Fertilizers play vital role in the production of crop cultivation. The engineering properties such as physical and mechanical properties of fertilizers viz., Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), NPK complex, Single Super Phosphate (SSP), urea, Muriate of Potash (MOP) were measured in order to design and develop the tractor operated, target oriented ferti-drill for high density guava orchard. The physical properties were measured namely length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, bulk density, true density, angle of repose and coefficient of friction were measured. The highest length, breadth and geometric mean diameter (GMD) were noticed for Single Super Phosphate (SSP) i.e 4.20±0.52 mm, 3.56±0.43 mm and 3.59±0.39 mm respectively and NPK complex had the highest thickness as 3.26±0.51 mm. The highest bulk density and true density were observed in case of Muriate of Potash (MOP) i.e 1123.91±4.19 kg m-3 and NPK complex i.e 1989.28±836.39 kg m-3, respectively. The Muriate of Potash (MOP) had the maximum angle of repose as 39.82±0.98˚. The rubber surface had the highest coefficient of static friction i.e 38.60±1.42, 38.30±1.25, 30.10±0.73, 39.20±1.13 and 37.10±0.99 for DAP, NPK Complex, SSP, Urea and MOP respectively. The glass surface had the lowest coefficient of static friction i.e 25.30±1.05, 25.20±0.91, 22.10±1.10, 24.50±0.52 and 31.20±1.61 for DAP, NPK Complex, SSP, Urea and MOP respectively. The determined physical properties and engineering properties were used to design and develop the precision fertilizer applicator.

Fertilizers, Engineering properties and Physical properties.

The physical and engineering properties of selected granular fertilizers were studied for design of precision fertilizer applicator for crop cultivation. The size of fertilizers were significantly different. Hence, separation of fertilizers after mixing to compute the coefficient of uniformity by physical method is possible. As the highest angle of repose to be 39.82˚. The fertilizer hopper should be designed having a side slope greater than 40˚. The material should be galvanised iron as it had the least coefficient of friction among the materials considered under study compared with nature. However, it is recommended that stainless steel and non-reactive coating suitable fertilizer may be studied and its for hopper.

Nenavath Manikyam, A. Carolin Rathinakumari, A.K. Dave and G. Senthil Kuamran (2022). Physical and Engineering properties of Fertilizers Relevant to Design of a Precision Ferti Drill. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(2): 1429-1433.