Design of automation system for direct drill machine with liquid fertilizer assembly for grain planting on stubble

In this study, an automation system was designed to measure and monitor the amount of liquid fertilizer used in a direct sowing machine with the ability to apply liquid fertilizer instead of granular fertilizer in the direct sowing machine which is used in the grain planting after the sunflower harvest in the Thrace Region. It has been determined that there is a need for an automation system since it will not be possible to detect the clogged nozzle during operation. With this designed automation system, it is aimed to detect clogged spray nozzles during liquid fertilizer spraying and to enable the tractor driver to monitor the amount of liquid fertilizer sprayed while spraying. In the designed system, flow sensors are mounted on the spray nozzles of the liquid fertilizer machine. A total of 30 measurements were taken from each flow sensor with 3 replications. Measuring cylinders were placed under each spray nozzle to measure the actual amount of liquid sprayed. The actual volume was found from the amount of liquid collected in the measuring cylinder, and the measured volume was found by the values obtained from the flow sensors. A regression analysis was made with the measurements taken from sensors and measured cylinders, and the calibration curve of the system was created in case of liquid fertilizer use. At the same time, the actual volume and the volume measured by the sensor were compared with the t-test and it was analyzed whether there was a statistically P<0,05 difference between the measurements. The automation system detects clogged fertilizing nozzles during liquid fertilizer spraying. A visual warning alerts the driver when the flow is zero at the spray nozzle. With this system, it allows the tractor driver to monitor the amount of fertilizer sprayed during fertilization application. As a result of the measurements, the volume measured by the sensor was slightly higher than the actual volume. The difference between the actual volume and the measured volume is minimum 0,0 liter and maximum 0,31 liter. The mean difference was calculated as 0,17 liters and the standard deviation as 0,08 liters. When the regression curve between the actual volume and the measured volume was examined, it was determined that there was a high linear relationship and the regression coefficient was calculated as R2= 0,947. At the same time, as a result of the independent two-way t-test, P = 0,012 (P<0,05), it was found that there was no statistical difference between the two measurements.