A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM FOR HERBICIDE GRANULE INCORPORATION INTO SOIL WITH A DISCER

Abstract

In an effort to minimize the effect of wind on the placement of herbicide granules during simultaneous application-incorporation while seeding with a discer, a pneumatic conveying and dispersion system was designed, fabricated and tested. Nozzles designed for the system produced a uniform granule distribution pattern over a width of 300 mm. The system was mounted on a 2.8-m-wide discer for field evaluation. Field tests were conducted to determine the uniformity of incorporation at different soil depths under windy conditions. Bio-assay field trials were conducted over a period of 2 yr to evaluate crop injury and weed control with the pneumatic system. It was compared with other currently used methods of granular and liquid triallate application. The pneumatic system provided good weed control, no apparent crop injury and no reduction in crop yield. Key words: Pneumatic application, discer, herbicide granules