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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #86359

Title: INTERMITTENT SPRAY TECHNOLOGY FOR ROW CROP PRODUCTION.

Author
item Hanks, James

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sensor-controlled spray technology was evaluated in producer grown corn, cotton, and soybean fields. All crops were planted with 1-m wide row patterns. An 8-row sensor-controlled hooded sprayer, consisting of seven 0.7-m wide hoods and two 0.5-m wide hoods, was used for all applications. Each of the larger hoods were equipped with three light-reflectance type sensors and each of the smaller hoods had two sensors. Each sensor operated independently, allowing herbicide to be dispenced only to the areas where weeds were detected. The system was calibrated for a spray volume of 94 L/ha at a travel speed of 10 km/hr. Total spray volume was monitored for each field and compared to the spray volume required to spray the same area with a conventional hooded system spraying continuous. Applications consisted of pre-plant burndown, no-till, and in fields with previous cultivation. The total area treated with the system was 1040 ha which consisted of 210 ha, 330 ha, and 500 ha, respectively for corn, cotton, and soybeans. Reductions in herbicide usage or savings for the total treated area of each crop were 53%, 71%, and 70%, respectively, for corn, cotton, and soybeans.