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Research on Crops

Design and analysis of a pulse width modulation based agricultural spraying system for flow control 


DOI: 10.31830/2348-7542.2026.ROC-1311    | Article Id: ROC-1311 | Page : 356-364
Citation :- Design and analysis of a pulse width modulation based agricultural spraying system for flow control. Res. Crop. 27: 356-364
ADEL HAMANI, RIMA LABAD AND MOHAMED AMINE FEDDAL feddalamine@gmail.com
Address : Agricultural Water Management Laboratory (LMEA), Department of Agricultural Engineering, National Higher School of Agronomy (ENSA) (ES1603), Algiers, Algeria
Submitted Date : 22-04-2026
Accepted Date : 10-06-2026
Online Published:

Abstract

Pesticides are essential for crop protection, but excessive application in conventional orcharding leads to serious environmental and health risks. Conventional spraying systems lack precision, resulting in inefficient chemical use and increased losses, while high-cost precision technologies limit adoption in developing regions like Algeria. Therefore, there is a need for cost-effective pulse width modulation (PWM) based spraying systems to optimize pesticide application and enhance sustainability. This study developed a low-cost, smart spraying prototype using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and ultrasonic sensing to achieve site-specific application. An automated spraying system with vertical pipes, pressure regulators, solenoid valves, and flat-fan nozzles was developed for uniform coverage. Nozzle spacing was optimized for effective spraying up to ~5 m height. The system integrates an Arduino Nano, HC-SR04 sensors, and 12V solenoid valves for independent control of three spray levels. Nozzles activate only upon canopy detection, maintaining 2 bar pressure for stable droplets and reduced drift. Theoretical and experimental evaluations demonstrate a strict linear relationship between nozzle activation and canopy architecture. The "auto-stop" mechanism effectively eliminates spray in inter-tree gaps and above the canopy height. Significant chemical savings were recorded, increasing proportionally with tree spacing and vertical variability. This PWM-based architecture provides a functional balance between technological performance and economic feasibility. By decoupling flow control from pressure variation, the system preserves application quality while drastically reducing off-target deposition. This scalable solution supports sustainable pesticide management and environmental stewardship in heterogeneous orchard systems.

Keywords

Automatic control orchard sprayer pesticide reduction precision agriculture pulse Width Modulation (PWM) ultrasonic sensor 

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