Product Focus: Croplands WEEDit trailed sprayer

Croplands WEEDit trailed sprayer range is lighting up fallow paddocks around Australia

(Sponsored Content) Australian-owned agricultural spray equipment manufacturer, Croplands, has recently launched the WEEDit trailed sprayer range in Western Australia.

More than 5,000 WEEDit sensors have been sold in the eastern states since it adopted the technology from Europe in 2013.

The WEEDit optical spot spray technology uses near-infrared technology to detect the chlorophyll in living plants. Once detected, an electronic signal is sent to a solenoid and the appropriate nozzle is selected to spray the weed.

WEEDit’s auto-calibration ensures optimum performance is maintained, day or night, regardless of soil type and stubbles.

Croplands believe its spray systems not only maximise the efficiency of the WEEDit sensors, but withstand the rigours of Australian broadacre conditions.

Its optical spot sprayers are now in use by some of Australia’s leading broadacre farmers to improve the efficiency of their herbicide spraying. Farmers report chemical savings, lowering of weed seed banks, retained soil moisture while also combating hard-to-kill weeds.

Queensland agronomist Andrew Johnston, from the Dalby region, where many farmers are using Croplands WEEDit optical spot sprayers as part of their fallow spraying operation, says they are seeing significant results.

“It’s the tool we use with our customers to target specific weeds at specific times,” Johnston says. “It means we don’t have to be on paddock immediately, WEEDit provides flexibility to hold off spraying for a short period and target the weeds at ideal times.

“WEEDit allows us to strategically manage paddocks when controlling feathertop. We don’t look at blanket applications; instead we look at more strategic mixes with different chemistries.”

Croplands dual tank, dual spray line, high capacity optical spot sprayer known as the WEEDit 7000, encompasses a 7,000-litre main tank with 800-litre flushing tank and 1,500-litre hot tank.

The hot tank is used to hold high-concentration chemicals specifically for spot spraying – the secret weapon for combating hard to kill weed and thus delaying the onset of herbicide resistance.