What is Smart Apply® Intelligent Spray Control System™?
Smart Apply® Intelligent Spray Control System™ is a cutting-edge kit designed to transform almost every air blast and over‐the‐row sprayer into a high-tech precision spraying system. Using LiDAR technology, the system scans each plant or tree to create a detailed digital blueprint of the canopy, which in turn calculates and applies the exact amount of chemical needed per nozzle spray zone. Designed for orchards, nurseries, and vineyards, the system caters to a wide range of high-value crops including almonds, apples, avocados, cherries, grapes, hazelnuts, hops, lemons, mangos, olives, oranges, peaches, pecans, pistachios, plums, walnuts, and more. Nothing is sensed, nothing is sprayed – ensuring that every drop counts. This precise spraying process eliminates overspray and unnecessary waste, adapting in real time based on tree or plant density as the sprayer moves through the field.
Main Benefit: Key Figures and Facts
The benefits of Smart Apply are as clear as they are impressive:
- Cut water and chemical use by up to 73% – imagine the savings!
- Reduce chemical runoff by up to 93%, protecting soil and groundwater.
- Achieve up to 87% less spray loss beyond tree canopies and airborne drift.
- Improve efficiency with fewer trips to mix chemicals and refill sprayers.
- Ensure equal or better crop protection with variable rate application for each nozzle.
Precision Spraying and Data Collection
Precision spraying is at the heart of the Smart Apply system. The LiDAR-based technology creates detailed density maps of the crop canopy, ensuring that each nozzle operates as its own variable rate sprayer. This real-time adjustment means that only the areas requiring treatment receive chemical application. Beyond spraying, Smart Apply gathers and stores valuable operational data. Every application process is recorded and securely stored in the cloud, providing growers with a digital log that they can refer to later. The data includes tree count, tree size, the amount of chemicals applied per tree, and even density heat maps. This dual functionality of precision and data collection turns spraying into both an efficient treatment method and a robust source of agronomic insights.
Efficiency and Cost Savings
The efficiency improvements delivered by Smart Apply are hard to ignore. By reducing the need for frequent trips to the shed to mix chemicals and refill sprayers, the system minimizes downtime and cuts labor hours. In practical terms, this means that the time and energy spent on spraying operations are significantly lowered, leading to substantial cost savings over time. The automated and precise application ensures that growers only use what is absolutely necessary, reducing the overall input costs. It’s a smart investment that not only saves money but also makes everyday field management a whole lot simpler and more efficient.
Environmental and Crop Protection
Environmental benefits and sustained crop protection are major advantages of Smart Apply. The system’s targeted application drastically minimizes overspray, reducing harmful chemical runoff by up to 93% and limiting airborne drift by as much as 87%. Such improvements help safeguard the environment – protecting soil, preventing contamination of groundwater, and ensuring that roots remain healthy. The precise administration of chemicals means that crops receive consistent protection, maintaining yield quality, and ultimately, delivering equal or better crop performance compared to traditional methods. This thoughtful balance between efficiency and environmental health reflects modern, sustainable agricultural practices.
Project Impact: Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – by cutting water usage and reducing runoff.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – through precise chemical application reducing waste.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – by lowering the environmental impact and safeguarding local ecosystems.
Advanced Features and Global Availability
Smart Apply is loaded with advanced features that add to its versatility. The add-on kit, available worldwide through dealers and OEMs, seamlessly integrates into existing spraying systems. It not only turns every nozzle into a variable rate sprayer but also provides real-time insights with features like tree count, tree size measurement, density heat maps, and even the ability to compare these maps over time. Published research highlights the significant benefits: a 47-73% reduction in spray consumption, up to 87% less airborne drift, and ground spray loss reductions of 68-93%. Meanwhile, the system ensures that growers achieve equal or better crop protection, even as input usage dramatically falls.
The dynamic combination of precise, LiDAR-enhanced spraying and comprehensive data collection offers growers an opportunity to optimize both their operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. With Smart Apply, conventional spraying transforms into an intelligent process that is calibrated to the exact needs of each canopy. It’s a system that reflects modern agricultural innovation – one that operates as accurately as it performs, with every detail accounted for and every spray zone treated according to real-time data. In essence, Smart Apply is reshaping how spraying operations are conducted, paving the way for a future of smarter, more sustainable farming practices…
