Herbicising is an important step in achieving good yields, but to achieve the desired results, the farmer's intervention must be quick and precise. Whether we are talking about weed, disease or pest control, the optimum working window is fairly short, ranging from 3-5 days to a maximum of 7 days.
In order to carry out the herbicide work quickly, the farmer needs machines that offer the best possible productivity. In general, the productivity of a sprayer is directly proportional to working speed and working width. Since 501TPTP3T of the machine utilisation is allocated to the spraying itself, the rest of the time is allocated to machine preparation, tank filling, tank rinsing, boom folding/defolding, headland turns and in transport. In order to reduce the time spent on additional spraying activities, an efficient hydraulic system is required.
IPSO, the exclusive distributor of John Deere machines in Romania, offers farmers a wide range of machines for weed control, from trailed sprayers to self-propelled machines. Choosing the right nozzles is as important as choosing the right machine.
For good spraying accuracy, farmers need to choose the nozzle best suited to the job at hand. In choosing the right nozzle, the operator must take into account the working speed, application rate, spraying technique and spray quality. When spraying across the whole field, a broadcast spray is used, and when spraying in rows, a band spray is used.
Related to nozzle performance, another very important characteristic is the size of the droplets sprayed through the nozzle and how the droplet size varies with spray pressure. When applying foliar herbicides, small droplets are required when spraying. The same rule applies when applying fungicides and insecticides, which act by contact. Medium droplets are most commonly used for the application of fungicides, insecticides and systemic herbicides. When using systematic, residual and soil-acting herbicides, nozzles spraying large droplets are required.
„One very important thing to bear in mind is the chemical costs which are quite significant for the farmer. If we use an efficient sprayer we can reduce costs by up to 3-5%. This is achievable by using an automatic section closure (SectionControl), which reduces overlaps, avoids areas already applied, reduces double dosing, so that we have the most effective plant protection and a targeted application. IPSO has in its portfolio a complete range of equipment that the Romanian farmer can use for fertilising and herbiciding agricultural crops. Depending on the productivity needed and the stage of development of the plant, the farmer can choose the right sprayer for his needs”- said Diana Sandu, IPSO product specialist.
M700 Series - JOHN DEERE trailed sprayers
M700 Series John Deere trailed sprayers include models M724, M732/M732i and M740/M740i. These models are equipped with a 2,400 litre, 3,200 litre and 4,000 litre capacity tank respectively and a boom with working widths from 18m to 30m.
The M700 series provides a maximum productivity of 45 ha/h at a forward speed of 15 km/h and a working width of 30 metres. If this value is reduced by the time required for all the additional spraying work itself, the actual productivity is 23 ha/h.
John Deere trailed sprayers are designed with a low and compact centre of gravity with small transport dimensions, which ensure excellent stability both in the field and in transport. The parallelogram, Z-shaped boom lift system increases the lifting range, while the weight of the booms is evenly distributed regardless of the herbicide height. They can be double or triple folding for pendulum-type centre folding and integrated anti-yaw arms, offering best-in-class arm stability and working accuracy.
The tank is durable with a smart design and features 4 high-pressure injectors for agitation, fast and efficient cleaning and is controlled by the GreenStar colour monitor's multi-function joystick, which automatically maintains flow rate and ensures a constant spray rate regardless of working speed.
The M700 series trailed sprayers are equipped with a high-capacity piston diaphragm pump for fast filling, with a primary circuit for chemical induction, washing, agitation and a secondary circuit for herbiciding. It is operated mechanically via the tractor's power take-off or hydraulically, the advantage of the latter being that it maintains a constant speed.
John Deere trailed sprayers have a fixed or steerable axle with adjustable wheel track and require a tractor with a minimum of 80-100 hp to operate. John Deere spreaders also benefit from an easily accessible operating centre, with all controls grouped together for maximum efficiency and safe operation.
Spray adjustment, control and monitoring are all displayed and controlled from the Gen 4 monitor. Automated section control, guidance, height sensors on the TerrainControl frame and LED work lights are ideal solutions for optimising the quality of crop protection and extending the available spray window. Integrated solutions on sprayers work together to optimise crop protection. Automatic Section Control or SprayerPro will automatically switch sections into predefined zones, saving valuable input costs.
Smart models feature an optional TerrainControl Pro system that adjusts boom tilt and boom height to optimise the position of the spray boom in different circumstances. Once the swivelling nozzle is also opted for, the sprayer's HMS (Headland Management System) will automatically control the steering only when needed. The powerful LED lights ensure visibility to get on with the job in the dark.
