Sensor-Controlled Hooded Sprayer for Row Crops

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 0.7-m-wide hooded sprayers providing sensors with an unobstructed view of the area between soybean rows. Single hood and commercial-size eight-row systems were evaluated, and savings in glyphosate spray solution applied using sensors ranged from 63 to 85%, compared to conventional hooded spray systems with continuous application. Weed control by the sensor-controlled spray system was equal to the conventional system. This technology can significantly reduce herbicide usage and decrease production cost without reducing weed control.