Study on The Development Process of Fertilizer Spreader

Abstract

As an important mechanical equipment in agricultural production, the development of fertilizer spreader reflects the progress of agricultural mechanization and modern agricultural technology. From the early manual fertilizer tools to today's intelligent and efficient mechanical equipment, fertilizer spreader has undergone great changes. This paper will discuss the development of fertilizer spreader, analyze the key nodes of its technological evolution, and look forward to the future development trend of fertilizer spreader.

Introduction

Fertilizer is an important input in agricultural production, and reasonable fertilization is of great significance to improve crop yield and soil quality. Before the mechanization of agriculture, fertilization was largely manual, inefficient and inaccurate. With the rise of agricultural machinery, fertilizer spreader has gradually become an important tool for farmers to improve labor efficiency and fertilization effect. This paper will review the development history of fertilizer spreader in detail and discuss its impact on modern agriculture.

1. Early fertilization method and early mechanization

1.1 Manual Fertilizer spreading tool

Before the invention of mechanized fertilizer sprinklers, farmers relied primarily on hand tools such as hand sprinklers, simple buckets, and wooden spreaders. These tools rely on human operation, labor intensity, low efficiency, and uneven fertilizer distribution, easy to lead to fertilizer waste or uneven crop growth.

1.2 Preliminary mechanization of fertilizer spreader

At the beginning of the 19th century, with the advancement of the Industrial Revolution, the process of agricultural mechanization was gradually launched. The early form of the fertilizer spreader appeared in this period, mainly simple mechanical equipment pulled by horses or oxen. These spreaders use mechanical devices to distribute fertilizer evenly across the field, significantly increasing fertilizer efficiency and reducing labor intensity compared to hand tools.

2. Industrialization and modernization of fertilizer spreader

2.1 Mechanized fertilizer dispersal in the early 20th century

In the 20th century, agricultural machinery technology has been further developed, and fertilizer spreader began to develop in the direction of more specialization and automation. At this time, the fertilizer spreader usually uses a chain transmission device, and the fertilizer can be more evenly distributed on the ground by rotating the ground wheel to drive the fertilizer spreader. In addition, the capacity and working width of the fertilizer spreader have also been improved, which is suitable for large-scale farm use.

2.2 Power fertilizer spreader from the mid-20th century

With the development of internal combustion engine technology, power fertilizer spreader began to become popular in the mid-20th century. This fertilizer spreader can be used directly with tractors or other agricultural machinery, which greatly improves the efficiency and accuracy of fertilizer spreader. The design of fertilizer spreader is also becoming increasingly complex, which can adjust the amount of fertilizer according to the needs of crops and soil conditions, reduce fertilizer waste, and improve the utilization rate of fertilizer efficiency.

2.3 Introduction of electronic control technology

In the late 20th century, electronic control technology began to be applied to the fertilizer spreader to make its function more intelligent. Through sensors and GPS technology, the spreader is able to achieve precise fertilization and differentiated management according to the fertility needs of different areas of the field. Most of the fertilizer spreaders in this period were equipped with automatic adjustment systems, which could automatically adjust the fertilizer amount according to the operation speed and terrain changes, and achieve a more scientific and accurate fertilization effect.

3. Intelligent and sustainable development of modern fertilizer spreader

3.1 The rise of intelligent fertilizer spreader

In the 21st century, the development of agricultural Internet of Things and big data technology has provided the technical basis for the intelligence of fertilizer spreader. Modern fertilizer spreaders can not only interact with field information systems in real time, but also dynamically adjust fertilization strategies based on meteorological data and soil sensor information. This intelligent fertilizer spreader greatly reduces the amount of fertilizer used, improves the efficiency of fertilizer utilization, and promotes the sustainable development of agriculture.

3.2 Development of environmental fertilizer technology

With the improvement of environmental protection awareness, the design of fertilizer spreader also pays more attention to environmental protection. The modern fertilizer spreader reduces the volatilization and loss of fertilizer during the fertilization process and reduces the negative impact on the environment. In addition, the use of slow-release fertilizer and the combination of precision fertilizer technology, so that the modern fertilizer spreader can reduce the amount of fertilizer application at the same time, maintain or even increase crop yield, to achieve a win-win situation between agricultural production and environmental protection.

4. Future development trend of fertilizer spreader

4.1 Full automation and unmanned

One of the development directions of the future fertilizer spreader is full automation and unmanned. With the advancement of autonomous driving technology, the fertilizer spreader is expected to achieve complete unmanned operation, and farmers can complete large-scale fertilizer spreading operations only through remote control or preset procedures. Such technological progress will further liberate the labor force and improve operational efficiency.

4.2 Intelligent and data-driven

The intelligent development of fertilizer spreader will further rely on big data, artificial intelligence and sensor technology. In the future, the fertilizer spreader will rely more on real-time data analysis, accurately regulate the amount of fertilizer and fertilizer types, and achieve "precision agriculture" in the true sense.

4.3 Green environmental protection and sustainability

The development of fertilizer spreader in the future will pay more attention to environmental performance, reduce the amount of fertilizer used, and reduce the impact of agricultural production on the environment. The application of degradable fertilizers, trace element fertilizers and organic fertilizers will further promote the development of fertilizer spreader technology in a green and sustainable direction.

Conclusion

The development of fertilizer spreader shows the continuous progress of agricultural machinery technology and the transformation of agricultural production methods. From the early manual fertilizer spreading tools to today's intelligent and environmentally friendly modern fertilizer spreader, fertilizer spreader has played an important role in improving agricultural production efficiency, optimizing fertilizer use and protecting the environment. With the further development of technology, fertilizer spreader will continue to play a key role in future agricultural production, promoting modern agriculture to develop in an intelligent and sustainable direction.

Reference

1. Smith, J. (2010). 'Agricultural Machinery: The Evolution of Farming Technology'. Cambridge University Press.

2. Brown, R., & Taylor,  M. (2015). 'Modern Fertilization Techniques in Precision Agriculture'. Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 45(3),  123-134.

3. Zhou, X. (2020). 'Future Development of Intelligent Agriculture and Fertilizer Management Technology '. China Agricultural Science and Technology Press.