is possible to minimise damage to non-target plants. Depending on weed density, the quan- tity of herbicide used is reckoned to be com- monly less than 2% of that delivered by an overall spray treatment. So there is considera- ble potential for reducing costs and minimis- ing the environment impact. The use of specialised nozzle tips to ensure ac- curate delivery is highlighted by the UK’s Hor- ticulture Development Company, which part-funded the technology as part of the Ag- riculture & Horticulture Development Board’s R&D programme. These nozzles generate very large droplets to produce a directionally stable spray, at low pressure to minimise the risk of splashing upon impact.


NIR sensors


The WeedSeeker sprayer activation system, developed by Trimble subsidiary NTech


Industries, uses near-infrared reflectance sen- sors to detect weeds for nozzles’ on/off switch- ing. The WEEDit system developed from


NEED TO KNOW


▶ Individual weeds now detectable for targeted spraying by one or more nozzles


▶ Potential for selective and non-selective herbicide use in different crop situations


▶ Spraying only weeds can reduce chemical usage by up to 90% ▶ Cut herbicide costs, minimise crop plant stress, minimise environmental impact


▶ Techniques include plant out-of-row detection, NIR reflectance and weed shape/structure recognition


▶ ‘Intelligent deep learning’ systems build a knowledge bank of weed species identities


▶ Systems available for specialist row crop and non-row crop sprayers – and autonomous vehicles


▶ FUTURE FARMING | 24 May 2019 15


Individual weeds are now in the sights of precision targeting systems for row-crop and broadacre sprayers - this case Romex species in grassland.


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