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Adaptation and Performance Evaluation of Manual Operated Fertilizer Applicator

Received: 14 October 2025     Accepted: 25 October 2025     Published: 11 December 2025
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Abstract

Efficient fertilizer application is critical for sustaining crop productivity on nutrient-depleted soils. Improving the effectiveness of chemical fertilizers can be achieved through the development and adoption of advanced, sustainable fertilizer discharge devices. Such innovations offer a more uniform distribution compared to conventional methods, enhancing nutrient use efficiency and contributing to higher crop yields. The fertilizer applicator has an overall height of 1.50m and a total weight of 2.2kg. Its hopper has a volumetric capacity of 18.4m³, allowing for efficient storage and distribution of fertilizer. The fertilizer tube was constructed from PVC pipe, the implement was evaluated field capacity, field efficiency and uniformity of fertilizer at proper location. The application rate and hole diameter were determined to investigate performance parameter indicators of the implement. the maximum application rate and time was recorded 311.96 kg/ha and 1.55 ha/hr. respectively. the minimum and maximum application field capacity was recorded when operated by men at 5 cm hole diameter was 46 kg/ha and 1.29 ha/hr. and also the minimum and maximum application rate was recorded 178.53, 294. when operated by women at 3 and 5 cm hole diameter respectively the technology was saved time with 5 diameter sizes but it causes out of recommendation applied per hectare, The 3-diameter hole was saves fertilizer and shows advantage over the both diameter in low application rate the implement was very simple and can produced from locally available materials easy to operate it was low cost and affordable to small scale farmers.

Published in Research & Development (Volume 6, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14
Page(s) 91-96
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Application Rate, Field Capacity, Field Efficiency and Performance Evaluation

References
[1] Bangura, Kemoh, Hao Gong, Ruoling Deng, Ming Tao, Chuang Liu, Yinghu Cai, Kaifeng Liao, Jinwei Liu, and Long Qi. 2020. “Simulation Analysis of Fertilizer Discharge Process Using the Discrete Element Method (DEM).” PLoS ONE 15(7).
[2] Kahsay, Yemane, Alemat Embaye, and Guesh Tekle. 2016. “Determination of Optimum Rates of N and P Fertilizer for Tomato at Mereb-Lekhe District, Northern Ethiopia.” Journal of Agriculture and Crops ISSN 2(3): 24–30.
[3] Omotosho, Olayinka, Adebayo Oke, Azarel Uthman, Adekunle Atta, and Emmanuel Ezaka. 2021. “Development of a Manually Operated Organic and Inorganic Fertiliser Applicator for Smallholder Farmers.” Research in Agricultural Engineering 67(2): 51–57.
[4] Sofyan, E. T., D. S. Sara, and Y. MacHfud. 2019. “The Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer Applications on N, P-Uptake, K-Uptake and Yield of Sweet Corn (Zea Mays Saccharata Sturt).” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 393(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/393/1/012021
[5] FDC (2013): Fertilizer Deep Placement (FDP). IFDC: Mus-cle Shoals, International Fertilizer Development Centre. Available at
[6] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], 2015.
[7] Rinwei Fyi, une, 2023. Over-fertilization: The environmental impacts of excessive nutrient use. Department of Organic Chemistry, Yanshan University, Hebei, China.
[8] International Fund forAgricultural Development (IFAD) 2011.
[9] Unil Kumar Prajapati, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi-110012, India, Relative Assessment of Fertilizer ApplicationTechniques for Enhancing Nutrient UseEfficiency, Crop Productivity, Soil Health and Environmental Sustainability:
[10] George Hochmuth, Rao Mylavarapu, and Ed Hanlon April 11, 2022, The Four Rs of Fertilizer Management.
[11] Han C-W, Lee S-Y, Hong Y-K, Kweon G-Y. Development of a variable rate applicator for uniform fertilizer spreading. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2019; 12(2): 82–89.
[12] Kweon G. Analysis and control of rate and uniformity for granular fertilizer application systems. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 2006.
[13] Fixen, P. E., Brentrup, F., Bruulsema, T. W., Garcia, F., Norton, R., & Zingore, S. (2015). Nutrient/fertilizer use efficiency: Measurement, current situation and trends.
[14] Zhang, H., Schroder, J. L., Fuhrman, J. K., Basta, N. T., Storm, D. E., Payton, M. E., & Smolen, M. D. (2017). Nutrient management for sustainable crop production and environmental protection. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16(12), 2844–2857.
[15] Fageria, N. K., & Baligar, V. C. (2005). Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants. Advances in Agronomy, 88, 97–185.
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  • APA Style

    Belina, M., Warqesa, M., Sultan, A. (2025). Adaptation and Performance Evaluation of Manual Operated Fertilizer Applicator. Research & Development, 6(4), 91-96. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14

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    ACS Style

    Belina, M.; Warqesa, M.; Sultan, A. Adaptation and Performance Evaluation of Manual Operated Fertilizer Applicator. Res. Dev. 2025, 6(4), 91-96. doi: 10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14

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    AMA Style

    Belina M, Warqesa M, Sultan A. Adaptation and Performance Evaluation of Manual Operated Fertilizer Applicator. Res Dev. 2025;6(4):91-96. doi: 10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14,
      author = {Mateos Belina and Merga Warqesa and Abdurehaman Sultan},
      title = {Adaptation and Performance Evaluation of Manual Operated Fertilizer Applicator},
      journal = {Research & Development},
      volume = {6},
      number = {4},
      pages = {91-96},
      doi = {10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.rd.20250604.14},
      abstract = {Efficient fertilizer application is critical for sustaining crop productivity on nutrient-depleted soils. Improving the effectiveness of chemical fertilizers can be achieved through the development and adoption of advanced, sustainable fertilizer discharge devices. Such innovations offer a more uniform distribution compared to conventional methods, enhancing nutrient use efficiency and contributing to higher crop yields. The fertilizer applicator has an overall height of 1.50m and a total weight of 2.2kg. Its hopper has a volumetric capacity of 18.4m³, allowing for efficient storage and distribution of fertilizer. The fertilizer tube was constructed from PVC pipe, the implement was evaluated field capacity, field efficiency and uniformity of fertilizer at proper location. The application rate and hole diameter were determined to investigate performance parameter indicators of the implement. the maximum application rate and time was recorded 311.96 kg/ha and 1.55 ha/hr. respectively. the minimum and maximum application field capacity was recorded when operated by men at 5 cm hole diameter was 46 kg/ha and 1.29 ha/hr. and also the minimum and maximum application rate was recorded 178.53, 294. when operated by women at 3 and 5 cm hole diameter respectively the technology was saved time with 5 diameter sizes but it causes out of recommendation applied per hectare, The 3-diameter hole was saves fertilizer and shows advantage over the both diameter in low application rate the implement was very simple and can produced from locally available materials easy to operate it was low cost and affordable to small scale farmers.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Adaptation and Performance Evaluation of Manual Operated Fertilizer Applicator
    AU  - Mateos Belina
    AU  - Merga Warqesa
    AU  - Abdurehaman Sultan
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    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14
    T2  - Research & Development
    JF  - Research & Development
    JO  - Research & Development
    SP  - 91
    EP  - 96
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2994-7057
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rd.20250604.14
    AB  - Efficient fertilizer application is critical for sustaining crop productivity on nutrient-depleted soils. Improving the effectiveness of chemical fertilizers can be achieved through the development and adoption of advanced, sustainable fertilizer discharge devices. Such innovations offer a more uniform distribution compared to conventional methods, enhancing nutrient use efficiency and contributing to higher crop yields. The fertilizer applicator has an overall height of 1.50m and a total weight of 2.2kg. Its hopper has a volumetric capacity of 18.4m³, allowing for efficient storage and distribution of fertilizer. The fertilizer tube was constructed from PVC pipe, the implement was evaluated field capacity, field efficiency and uniformity of fertilizer at proper location. The application rate and hole diameter were determined to investigate performance parameter indicators of the implement. the maximum application rate and time was recorded 311.96 kg/ha and 1.55 ha/hr. respectively. the minimum and maximum application field capacity was recorded when operated by men at 5 cm hole diameter was 46 kg/ha and 1.29 ha/hr. and also the minimum and maximum application rate was recorded 178.53, 294. when operated by women at 3 and 5 cm hole diameter respectively the technology was saved time with 5 diameter sizes but it causes out of recommendation applied per hectare, The 3-diameter hole was saves fertilizer and shows advantage over the both diameter in low application rate the implement was very simple and can produced from locally available materials easy to operate it was low cost and affordable to small scale farmers.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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