15
Pesticide application• Patch spraying
of herbicides
• Variable fungicide and growth regulator
• Matching application to target
• dose
• application
Spatially variable pesticide application
• All systems need:– in-field location– method of detection
• visual mapping for weed patches• spectral reflectance for crop canopy
– treatment map generated• software packages are being developed
– system for application• injection metering control• volume rate systems with a wide operating range
SAPPIO LINK Project
Exploiting Weed Patch DynamicsResearch Partners
IACR-Rothamsted, Silsoe Res. Inst.
Industrial Partners
AGCO, Micron Sprayers, HGCA
Aim of project
To develop a spatially selective weed control system for arable crops, that delivers a reduction in herbicide use and consequent financial benefit to users and to the environment
Research areas
• Mapping based on visual detection
• Patch stability
• Feasibility of automated detection
• Validate system
Weed patch detectionSILSOE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
AgriVision 2001./15
Visual detection of weeds
Timing of visual assessments
Winter EarlySpring
Summer Harvest
A. myosuroides ? Y Y N
G.aparine ? Y Y ?
A. fatua ? ? Y Y
E. repens N N ? Y
Crop canopy monitoring
SILSOE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
S I L S O E R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E
S C I / S e p t 2 0 0 1 . / 2 3
6 tw o-bandradiometers
GPSantenna
Compensatingradiometer
Or from: aircraft or satellites
Treatment map generationSILSOE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Weed patch map imported into standardPrecision Farming software package
Defined treatment map
SILSOE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Herbicide savings
Weed% area
infestedHerbicide
used
%herbicide
saved
Costsaving
€/haA. fatua 51 Tralkoxydim 27 €15.55G. aparine 27 Fluroxypyr 30 €9.30A. myosuroides 65
Clodinafop+ Trifluralin
9 €3.10
C. arvense Clopyralid 31 €27.90E. repens 27 Glyphosate 42 €13.18
Cost of mapping approx. €3/ha
Project Demonstration
• Live demonstration of weed mapping and patch spraying
• Attended by farmers/contractors, advisors, industry, environment / regulatory authorities
• Reported in UK farming press
Current Status of Patch Spraying in the UK
• Variable rate Micron PatchSpray ~ 10 operating in UK
• Injection metering~ 50 operating in UK
~ only a few interfaced with a map based control system
• Switching on/off?
Problems with implementing patch spraying
• Management not as straightforward
• Involves greater level of decision making
• Collecting and handling data
• Make technology and interface easier to manage
• (Economics)
