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Title: FIELD EVALUATION OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA MANIFOLD PERFORMANCE AND VARIABILITY

Author
item BOYD, P - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item HANNA, H - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item BAKER, J - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Colvin, Thomas

Submitted to: ASAE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2002
Publication Date: 8/31/2002
Citation: BOYD, P.M., HANNA, H.M., BAKER, J.L., COLVIN, T.S. FIELD EVALUATION OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA MANIFOLD PERFORMANCE AND VARIABILITY. ASAE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MEETING. 2002. PAPER NO. 021039.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Experiments conducted between August 1999 and April 2002 evaluated anhydrous ammonia (NH3) manifold distribution during field application at 84 kg N/ha and 168 kg N/ha application rates. Conventional, Vertical-Dam, Rotaflow [tm], Equa-flow [tm], FD-1200 prototype, and a new prototype manifold named the Impellicone were evaluated. At the 84 kg N/ha rate, all manifolds tested had significantly lower application variation than the conventional manifold. At the 168 kg N/ha rate the conventional, Vertical-Dam with a corn ring and the FD-1200 prototype had significantly higher application variation than the other manifolds tested. Analysis of temperature and pressure data indicated that NH3 flowing through the system very closely follows the saturation line. Predictions of NH3 quality assuming saturated conditions would be acceptable. Investigation for correlation between coefficient of variation (CV) and air temperature or percent of volume in the vapor phase of NH3 resulted in only a significant correlation between CV and percent of volume in the vapor phase of NH3 for the conventional manifold. Conclusions suggest that replacement of a conventional manifold with a Vertical-Dam manifold or any of the other manifolds tested could reduce application variation, and as a result reduce application rate by eliminating the need for over-application to compensate for variations.