Pragmatic precision spraying
Identifying and spraying patches of weeds, rather than individual plants, is being promoted as a more pragmatic and cost effective approach than spot spraying.
Instead of costly high resolution cameras patch spraying employs sensors that scan the crop with software controlling boom sections, rather than single nozzles. The equipment can be retro-fitted to most makes of sprayer and operated through ISObus terminals.
Kverneland showed its latest version of the DAT Ecopatch at the recent LAMMA show. This employs boom mounted sensors, with LED lights, that scan a 3m-4m (two row) area ahead of the boom to analyse the crop.
PerPlant looks ahead
On show for the first time at Agritechnica, the Danish-developed PerPlant system controls patch spraying or other variable rate applications in real time.
Costing about £8,000, it runs through any ISObus compatible terminal (or its own monitor) and uses a single sensor (mounted on the cab roof) to scan ahead of the tractor with a field view of 42m. It then adjusts the application in real time.
Latest launches from Agritechnica and LAMMA shows
Winter shows always offer a good crop of new equipment – and there were plenty of new sprayers and technology making a debut at last year’s Agritechnica in Germany and at LAMMA in Birmingham.
To read all the latest on these tech updates, you’ll find more in the spring 2026 edition of Pro Operator magazine with additional information on the website HERE.
