The use of crop protection products is under pressure. Costs are rising, regulations are becoming stricter, and there is increasing attention to environmental impact. At the same time, effective weed control remains essential for yield and quality.
Spot spraying is therefore often mentioned as a logical next step in precision agriculture. However, within this technology there are clear differences. The question is not only what spot spraying is, but especially which approach works best in practice.
In traditional spraying, an entire field is treated regardless of whether weeds are present. This leads to waste and unnecessary strain on soil and environment.
Spot spraying takes a different approach. Only the areas where weeds are detected are treated. Research shows that this principle can significantly reduce herbicide use while maintaining effective weed control (ScienceDirect, 2023).
In addition, targeted application contributes to lower environmental impact and can even have a positive effect on yield and biodiversity (Frontiers in Environmental Economics, 2024).
The core of the system is therefore not the spraying itself, but the way weeds are detected.
All spot spraying systems consist of the same steps: detection, decision-making, and nozzle control.. The quality of the system is largely determined by the first step.
Camera-based systems use image recognition to classify plants. This requires capturing and analyzing images in real time.
This works well under controlled conditions, but also comes with limitations. Processing requires computing power and time. In practice, this means that speed and robustness can be under pressure, especially under varying light conditions (Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023).
Fluorescence-based systems work fundamentally differently. Under specific lighting, plants emit a measurable fluorescence signal that can be detected directly.
Research on chlorophyll fluorescence shows that this method is suitable for reliably distinguishing plants and measuring physiological properties (MDPI Agriculture, 2024).
Because this detection is based on a physical signal rather than image interpretation, the process is simpler and more consistent.
An important but often underestimated aspect of spot spraying is speed. For effective application, detection must take place while the machine is moving across the field. This means detection, decision-making, and nozzle control must happen within milliseconds.
In camera and AI systems, processing time is a limitation. Models must analyze and classify images before a nozzle can respond (Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023).
Sensor-based systems with fluorescence detection operate directly at signal level. No complex image processing is required, so detection and activation happen almost instantly. In practice, this translates into higher working speeds without loss of accuracy. This makes a major difference at scale.
The economic value of spot spraying lies in reducing input use. Studies show that spot spraying systems can achieve significant savings, ranging from several tens of percent to more than ninety percent depending on conditions and weed pressure (Montana State University, n.d.).
WEED-IT precision spraying goes further by combining per-plant detection with individual nozzle control. In practice, this can lead to savings of up to 95 percent on crop protection products.
This reduction directly impacts:
Agriculture does not take place under laboratory conditions. Light, dust, soil type, and crop variation are constantly changing.
A system must therefore not only be accurate, but also perform consistently under different conditions.
Because fluorescence detection is independent of ambient light, performance remains consistent during both day and night. This is a key difference compared to image-based systems, which are more sensitive to variations in light and contrast.
Detection is only part of the story. How spraying is applied is just as important.
With PWM, the dosage can be precisely controlled per nozzle. This ensures consistent application, even with variations in speed.
As a result, spraying effectiveness is maintained while drift is reduced and products are used more efficiently.
Technology on paper is different from technology in the field. Practical experience plays a major role in reliability. With more than 25 years of development and application, WEED-IT is a system that has been tested under a wide range of conditions. This is reflected in its stability, simplicity, and reproducible results.
Fluorescence detection measures a direct plant signal and therefore works independently of light conditions. Camera systems rely on image analysis and can be more sensitive to variations in light, contrast, and background.
This depends on weed pressure and conditions, but studies show savings can exceed 90 percent. In practice, systems like WEED-IT can achieve savings of around 95 percent.
Because they do not need to analyze images. Detection and activation are based directly on a signal, allowing higher working speeds without compromising accuracy.
Systems using fluorescence detection operate independently of daylight and therefore perform consistently both day and night.
Modern systems are widely applicable and are used worldwide across different crops and farming systems.
Do you have any questions after reading this article? Feel free to send an email to: info@rometron.nl we’d be happy to assist you.
