Agricultural chemicals like pesticides can be a large investment in farming activities. The more land farmers cultivate, the more they spend to achieve the desired outcome. This creates a direct correlation between farm size and pesticide expenditure. Thus, it is vital to apply pesticides only where and when needed. This could contribute to crop protection and financial returns.
By using precision spraying systems, the flow rates and sections of a sprayer can be automatically controlled. This results in more effective weed and disease control while reducing pesticide use. This blog explores precision spray technology and shares a real-world example of how FJD ATS Precision Spray Autosteering System helps save pesticides by 11% on a 1700-acre farm.
What Is Precision Spray?
Spraying is the operation of applying crop protection products to crops in a mist to promote the absorption and bio-efficacy of the products. Such products include pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, nutrient solutions, and fertilizers. The spraying operation is also called crop protection as it is performed mainly for this purpose.
As for precision spray, it is generally referred to as precise targeted spraying. In agriculture, precision spray systems often utilize navigation systems such as GNSS and section automation technology to identify target areas that need treatment or protection.
With precise positioning, farmers can spray pesticides with accuracy down to centimeters. Plus, automatic section control and rate control makes it possible to achieve accurate application of pesticides. This helps reduce chemical usage and minimize environmental impact to meet regulatory purposes.
The Precision of Spraying
The precision of spraying operation is influenced by various factors that can greatly impact its effectiveness and efficiency. Some of the primary challenges associated with this technique include:
- Straightness of movement: Maintaining straight movement during spraying is challenging due to external factors like terrain irregularities or vehicle dynamics. Deviations can affect spray accuracy and increase seedling crushing.
- Spraying volume control: Relying on operator's experience alone can lead to inconsistent application amounts, causing both under-spraying and over-spraying issues that affect crop protection efficacy.
- Intensified workload for operators: Maintaining focus and managing various controls while navigating the terrain requires significant concentration, often leading to physical fatigue. This can affect the operator's performance in achieving precise spraying operations.
- Fixed flow rate challenges: When the flow rate of the sprayer doesn't adjust with the speed of the vehicle, the amount of spray being dispensed can become unbalanced, leading to scenarios where some areas receive too much dosing while others receive too little.
- Lack of section control: The absence of section control can disrupt spraying precision, increasing the chances of overlaps or skips. This inefficiency in crop management can raise costs and environmental problems.
These factors are interrelated and affect the precision of spraying operations in many ways. By managing these factors with precision spraying systems, farmers can enhance crop protection efficiency and farm-to-fork quality.
The Benefits of Precision Spray
Precision spray technology offers a multitude of benefits across various applications. Some key advantages include:
- Efficient resource use: Optimize the use of resources such as fertilizers and pesticides. Targeting specific areas means less waste and consumption.
- Cost savings: Save costs through reduced chemical usage. Farmers would need fewer resources for future cleanup and remediation.
- Increased crop yields: Contribute to higher yields. The right pest control amounts improve crop growth and health.
- Environmental protection: Reduce chemical application and runoff. This reduces pesticide leaching into water sources and lowers impacts on ecosystems.
- Enhanced pest management: Target specific pests to decrease reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides. This improves control efficacy and reduces pest resistance development for sustainable farming.
Reducing Pesticides: Weed Control With the FJD ATS
Weed control is one of the biggest concerns for farmers. When weeds grow on farmland, they can damage the crops and decrease the crop yield of the farm. To get rid of the weeds, many farmers spray their fields with herbicides — a common type of pesticide used during crop growth.
John Doe cultivates a sprawling expanse of soybean on his 1700-acre farm. The crops are a vibrant, healthy green, promising a bountiful harvest. But weeds also grow in this lush field where John struggles to optimize his weed control process.
In the past, John used traditional spraying methods to kill those weeds. Despite excessive pesticide usage and increased costs, the results still seemed less satisfactory. He was looking for a more cost-effective solution to control weeds on his large farm.
John decided to try the FJD ATS, a precision spraying system for the right application. The system enhances spraying accuracy through precise section and flow rate control. It can apply pesticides to the right place at the right time, without overlaps or skips.
After installing the FJD ATS system in his spraying implement, John saw a great reduction in pesticide usage. He was able to decrease his pesticide application rate from 4.5 kg/ha to 4 kg/ha at an application rate of 285 L/ha. This resulted in a total savings of 344 kg of pesticides.
John was happy with the results and the benefits he experienced from using the FJD ATS system. "I never knew spraying could be so precise and cost-effective until I started using the FJD ATS system," he said. "It's not just about saving costs; it's about investing in a smarter way of farming."
With the FJD ATS system, John was able to:
- Reduce pesticide usage by 11%
- Save 344 kg of pesticides
- Increase spray efficiency and precision
- Improve crop quality and yield
Final Thought
The FJD ATS system has changed the way John Doe approaches weed control on his soybean farm. Through precise spraying, the system helped him improve pesticide use and crop yields. John's example showcases how precision agriculture solutions, like the ATS, can boost efficiency and returns.
In today's fast-paced agriculture world, precision spray technology is critical for any agribusiness to thrive in the competitive market. The FJD ATS represents a pivotal innovation for farmers looking to optimize their operations, improve yield outcomes, and adopt more responsible agricultural practices.