Technology, energy, agriculture transport AIC

Natalia PONOMARENKO – Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University (25 Serhii Yefremov St., Dnipro, 49000, Ukraine; e-mail: nanagieva@ukr.net, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8263-2914).

Volodymyr DOMANSKYI – Postgraduate Student of Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University (25 Serhii Yefremov St., Dnipro, 49000, Ukraine; https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3267-8265).

Vyacheslav SAKHNO – Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor of Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University (25 Serhii Yefremov St., Dnipro, 49000, Ukraine; e-mail: sakhno1960@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2314-4547).

The article presents a thorough analysis of the current state of development in the field of machines and mechanisms for surface application of mineral fertilizers - a technological process that remains one of the key ones in modern agriculture, but at the same time extremely sensitive to external conditions.
Particular attention is paid to the physics of the movement of fertilizer particles in the air environment. It was investigated how the coefficient of aerodynamic resistance (pressure coefficient Cx ), air viscosity, size, shape, density of granules and their initial speed determine the flight trajectory. It was shown that even a small increase in wind speed significantly changes the picture: a headwind reduces the range of the discharge, a side wind causes a strong asymmetry of the distribution, and a tail wind can create excessive material overturning beyond the working area. As a result, the distribution variation coefficient increases sharply, which leads to an overexpenditure of fertilizers in some areas of the field and their deficiency in others, reducing the overall efficiency of fertilization and increasing the risk of uneven plant development.
A separate section is devoted to a quantitative description of the impact of wind. In particular, data is provided that at a wind speed of 4–6 m/s, the distance of particles can be reduced by 15–40% depending on the direction, and at 8 m/s and more, high-quality application with classic disc spreaders becomes practically impossible without special compensation measures.
That is why a significant part of the work is devoted to modern technical solutions that allow minimizing or almost completely neutralizing the negative impact of the weather. Among them is the WindControl system from Amazone , which works in conjunction with Argus sensors. Twin or independently: a high-frequency ultrasonic wind sensor records the speed and direction in real time, after which the on-board computer automatically adjusts the blade angle, disc rotation speed or deflector position, maintaining the specified width and uniform distribution even in moderately strong winds (up to 8–10 m/s).
Alternative approaches are also being considered: pneumatic boom spreaders with adjustable nozzles, multi-disc systems with lower initial ejection velocity (which reduces sensitivity to lateral wear), GPS/RTK systems with electronic rate setting maps and automatic section shut-off, and hybrid designs combining the centrifugal principle with controlled pneumatic conveying.

1.    Kobets, A. S., et al. (2010). Research on the movement of mineral fertilizer particles taking into account environmental resistance. Bulletin of Petro Vasylenko Kharkiv National Technical University of Agriculture. Mechanization of Agricultural Production, 93(2), 122–127. [in Ukrainian].
2.    Pastukhova, V. I. (2001). Handbook on the use of machinery in agriculture. Vesna. [in Ukrainian].
3.    Kovtun, Yu. V., & Netetsky, L. H. (2007). Statistical aspects of quality indicators in mechanized fertilizer application. Scientific Works of Poltava State Agrarian Academy. Mechanization and Electrification of Agriculture, 6(25), 65–68. [in Ukrainian].
4.    Kravchuk, V. I., Hrytsyshyn, M. I., & Koval, S. M. (2004). Modern trends in the development of agricultural machinery structures. Agrarian Science. ISBN 966-540-089-4. [in Ukrainian].
5.    Serilko, L. S., Lyashuk, O. L., Chasov, D. P., Serilko, D. L., & Ihnatiuk, R. M. (2025). Body movement along the surface of an inertial conveyor chute under combined friction. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 12(1), D1–D8. https://doi.org/10.21272/jes.2025.12(1).d1 [in English].
6.    Vasilevskyi, O. M., Sevastianov, V. M., Ovchynnykov, K. V., Didych, V. M., & Burlaka, S. A. (2023). Accuracy of potentiometric methods for measuring ion activity in solutions. In Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (Vol. 447, pp. 181–190). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1607-6_16 [in English].
7.    Yaropud, V., Aliiev, E., Mazur, I., & Burlaka, S. (2023). Simulating the process of operation of a vortex layer electromagnetic apparatus with ferromagnetic working elements. Przegląd Elektrotechniczny, 99(9), 64–71. https://doi.org/10.15199/48.2023.09.11 [in English].
8.    Tokarchuk, O., Mytko, M., Burlaka, S., Zozulyak, I., & Stadnik, M. (2025). Comparison of technological operations in processing alfalfa hay in terms of their impact on forage quality and quantity. Technology Audit and Production Reserves, 2(3(82)), 43–51. https://doi.org/10.15587/2706-5448.2025.326047 [in English].