Precision spraying is becoming increasingly important in fruit growing, especially now that growers are being monitored more closely on their use of crop protection products. The Vision Spray technique from Munckhof Fruit Tech Innovators is one of the latest techniques that promises more targeted and efficient spraying. As part of the Interreg project ADaM&PreciLa, Delphy investigated the technique in practice to determine what Vision Spray actually delivers in orchards. The results show that the new technique is not only a good idea, but also provides measurable benefits in the field.
Delphy conducted the research in two professional Elstar orchards: a mature plantation with a full crown and a one-year-old plantation with a much more open structure. In March, May and July, both full-field spraying and Vision Spray were used. In the full-field situation, all spray nozzles were continuously open and the same amount of spray was applied throughout the fruit tree, regardless of how much foliage or crop was present at that moment. With the Vision Spray technique, the areas of the tree with high and low foliage coverage were automatically measured and the spray nozzles opened and closed at the right moment to save spray. The spray liquid was collected under each spray nozzle, so that it was possible to measure exactly how much product was used per nozzle and per crop stage. This provided an objective picture of the product savings in both crops.
In March, clear savings were immediately visible in the mature plantation. At that time, the trees were still virtually leafless, so Vision Spray kept many nozzles closed automatically and significantly less spray was used than with full-field spraying. In May, the difference seemed smaller. This was not because Vision Spray was less effective, but because the trees had grown in volume at the level of the second top cap. There were more leaves in that zone than in March, so more had to be sprayed, temporarily reducing the difference with full-field spraying. In July, the difference increased again. Due to shoot growth, the trees had become taller and an extra top cap had to be added for full-field spraying. However, there were few leaves in that part of the tree. Whereas this cap continued to spray continuously during full-field spraying, Vision Spray only switched it on occasionally. This resulted in significant additional savings during this period. Over the entire season, the savings in mature plantations ranged between 10 and 19 per cent, depending on the time of year.
The savings were even greater in the one-year-old plantations. The young trees had a lot of open spaces between the tree crowns and there were hardly any leaves at the top. Vision Spray therefore hardly needed to be sprayed there. A noticeable reduction was also visible at the bottom at the first spraying moment. The total savings in the young plantations amounted to 17 to 33 percent. According to Delphy, in practical situations where growers usually have all the caps open, this could even exceed 40 percent.
All in all, the field trials paint a clear picture. Vision Spray reduces the input of resources without compromising coverage. The technology prevents waste, especially at the top of the tree, where the crop is lighter and drift is often a problem. For growers, this means less product, less drift and equivalent coverage in the areas where it matters. In addition, Vision Spray ensures peace of mind during work: the machine recognises where the tree is and where it is not, and automatically adjusts the application accordingly. Growers no longer have to switch manually between nozzle positions and get a more consistent and reliable spray pattern. The conclusion from the research is therefore clear: Vision Spray really works in practice. The technology is ready for practical use and delivers measurable savings for those who want to become more sustainable, reduce costs or take a step towards data-driven precision spraying. The latest software can also detect posts and steel wires, routing in even greater savings.
