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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #82905
Title: SENSOR-CONTROLLED HOODED SPRAYER FOR ROW CROPS

Author
item Hanks, James
item BECK, JAMES - PATCHEN, INC.

Submitted to: Weed Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Pesticide usage has caused increasing environmental concerns and represents significant cost to row-crop producers. These concerns have become the major driving force for the development of more efficient pesticides and methods of application. Producers currently apply herbicides over an entire field, resulting in herbicide being applied to areas of bare soil where no weeds exist. A sensor-controlled hooded sprayer was developed that detects the presence of weeds and applies herbicide only where weeds are present. Spectral differences in green living plants and bare soil allow the system to distinguish weeds from bare soil, therefore herbicide is applied only to the weedy areas in the field. Preliminary evaluations of the sensor-controlled system in small plot and commercial size fields have indicated savings of herbicide solution ranged from 50 to 91%, when compared to similar systems spraying continuously. This technology was developed through a CRADA with Patchen, Inc., a subsidiary of Deere and Company and is currently in final development for commercialization.

Technical Abstract: Methods were developed and evaluated that utilize state-of-the- art weed sensing technology in row-crop production systems. Spectral differences in green living plants and bare soil allowed "real-time" weed detection, with intermittent spraying of herbicide only where weeds were present. Sensor units were mounted in hooded sprayers that provided sensors an unobstructed view of the area between crop rows. Single hood and commercial size 8-row systems were evaluated with savings in glyphosate spray solution applied ranging from 50 to 91%, compared with conventional hooded spray systems with continuous application. Weed control was equal with the intermittent spraying of the sensor-controlled system and the conventional system. This technology demonstrates that significant reduction in herbicide usage can be achieved that minimizes concerns associated with herbicide applications and decreases production cost without sacrificing weed control.