AmaSpot sensor nozzle system

The intelligent sensor nozzle system for spray rate reduction in crop protection

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In co-operation with the companies Rometron and agrotop, AMAZONE introduces an innovation in the sector of part-area site specific crop protection via the intelligent AmaSpot sensor nozzle system. In light of the current discussions concerning the appropriate application of crop protection agents, it is important that one of the leading manufacturers of crop protection machinery should develop systems that allow the application of crop protection agents with the highest possible efficiency whilst offering a simultaneous reduction in application rates. With the AmaSpot system, AMAZONE now offers the customer the possibility to renounce full area total herbicide application and to treat just the areas where in fact weeds or volunteer grains are prevalent.

For detecting the targeted plants, the AmaSpot system features the GreenSense infrared sensor. Thanks to its chlorophyll detection ability, it can differentiate between green plants and bare ground. With a sensor spacing of 100 cm along the boom, and a resolution in 4 sectors within the sensor, strips with a width of 25 cm are scanned. Via the layout of the sensors, the entire field surface is scanned resulting in a very high precision in targeting the application of crop protection agents. Systems so far that are associated with part-area site specific application just scan a few square metres of the total working width. Whereas here, the sensors recognise a plant and the nozzle switches on and off with centimetre precision, even at a speeds of 20 km/h or at night.

In addition to the GreenSense sensor, the system features a special nozzle technology which can be controlled with the highest precision. In a split second the nozzles can open or close and thus only treat that specific area of weeds with the crop protection agent. Solely for the AmaSpot system, the company agrotop has developed the SpotFan 40-03 nozzle. This nozzle works according to the pulse width modulation (PWM) principle. Here, a valve regulates, within the high frequency range of 50 Hz (50 switches per second), the frequency of the closing and opening nozzle. By this high switching speed, the system is able to infinitely vary the spray rate from any individual nozzle from 100 % to 30 % or to switch off each nozzle individually. This degree of control can be compared to a proportional hydraulic valve which is well-known now as being very robust technology. Due to this PWM regulation, the spray pressure and thus the droplet size are always maintained. In addition, the high droplet speed results in a short droplet flight time, resulting in a precise application at the targeted plant plus, at the same time, in a high drift reduction.

Of course, the system is also suitable for just full area application. However, in addition, the full area and part area site-specific applications can be combined. In this way, for example, 30 % of the application rate can be sprayed across the total area but, in parts, where the sensor detects an area with weeds, the rate increases to 100 %, resulting in the full application rate only in areas with a heavy weed content.

The combination of the three components (Sensor – Nozzle Switching – Nozzle) on the AMAZONE sprayer allows the very precise application, such as, for example, of glyphosate with the important objective of reducing the application rates. Depending on time of the year, weather, cropping and prior soil tillage, the weed emergence can be very patchy. After scientific evaluation by Wageningen University, savings of 20 – 60 % could be achieved under central European farming conditions. In direct drilling situations the savings could also be up to 80 % compared with a full area blanket treatment. The huge decrease in the total amount applied offers labour efficiency savings as the number of tank refills per day is reduced and thus the work rate increases. By this increase in output it is always then possible to apply the chemical at the optimum time whereby drift and evaporation are reduced. Lower application rates, especially of glyphosate, reduce both variable costs and help in protecting the environment.

With the AmaSpot system a new application technology is introduced to the market, contributing to enormous savings in variable costs, increases in efficiency and environmental protection by altering the way that total herbicides are applied. In future one can imagine this technology surely also being adopted in other areas of application.

Main advantages of AmaSpot

AmaSpot …

+ … is a highly precise, sensor-controlled nozzle switching with low drift injector technology

+ … offers a huge potential for the reduction in crop protection agents

Special advantages of the technology

+ Fully integrated sensor nozzle technology system for compact booms, such as the AMAZONE Super-L

+ Highly precise nozzle control with a 50 Hz pulse width modulation (PWM)

+ State-of-the-art PWM technology with options for spot and area spraying

+ Potential for drift reduction

+ Wholesome rate regulation with automatic compensation when driving round curves

Benefits in

+ Ecology and energy consumption

• Application of herbicides exclusively on targeted areas

• Saving on glyphosate products from 20 to 80 % compared with full area treatment

+ Economics and work management

• Savings in crop protection agents

• Variable control for precise spraying or area spraying depending on the application

• Treatment with maximum agent concentration to avoid resistance development simultaneously with reduced total costs

• Efficiency increase by avoidance of fill times