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Precision Land Application of Animal Manure Slurry

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  021012,  2002 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.9297) @2002
Authors:   Todd England, Brian J. Holmes, Ronald T.Schuler, Robert Silha, Richard J. Straub
Keywords:   Manure, slurry, application, gravimetric, flow rate, load cells

This investigation evaluated the feasibility of a flow rate control system for a manure slurry tanker using a gravimetric method, which continuously measured the weight of the slurry with strain gage load cells. Four compression load cells supported the 4600-gallon tanker. The compression load cells isolated the tank body from any external and dynamic loading from turning tires or trailing manure applicators or injectors. The large tires with a walking beam suspension provided excellent signal damping. The gravimetric signal was recorded under various field conditions and manure dry matter contents. During dynamic applications, a rolling average was calculated to smooth out the acquired data. Each rolling average data value was an average of 9 values obtained from the load cells with 4 before and 4 after the recorded time. These new values had less variability than the actual value. With the rolling average signal conditioning, the load cell flow rate data was similar to the flow meter values.

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