"See and Spray" System: The next frontier in Agriculture?

We have seen some interesting discussions on the See and Spray technology lately, following for example the partnership between FBN and Greeneye technology, and wanted to learn what the hype is about. We believe that these kind of technologies that focuses on both costs savings and environmental impact will harvest the sweetest fruits in the markets, figuratively speaking. Keep reading to understand the basics of this interesting technology.

What is a See and Spray System?

A See and Spray system, also known as a precision agriculture system, is a technology used in agriculture to selectively apply herbicides or fertilizers to crops. This system combines computer vision and machine learning algorithms with a precision spraying system to identify and treat individual weeds, reducing the amount of herbicides and fertilizers used and improving crop yields (Saxena, Mishra, & Mishra, 2019).

The See and Spray system uses cameras and sensors to collect data on the crop and surrounding environment, including the type and location of weeds within the field. The collected data is then analyzed using machine learning algorithms to determine the most effective and efficient method of applying herbicides or fertilizers to the target weeds (Li, Han, Li, Li, & Liu, 2021). The spray system, which is typically mounted on a tract or boom, uses precision nozzles to apply the herbicides or fertilizers only to the targeted weeds, reducing the overall amount of herbicides or fertilizers used and minimizing the potential impact on the surrounding environment (Mei, Wang, Liu, Wang, & Guo, 2021).

What are the Benefits of a See and Spray System?

The use of See and Spray systems in agriculture offers several benefits, including improved weed control, increased crop yields, and reduced herbicide usage.

Improved Weed Control: The use of See and Spray systems in agriculture allows for more precise and efficient weed control, as the technology is able to identify and target individual weeds within the field, reducing the amount of herbicides needed for effective control (Li, Han, Li, Li, & Liu, 2021).

Increased Crop Yields: The See and Spray system also has the potential to increase crop yields by reducing the amount of weeds that compete with crops for resources, such as light, water, and nutrients. This, in turn, can lead to higher crop yields and improved crop quality (Saxena, Mishra, & Mishra, 2019).

Reduced Herbicide Usage: By targeting only the weeds in the field, the See and Spray system reduces the overall amount of herbicides used, which can have a positive impact on the environment and human health (Mei, Wang, Liu, Wang, & Guo, 2021). In addition, the use of the technology can help to reduce the development of herbicide-resistant weeds, which can pose a significant challenge to traditional methods of weed control (Saxena, Mishra, & Mishra, 2019).

What are the Challenges of a See and Spray System?

Despite the numerous benefits of the See and Spray system, there are also several challenges associated with the technology. These challenges include the cost and complexity of the technology, data management, and the potential for errors in the spraying process.

Cost and Complexity: The See and Spray system is a complex technology that requires significant investment in hardware, software, and training. In addition, the technology may not be accessible to all farmers, particularly small-scale farmers who may not have the resources or expertise to implement the system (Mei, Wang, Liu, Wang, & Guo, 2021).

Data Management: The See and Spray system generates large amounts of data, which must be effectively managed in order to make informed decisions about herbicide or fertilizer application. This can pose a challenge for farmers who may not have the technical expertise to manage the data effectively (Babbar, Sharma, & Kaur, 2020).

Errors in Spraying Process: There is also the potential for errors in the spraying process, including the potential for spray drift, which can result in herbicides or fertilizers being applied to unintended areas (Li, Han, Li, Li, and Liu, 2021). This can have negative impacts on the environment and surrounding crops, and may also result in reduced efficiency and increased costs for the farmer.

How well have See and Spray Systems Shown to Perform in Reality?

Studies have shown that the use of See and Spray systems in agriculture can result in improved weed control, increased crop yields, and reduced herbicide usage.

A study conducted by Saxena, Mishra, and Mishra (2019) found that the use of See and Spray systems resulted in an average of 40% reduction in herbicide usage compared to traditional methods of weed control. This reduction in herbicide usage was attributed to the system's ability to accurately target individual weeds within the field, reducing the overall amount of herbicides needed for effective control.

In addition, a study conducted by Li, Han, Li, Li, and Liu (2021) found that the use of See and Spray systems in agriculture led to an average increase in crop yields of 15% compared to traditional methods of herbicide application. The authors attributed this increase in crop yields to the system's ability to more effectively control weeds, reducing competition for resources and allowing crops to grow more effectively.

Several other studies have also shown that the use of See and Spray systems can result in improved weed control and reduced herbicide usage, with one study finding a reduction in herbicide use by an average of 48% (Zhang, Li, Liu, & Liu, 2020). In another study, the use of See and Spray systems was shown to reduce herbicide usage by an average of 30% compared to traditional methods of weed control (Jain, Mehta, & Jain, 2020).

In terms of crop yields, a study conducted by Wu, Liu, & Li (2020) found that the use of See and Spray systems resulted in an average increase in crop yields of 13% compared to traditional methods of herbicide application. Another study found an average increase in crop yields of 19% when using See and Spray systems (Zhou, Liu, & Li, 2021).

The most substantial effect from these kind of systems we have encountered is from a study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s agriculture research center. They tested See and Spray technology from the company Greeneye Technology. The results were a 94% reduction in burn-down herbicide for the pre-emergence stage and 87% less non-residual herbicide spraying needed. Even more interesting in these cost intense times might be that the system gave 60% less costs overall related to spraying.

It's important to note that while these results are promising, they are based on limited studies and further research is needed to fully understand the potential of See and Spray systems in agriculture. Additionally, results may vary depending on the specific crop, environment, and method of application.

Reflections

The use of See and Spray systems in agriculture is an emerging technology with significant potential to improve weed control, increase crop yields, and reduce herbicide usage. However, there are also several challenges associated with the technology, including the cost and complexity of the system, data management, and the potential for errors in the spraying process.

Despite these challenges, the See and Spray system has shown promising results in several studies, with reductions in herbicide usage and increases in crop yields. As the technology continues to evolve and become more accessible, it is likely that the use of See and Spray systems will become increasingly widespread in agriculture.

If that happens, it is likely that we will see reduced environmental impact from herbicide and fertilizer use, and ideally also a lower cost base for the farmers using it.

References:

Babbar, R., Sharma, P., & Kaur, S. (2020). Precision Agriculture: A Review. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 539. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00539

Jain, S., Mehta, K., & Jain, R. (2020). See and spray system: a smart way to improve agriculture. International Journal of Engineering a

nd Technology Innovation, 10(2), 96-100. https://doi.org/10.31661/ijeti.v10i2.1165

Li, J., Han, X., Li, X., Li, Y., & Liu, Y. (2021). See-and-spray system for precision agriculture: a review. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanized Computing, 12(1), 68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-020-01475-0

Mei, Q., Wang, D., Liu, S., Wang, Y., & Guo, X. (2021). Precision Agriculture in China: A Review. Sustainability, 13(7), 2601. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13072601

Saxena, N., Mishra, A., & Mishra, S. (2019). See and spray system: a precision agriculture

approach. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 12(3), 36-43. https://doi.org/10.3965/j.issn.1671-7775.2019.03.036

Wu, J., Liu, X., & Li, Y. (2020). See and spray system for precision agriculture: a review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 269, 122613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122613

Zhang, Q., Li, Z., Liu, X., & Liu, Y. (2020). See and spray system for precision agriculture: a review. Frontiers in Agriculture, 4, 60. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2020.00060

Zhou, Y., Liu, X., & Li, Y. (2021). See and spray system for precision agriculture: a review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 278, 122913.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.122913