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Precautions on the Use of Anhydrous Ammonia Applicators in Research Plots 1
Author(s) -
Moraghan J. T.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1980.00021962007200010030x
Subject(s) - anhydrous , manifold (fluid mechanics) , blade (archaeology) , distribution uniformity , body orifice , volumetric flow rate , flow (mathematics) , distribution (mathematics) , fertilizer , work (physics) , ammonia , materials science , mathematics , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , mechanics , environmental science , mechanical engineering , composite material , engineering , chromatography , geometry , physics , mathematical analysis , organic chemistry
Use of anhydrous NH 3 presents certain difficulties not encountered in research involving solid fertilizers. Little information is available concerning the problem of obtaining uniformity of distribution of anhydrous NH 3 among injection blades of applicators used in field‐research studies. The influence of orifice size, and flow‐equalizer manifold sleeves on distribution of different NH 3 flows from a pressure‐regulator device (John Blue Nitrolator) by a radial manifold was investigated. The work was done with four and seven‐blade applicators with blade spacings of 76 and 30.5 cm, respectively, by collecting released NH 3 in water. Variability in distribution was affected by choice of manifold outlet, orifice size, and NH 3 ‐flow rates. Particularly high variability was generally encountered with excessively low, <0.35 kg/ cm 2 , and excessively high, >3.5 kg/cm 2 , manifold pressures. Optimal performance for commonly used fertilizer rates was obtained with 0.635 and 0.119‐cm orifices for the four and seven‐blade units, respectively. Uniform spacing of manifold outlets around a radial manifold was efficacious. Some problems commonly encountered when using anhydrous NH 3 in experimental work are described and discussed. Researchers using anhydrous NH 3 should calibrate applicators for both total quantity of NH 3 applied per unit area and uniformity of distribution among injection units.