Selective spraying with pesticides
Selective spraying of pesticides results in a reduction of consumption and costs of sprays in crop production, minimizing the impact on the environment and higher yield per hectare. The basic principle of selective spraying represents dosing of different amounts of sprays over individual areas based on their actual needs: for instance, areas with greater disease and pest risk are sprayed with the preventive formulation in full dosage, while areas with minor risk of the occurrence are added sprays in smaller dosages.
In curative formulations, for control of the younger population of beetles or other pests and diseases, only hot spots are sprayed. Soil structure (a possibility of moisture conservation) significantly contributes to the creation of optimal conditions for pest and disease development.
For this reason, measures for selective pest control need to be well-thought-out and prepared with great care, otherwise a counter-productive effect is to be expected, such as developed resistance to certain sprays with particular pest species.
Sentinel satellites, drones and weather stations are used for regular monitoring of a current crop state and micro-climate conditions to predict the occurrence of pests and diseases.
Selective spraying requires machinery with an ISOBUS spreader, which enables the adjustment of individual spraying nozzles and segments with a complementary terminal on a tractor with a navigation system and ISOBUS support.