Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – With mobile tank-type supply means – Spray boom or bar type distributor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-26
2003-09-23
Mar, Michael (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
With mobile tank-type supply means
Spray boom or bar type distributor
C239S076000, C239S172000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06622939
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to improvements in the precise application of liquid fertilizers and pesticides on agricultural fields at very low flow rates and at normal flow rates. Site specific, variable rate application is improved. The present dual stage manifold invention is an improvement over the type of single stage NH3 accumulator manifold shown in my pending patent, Ser. No. 09/173,442 filed Oct. 14,1998. This new invention is effective with all types of liquid fertilizers including NH3 and pesticides.
2. Description of Prior Art
NH3 or anhydrous ammonia is the basic building block for all commercial fertilizers used in the United States. Urea, Ammonium Nitrate, Ammonium Phosphate, Calcium Nitrate, URAN, Aqua Ammonia, Ammonium Sulfate, and Ammonium Phosphate Sulfate are all produced with the base stock, Anhydrous Ammonia. 80% of the U.S. domestic consumption of NH3 was used for fertilizer. The U.S. also imports ammonia with a net import reliance of 20% (USGS, Nitrogen Fixed—Ammonia).
NH3 is priced at about ½ the cost of the liquid and dry sources of nitrogen. Utilizing NH3 as the primary source of nitrogen results in the lowest cost of production historically. The 20 -year average has been 6 to 8 cents per pound of Nitrogen less than Urea. An average savings of 6 to 8 dollars per acre in the northern Great Plains (NDSU Extension, Urea Price Drop, Franzen).
Approximately 85% of the NH3 is consumed in the Midwestern cornbelt at 4,000,000 tons annually. The Pacific states consume about 220,000 tons annually.
Nitrogen based liquid fertilizers have recently come under tough scrutiny by the EPA. Nitrate levels in rivers and streams can be traced to over application and misuse of the nitrogen input (See USGS, National Water Quality Assessment Program). Drinking water in Midwestern states is severely contaminated with nitrate levels up to 25 times above the national recommended maximum level. Some states such as Iowa have been quite active in reducing the applied rates of nitrogen fertilizer to improve the environment and provide better economic returns for farmers (See the enclosed documents, Environmental Working Group, Pouring It On, Solving the Nitrate Problem. February 1996).
New techniques for applying nitrogen to improve the environment and the economic returns for farmers are being implemented by industry leaders (see Dealer & Applicator, December 1998, page 18,19). Global positioning, variable rate, site-specific application is being practiced with varying results. A field map of a variable rate, site-specific application of nitrogen has rates that vary from 20 lbs. N/acre to 200 lbs. N/acre (See Hunt Brothers Field Map, Fall 1998, Blakinsville, Ill. enclosed). Scientists at the USDA-ARS (see Site-Specific Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer for Maize Production) have determined no benefits from variable rate, site-specific application. The application equipment presently utilized in these tests is not accurate or exact causing erroneous results.
The result of using poor application equipment is shown in a report by Alfred Blackmer of Iowa State University (See Successful Farming, September 97, Streaks Define Misapplication of N, Rich Fee, Crops and Soils Editor). Yield reductions occur in corn because N bands are placed on 30-inch spacing. Thus the growing crop can be starving over a width of five feet and the next adjoining five-foot strip can easily have two times more applied N than required.
Over the years the solution for many agronomists was to simply raise the applied N rate until the field reached Maximum Economic Yield (MEY). Since the applied nitrogen bands have as much as a four times applied rate variance between shanks it has become an opportunity to improve liquid fertilizer application. With precise accurate application of applied nitrogen less applied N is required to reach a new yield threshold. Maximum Economic Yield (MEY) is improved due to application equipment that has exact port to port accuracy, target timing, and a field rate reduction of applied N.
The lowest cost form of N is NH3. The material is applied on a wide expanse of acres in the United Sates, estimated to be as high as 100 million acres per year. A 10% reduction in its use would save 200 million dollars per year. A yield increase of just 5 bushels would result in an increase of farm revenues of 1 billion dollars per year. Reaching top efficiency of nitrogen application could result in cost savings to the environment of billions of dollars. Low commodity prices seldom represent the true cost of production to consumers.
Agricultural crop production is sometimes regarded as a form of mining, taking nutrients from the soil in short rotations. This means nutrients must be added back with elements mined from deep natural gas wells, phosphate and potash ores and even metal mines for zinc. The mystery is how to add back the basic nutrients without damaging the quality of the surface water or the water wells.
As the conundrum of proper NPK input evolves it has become apparent the application machinery can be improved substantially. New techniques such as variable rate, site specific, satellite referenced (GPS) input application are being implemented (See Fertilizer Management for Today's Tillage Systems, Potash and Phosphate Institute, Atlanta, Ga.).
An area of special concern is the actually measured accuracy of the nitrogen bands or lineal band concentration. Iowa State University and Successful Farming have released results from testing manifolds used to distribute NH3 to the lineal bands. Their discoveries are alarming to many industry and environmental groups. Articles published in Successful Farming indicate NH3 production manifolds are grossly inaccurate (See three issues of Successful Farming, September 97, November 97, September 98, the articles are: Outdated Manifolds Sabotage Nitrogen Application, Streaks Define Misapplication of N, New Nitrogen Manifold Promises Precision, all articles September 97, Here's How to Calibrate NH3 Applicators, November 97, Taking Nitrogen Calibration To the Field, September 98, all articles authored by Rich Fee, Crops and Soils Editor).
Iowa State researchers Mark Hanna, and Michael White in their paper, Field Variability of Anhydrous Ammonia Distribution through Different Manifold Styles report that some shanks apply 3 to 4 times more NH3 than adjoining shanks. The very best tested commercially available manifold, the Continental Vertical Dam Manifold (See Continental NH3 Products, Installation Instructions), is an improvement with variances as high as 2 times per shank (See Summary Chart of Iowa State, Successful Farming Study, EXACTRIX, SFMAN2).
All the tests were carried out with an unsophisticated bucket test that averaged the application for a time period at different rates. A more costly sophisticated dynamic test using “coriolis effect” mass flow meters would prove even greater discrepancies with start and stop and variable rate application from a low of 20 lbs. of applied N per acre to 250 lbs. of applied N per acre. Field maps generated by the Hunt Brothers show this variable rate application on a full applicator width. The dynamics of NH3 manifold systems often require up to 14 seconds for a full rate response. Two hundred feet of travel can occur before the manifolds and the system reach a new equilibrium. The maps often show this lead and lag response. Accuracy can be improved if the manifold is designed properly.
Research in Canada shows additional problems with NH3 application. Thom Weir of Westco Fertilizers points out in his paper, The Use of Anhydrous Ammonia in a Direct Seeding Application, 1998 SSCA presentation, “Because of the danger of seedling injury, it is very important that the application of NH3 be as even as possible across the width of the seeding equipment. Research indicates that a typical applicator error of 16% over or under is common. The typical applicator error across the swath is usually much greater and can exceed 50% fluctuation from row to row.“Weir further states”
Exactrix Global Systems
Hovey & Williams, LLP
Kim Christopher
Mar Michael
LandOfFree
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