imaju najveće uglove trenja i nasipanja, kao i dobru otpornost prema lomu granule. Vrednosti ugla trenja su značajno varirale u zavisnosti od tipa đubriva i mesta uzorkovanja. Najniža vrednost, 17,53 o je zabeležena kod UREE nakon aplikacije a najviša, 24,37 o kod đubriva MAP iz skladišta na imanju. Vrednosti statičkog ugla nasipanja su takođe statistički značajno va...

Determination of Properties of Loose and Granulated Organic Fertilizers and Qualitative Assessment of Fertilizer Spreading

“…According to Gavrilovic et al, it is necessary to pay attention to the physical and mechanical properties of mineral fertilizers, as they affect the uniformity and the overall quality of fertilization. The authors argue that these properties affect storage, transportation, and outdoor use [30]. Based on the data from these studies on mineral fertilizers, it can be assumed that the physical and mechanical properties of organic fertilizers also affect the spread of the fertilizer.…”

“…Pallets of organic meat and bone meal-cattle manure compost granules were purchased and delivered to the fields for testing, as they were not prepared by the team of researchers. The granulated manure and the pallets with the organic meat and bone meal fertilizer were transported, stored, and spread on the soil according to the recommendations of the manufacturer [30]. Lime and manure were used in a consistency similar to that of conventional fertilization and soil improvement on farms.…”

Theoretical and Experimental Verification of Organic Granular Fertilizer Spreading

“…The dynamics of fertilizer particle spreading are influenced by fixed and variable technical specifications of the spreader (rotational speed and position of the rotating discs, position of the disc blades, size of the discharge opening, the location where each particle falls on the rotating disc, the exhaust flow of the fertilizer, the travel speed, and the working width of the machine) and the physicomechanical properties of the fertilizer (coefficient of friction, shape, size, size distribution, moisture content, and density) [14][15][16][17]. According to Gavrilovic et al [18], it is necessary to pay attention to the physical and mechanical properties of the fertilizer, as they affect the uniformity and the overall quality of the fertilization.…”