Trimble technology enables growers to save on herbicide spraying

With the next harvest approaching, growers need to be prepared for weed control. The adoption of products, which must always be guided by an agronomic professional, aims to guarantee the good performance of crops. Among the application precautions are the ideal dosage of the product, the calibration of the spray nozzles and the weather conditions, items that cannot be missing from the checklist. In addition to these precautions, the year 2022 promises more spending on inputs, which calls for the use of even more efficient solutions – according to data from the National Confederation of Agriculture (CNA), only Glyphosate, for example, increased by 127 % in the first nine months of 2021.

The use of technologies can increase the assertiveness of the operation and help the producer to obtain more savings. The use of WeedSeeker® 2, from Trimble Inc., for example, can reduce the volume of herbicide applied by up to 95% and the technology pays for itself, on average, in 1 year due to the high costs of herbicides, which can represent around 30% of pesticide costs. The drastic reduction is due to the fact that, with the system, pesticides are only applied to unwanted plants (target plants), identified using sensors. The opposite can also occur when the target plant becomes the crop, aiming for the application of specific products, such as foliar fertilizers.

The Trimble WeedSeeker® 2 selective application system has red and infrared light that allows it to work during the day and night, and with its advanced optics and processing power it detects and eliminates weeds with greater precision.

“Being able to save up to 95% has a positive impact on business profitability, bringing more time and cost savings, in addition to increasing productivity rates”, says Fernando Compagnon, responsible for the solution in Latin America. He adds that, in addition to economic issues, technology contributes to more sustainable agriculture.

Compagnon explains that when the sensor passes over the plant and detects it through reflected light, it forwards a signal to the respective application nozzle, ensuring application only on the target (weed), which favors the reduction of the use of herbicides and other products.

Targeted application

Some precautions related to the topic of application technology are also relevant when it is selective. However, it is always essential to consult an agronomist. According to the recent study by CropLife Brasil – an association created in 2019 that brings together experts, institutions and companies that work in the research and development of technologies in germplasm (seedlings and seeds), biotechnology, chemical pesticides and biological products – the application must be carried out in the coldest hours of the day, preferably at temperatures below 30°C, with relative humidity above 50%. Times with lower wind levels are desirable for this type of application.

According to Trimble data, a specific nozzle model is recommended for selective application, aiming to obtain thicker drops that allow a greater speed of arrival at the plant to guarantee assertiveness and also the desired target rate regardless of the position of the plant in relation to the sensor.