Modifikasi Alat Barrier pada Sprayer untuk Penyemprotan Tanaman Jagung Hibrida Biotek

Abstract

The spraying process for biotech hybrid corn often encounters problems caused by uncontrolled herbicide droplet dispersion, particularly during barrier spraying, which can lead to drift toward non-target plants and damage male corn plants. This study aims to modify and evaluate the performance of a nozzle shield-equipped Sprayer for applying glyphosate herbicide in biotech hybrid corn fields. The research was conducted through several stages, including tool development, field testing, and an analysis of spraying effectiveness, spray volume, economic feasibility, and ergonomic performance. The results showed that the use of a nozzle shield device reduced the mortality rate of non-target plants from 4.6% with barrier spraying to 1.5%. The required spray volume also decreased from 91.2 litres to 50 litres for an 800 m² area. Economic analysis indicated a variable cost of Rp 3.50/m² with a break-even point (BEP) of 60 m², demonstrating greater efficiency than the barrier method. From an ergonomic standpoint, the nozzle shield device obtained an average index score of 4.2 (good), indicating that the tool is easy to operate, safe, and comfortable for the user.