Spot spraying in oilseeds and protein crops
Abstract
Currently, spraying chemical products in agriculture became the main means of weed control
because this cultural practice is very fast, inexpensive and very effective. However, awareness
of their negative impacts (environment, human health) requires thinking about new technical
and agronomic solutions. New technologies are promising techniques for a site-specific weed
management through the development of localized spraying.
Some sprayers (often small width) located on the row may be able to answer those
expectations but they are most often expensive. In this context, the objective of the project
“PLEVOP” (development of spot sprayer in oilseed and protein crops), proposed by
Terres-Inovia, is the operational development in arable crops of a spot sprayer located on the
row through model crops: the rapeseed and sunflower. The aim is to complete the chemical
weeding on the row by mechanical weeding (hoeing) on inter-row. Working with a
manufacturer, MARECHAL, the objectives of the project are to 1) explore the potential of this
system, 2) define its use conditions (volume, nozzle type, nozzle height, speed of passage, high
work output ...) and the effectiveness of this technique, in order to provide quality advice to
farmers.
Through the tests conducted we want to 1 / know the influence of the type of guidance (GPSRTK,
tracer wheels, vision ...) on this type of spray and 2 / study the biological efficiency on
weeds by comparing it to that full treatment.
Finally, to qualify the environmental gain (reduction of use and impact) and to evaluate the
practicability and the economic balance will be undeniable assets to accompany the farmer in
new agri-environmental practices.