Precision Spray Systems
Variable-rate ground and aerial sprayers guided by NDVI prescription maps to cut input costs and improve application accuracy.
Conventional blanket spraying wastes 30-50% of applied product on areas that do not need treatment.
Conventional boom sprayers apply crop protection chemistry at a fixed rate across the entire field regardless of actual pest, disease or weed pressure distribution. Precision spray systems guided by prescription maps generated from drone NDVI surveys or satellite imagery apply the right product at the right rate to the right location, cutting total chemical volume by 20-40% while improving control outcomes in high-pressure zones. Jos•Hansen supplies variable-rate boom sprayers, precision nozzle sections and integrated prescription management software for commercial farm operations from 50 to 5,000 hectares.
Variable-rate control
Prescription maps generated from NDVI surveys control application rate per boom section in real time, increasing rate in high-pressure zones and switching off sections over already-treated or low-pressure areas. Variable-rate control reduces total product volume by 20-40% versus fixed-rate blanket programmes across field blocks.
Section control
Automatic boom section switching prevents overlap application at headlands and irregular field boundaries, eliminating double-dose zones that generate residue problems and wasted input spend. Section control alone reduces overlap waste by 5-15% on irregular-shaped commercial blocks.
Application records
Integrated application recording logs product, rate, GPS position and timestamp for every metre of boom travel, generating a complete field record for export-market traceability requirements and regulatory compliance documentation.
Prescription maps convert NDVI data into application rate instructions.
Variable-rate sprayer controllers import prescription maps as ISO-XML or shapefile inputs generated from drone NDVI surveys, satellite imagery or manually drawn zone maps, converting spatial data directly into per-section application rate commands without operator intervention. The sprayer adjusts flow rate per nozzle section within milliseconds of entering each prescription zone, maintaining target application volume despite varying travel speed across uneven terrain. Jos•Hansen precision spray programmes include prescription map generation from drone survey data, controller import setup, field calibration and a post-application coverage map that verifies each zone received the intended rate. Application records are archived per field block and linked to the agronomic programme record for season-end input accounting and residue programme traceability.
Nozzle selection determines coverage quality, not only volume.
Droplet size distribution from the spray nozzle determines whether product reaches the target surface at effective coverage density or drifts off-target and evaporates before contact. Jos•Hansen precision spray programmes specify nozzle type, size and pressure range for each product and crop combination based on label recommendations and regional drift risk assessment. Flat-fan nozzles deliver high coverage density for contact fungicides and insecticides requiring thorough canopy penetration, while air-inclusion nozzles reduce drift in high-wind conditions common in East African dry season spray windows. Nozzle wear monitoring and replacement scheduling is included in every annual service contract to maintain calibrated output across the full season.
Boom stability at field speed maintains consistent coverage across terrain.
Spray boom height variation across uneven terrain changes effective spray pattern width and coverage density, causing under- and over-application even when rate control is functioning correctly. Jos•Hansen specifies boom suspension systems matched to the terrain roughness and travel speed requirements of each farm operation, with active boom height control available for high-speed applications on commercial blocks. Regular boom calibration checks at 3-point intervals verify that all nozzles are delivering within 5% of target volume at specified operating pressure. Calibration records are documented and archived as part of the precision spray programme’s quality management system.
Technical specifications.
Boom widths
12 m to 36 m working widths for commercial applications
Tank capacity
600 L to 4,000 L depending on platform and field block size
Section control
Individual nozzle to full-boom section switching via ISOBUS controller
Prescription formats
ISO-XML, shapefile, ISOBUS TaskController compatible
GPS accuracy
Sub-metre RTK correction for section switching and overlap prevention
Record output
As-applied map per field, archived for traceability and residue programme documentation
Reduction in total crop protection product volume applied when prescription-guided variable-rate systems replace fixed-rate blanket spray programmes across farm blocks
Additional input saving from automatic section control preventing overlap application at headlands and irregular boundaries on typical commercial farm block geometry
GPS application accuracy achievable with RTK correction for section control switching and boom overlap prevention at field boundaries and within-field prescription zone transitions
Why Precision.
Zone-level precision
Prescription-guided variable-rate control applies chemistry at the rate each field zone actually requires, not a blanket rate set for the worst-case area in the block.
Traceability records
GPS-tagged as-applied maps generate a complete per-field application record for export market residue programmes and regulatory inspection compliance.
Section overlap prevention
Automatic section switching at headlands and field boundaries eliminates double-dose overlap zones that cause residue problems and waste 5-15% of total product spend.
Nozzle optimisation
Product-specific nozzle selection and wear monitoring maintain correct droplet size and coverage density across the full season, protecting application efficacy.
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