An applicator for applying anhydrous ammonia, NH.sub.3, to an agricultural field is provided. The applicator includes a distribution rail for receiving and out letting a flow of the NH.sub.3 The distribution rail has a decreasing inner diameter from an inlet of the distribution rail to distal ends of the distribution rail.

An ammonia applicator system includes adjustable orifices with openings having variable sizes that can be changed remotely, without having to disassemble exit lines from a distribution manifold. In this way, the restriction of the exit lines and, thus, line flow rate can be adjusted remotely and/or automatically, even during ammonia application use. Each adjustable orifice may include a valve and an actuator that controls the valve for changing the size of the opening of the adjustable orifice. The actuator may be a rotary actuator, such as a stepper motor, and the valve may include an adjustment knob and a screw that can rotate to allow a needle to advance or regress through an opening of a valve body of the valve.

An anhydrous ammonia vapor charge unit for an applicator tank maintains a pressure charge on an applicator tank. A secondary anhydrous ammonia tank is disposed adjacent to the applicator tank. Ammonia vapor from the secondary tank is passed through a vapor compressor and then is injected into the applicator tank to provide a greater pressure charge within the applicator tank. In a second embodiment, a small portion of a liquid flow stream of ammonia being removed from the applicator tank is separated from the flow stream, passed through a heat vaporizer for expanding from a liquid to a gas, passed through a vapor pressure, and then is injected into the applicator tank for maintaining the pressure charge on the applicator tank. Preferably the heat vaporizer used hydraulic fluid from a tractor to heat the anhydrous ammonia.

Electric fluid flow monitoring apparatus, and agricultural fluid application systems and methods including the same are described. The fluid flow monitoring apparatus generally includes a housing, a sensor assembly, and a traveler. The housing defines an interior cavity, and includes an inlet for fluid to enter the interior cavity and an outlet for fluid to exit the interior cavity. The sensor assembly is disposed in the interior cavity, and extends longitudinally in the direction of fluid flow. The traveler is movably supported by the sensor assembly such that fluid flow through the interior cavity causes the traveler to move longitudinally along the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly detects a longitudinal position of the traveler relative to the sensor assembly.

Electric fluid flow monitoring apparatus, and agricultural fluid application systems and methods including the same are described. The fluid flow monitoring apparatus generally includes an outer housing defining a cavity. The outer housing includes an inlet for fluid to enter the cavity and an outlet for fluid to exit the cavity. Fluid flows through the cavity from the inlet to the outlet. The flow monitoring apparatus also includes an inner housing defining an interior cavity and positioned within the outer housing cavity such that fluid flows through the interior cavity. The inner housing is removably connected to the outer housing such that the inner housing is interchangeable with another inner housing having a different cross-sectional profile. The flow monitoring apparatus further includes a traveler movably disposed within the interior cavity.

An apparatus and method to improve delivery of liquid anhydrous ammonia from a portable liquid NH.sub.3 tank in cold temperatures includes an air compressor coupled to the vapor port of a portable liquid NH.sub.3 tank used to supply liquid anhydrous ammonia to an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer applicator. The apparatus can include an actuator to relieve the tank of compressed air after the tank is empty of liquid anhydrous ammonia.

The monitor system for an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer injection system includes a manifold with a plurality of discharge lines connected to soil engaging knives. A temperature sensor is mounted in each discharge line. The temperature of fertilizer in each discharge line is measures and transmitted to a microprocessor in a console. The temperature in a discharge line is compared with the average temperature in the other discharge lines. This comparison is made for each discharge line connected to a manifold to determine the temperature variations. The variations are compared to a temperature variation number provided by the operator. If an excessive variation occurs a warning is provided. A console screen graph shows which discharge line needs inspection.

An autonomous vehicle platform and system for selectively performing an in-season management task in an agricultural field while self-navigating between rows of planted crops, the autonomous vehicle platform having a vehicle base with a width so dimensioned as to be insertable through the space between two rows of planted crops, the vehicle base having an in-season task management structure configured to perform various tasks, including selectively applying fertilizer, mapping growth zones and seeding cover crop within an agricultural field.

The monitor system for an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer injection system includes a manifold with a plurality of discharge lines connected to soil engaging knives. A temperature sensor is mounted in each discharge line. The temperature of fertilizer in each discharge line is measures and transmitted to a microprocessor in a console. The temperature in a discharge line is compared with the average temperature in the other discharge lines. This comparison is made for each discharge line connected to a manifold to determine the temperature variations. The variations are compared to a temperature variation number provided by the operator. If an excessive variation occurs a warning is provided. A console screen graph shows which discharge line needs inspection.

An agricultural implement includes a ground engaging tool. The agricultural implement also includes a liquid injection system having a liquid injection conduit and a liquid injection outlet passage. The liquid injection outlet passage is fluidly coupled to the liquid injection conduit. The liquid injection outlet passage is configured to output a jet of a liquid toward soil to inject the liquid into the soil at a liquid location behind the ground engaging tool relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural implement. The agricultural implement also includes an anhydrous ammonia application system having an anhydrous ammonia application conduit and an anhydrous ammonia application outlet passage. The anhydrous ammonia application outlet passage is fluidly coupled to the anhydrous ammonia application conduit. The anhydrous ammonia application outlet passage is configured to apply the anhydrous ammonia to the soil at an anhydrous ammonia location behind the ground engaging tool relative to the direction of travel of the agricultural implement.