Variable rate application of fungicides

Abstract

Plant diseases often occur in patches within the field. But real-time sensor technologysensor technology for automatic disease detection which would be a prerequisite for demand related fungicide application is commercially not yet available. In heterogeneous fields growth conditionsgrowth conditions vary greatly due to soil quality differences. Consequently there exist subareas with varying biomassbiomass which affect yield at harvest time. In high biomass and yield subareas the Leaf Area IndexLeaf Area Index (LAI) is greater than in low biomass subareas. In cereals LAI can serve as a parameter to adapt application rateapplication rate to the growth differences in fields. Sensor controlled variable rate field sprayer technologytechnology therefore meets the economic and ecological demands of process optimisationoptimisation in the production of primary plant goods.