AS Communications will now offer a retrofit option for spot spraying and variable rate applications thanks to a new agreement with Danish developer PerPlant.
Compatible with machines up to 36m, the cab-mounted sensor can work in cereals, oilseed rape, grass, maize, potatoes and sugar beet, continuously monitoring real-time conditions and sending data to the implement. This enables targeted dosing and section control as required.
Spot spraying down to 1sq m is also possible when used with sprayers with pulse width modulation.
The sensor comes with the PerPlant app, which automatically installs on the in-cab display. A PerPlant display is also available. During operation, the screen will display real-time guidance and dosage recommendations for fertilisers, seed or crop protection products. It will also track application rates and calculate the required volume of product for the task.
The operator retains control over the application strategy and can choose to redistribute product, combine this with an overall reduction in product applied, or start spot applications.
The system will also automatically scan each field pass, detecting differences. This data is stored in the cloud and can be recalled for analysis and farm planning, including nitrogen uptake, productivity zones and for generating official documentation.
Working through Isobus, it can link to the rear implement for variable rate and spot applications. This includes green-on-green functionality for sprayers up to 18m wide. It can also be used without an implement to scan the field and create prescription maps.
In addition to biomass scanning, it can also measure Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess plant health, density and greenness.
PerPlant is priced at £14,995, including installation, training and one year of cloud data analytics. It will be on display at Cereals on the AS Communications stand (603).