A virtual spreader to overcome experimental limits: Example of use to deepen the meaning of the transverse coefficient of variation
Résumé
Nowadays, centrifugal spreading is the most used method to apply fertiliser in fields. Numerous
technical developments have improved spreaders to reach high precision applications.
Nevertheless, these developments have never taken into account the influence of the spreading
velocity variation on the shape of the spread pattern. However, practical examples show that speed
variations regularly happen in the field. For instance, high speeds applications require punctual
slowing down because of:
- Trees or posts;
- Slopes, hills;
- Field borders/ends.
Technical devices already exist to avoid the influence of the travel speed on the disc rotation speed
and on the application rate in fields but these devices do not counterbalance the spread pattern
changes that are due to spreader travel speed variations.
The present study characterizes and quantifies the impact of the spreading speed on the spatial
distribution of fertilizers and presents a correction method on the spreader. It also presents an
evaluation of the ecological performances of this proposed correction in various conditions. Finally it
presents the real implementation on a real spreader and its integration.