Leading from the front

The AMAZONE FT front tank, you wouldn’t even know it was there

With the AMAZONE UF sprayer, its reputation goes before it. That well-proven formula of induction bowl performance, boom ride and nozzle control coupled with its exceptional build quality and reliability has made the UF what it is today.

When you are looking for increased work rates from a wraparound sprayer combination, there’s adding just extra capacity and then there’s adding AMAZONE convenience and comfort. All that connects the AMAZONE FT to the rear-mounted UF sprayer is just a cable and 2” feed and return pipes. After that technology takes over and you don’t even know a front tank is there. myAMAZONE for higher output https://amazone.co.uk/myAMAZONE

Simplicity, performance, capacity, AMAZONE.

The perfectly balanced extended capacity

•Broad spectrum weed control

•Unique SX® formulation

•Faster, safer washout

•Broadest tank mix compatibilities supported with the widest range of approved ALS tank mixes and sequences

•Consistent quality, reliability and traceability

Spraying technology continues to move with the times

Continually increasing environmental and legislative measures mean that blanket application of agrochemicals is under constant pressure to justify its usage. However, in its 50-odd years of sprayer development, Amazone says it has always been at the forefront of technology when it comes to minimising environmental impact and also in reducing unnecessary chemical wastage during application.

From day one, those fundamentals of spraying have never varied. The tank contents need to be homogenously mixed to ensure an even application. The boom needs to be kept at an optimum 50cm above target height on a 50cm nozzle spacing with 110-degree nozzles, or lower with a 25cm spacing, to get the perfect overlap between nozzles and the correct nozzle needs to be selected to give the right droplet size at the right application rate. In the eld, the driver has historically been responsible for ensuring that the boom was at the correct height, that the tank mix had reached all of the nozzles and that the sprayer was switched on and o at the appropriate point.

With regard to using technology to handle some of that responsibility, Amazone’s DUS pressure recirculation system makes sure the boom is purged and primed with the correct mix and so ready to spray from that rst corner. The automatic boom shut-o system, GPSSwitch, which came onto the market in 2007, enables pin-point on/o accuracy of the sprayer boom section when coming in and out of the headlands –not only helping to reduce the stress on the driver, but also generating savings of 5% in chemical usage by stopping excessive overlapping and preventing any resistance risk by ensuring full coverage.

This major breakthrough was followed quickly by DistanceControl, where a combination of ultrasound sensors, potentiometers and gyroscopes kept the boom at the target height above crop, keeping drift to a minimum and ensuring optimum coverage.

Responsible and sustainable approach

Fast-forward to 2023, and Amazone sprayer technology continues to o er a responsible and sustainable approach. Nozzles are controlled individually meaning that sprayer overlap is reduced to just 15% of a standard sprayer, giving further savings on chemical usage.

The new boom control system, ContourControl, uses a combination of clever hydraulics and electronics so that the boom maintains the target height at speeds of up to 20kph with both negative and positive geometry automatically compensated for. Switch from 50cm nozzle spacing down to 25cm, and the boom target height is automatically set. SwingStop eliminates boom tip sway caused by in uences of the tractor movement to ensure the same dose rate across the full boom width.

Take also the new Amazone DirectInject system; here, an on-board 50-litre reception tank carries an additional neat product with a highaccuracy pump that injects this directly into the nozzle body on demand. The system is plumbed directly into the

Isobus software so the operator can turn the DirectInject system on and o at will.

DirectInject is then ideal for spraying headlands with a selective tank mix that complies with any bu er zone requirements with the additional product then being added at the nozzle for the remainder of the eld where it can be legally applied.

Flexibility of spraying

Alternatively, a base rate of an active ingredient cam be blanket sprayed across the eld but which can be topped up on demand for areas where disease or weed pressure is higher or, in areas such as weed pockets, a new ingredient can be added to the nozzle mix just for that split second of spraying. Any unused chemical is not wasted, but is returned to the container and the system washed out through the automatic cleaning cycle. No cross-contamination of the main spray mix is possible through the use of two separate spray lines. This application process will be automated in the future by the use of application maps. The system in practice has seen better utilisation of the sprayer by reduced passes through the crop, cutting operator time as well as better pest, weed and disease control.

We all know the importance of droplet size when it comes to drift reduction, and Amazone’s unique electric nozzle selection system – AmaSelect – o ers accuracy of application by ensuring the correct nozzle size is automatically chosen on the move to suit forward speed and application rate.

Spray rate controllers increase the ow of liquid to match the speed of the sprayer and thus maintain application rate but this is generally achieved through one nozzle and so increasing the speed generates more ow at the nozzle and thus a smaller droplet size and so more drift.

AmaSelect picks the optimum nozzle, or combination of nozzles to keep droplet sizes the same, irrespective of speed or rate. The AmaSelect system can also be used for other bene ts. CurveControl uses acceleration sensors to calculate the boom speed at any point along its width and then selects the right nozzle at that point to maintain the dose rate across the full boom.

AmaSelect Row means that the sprayer can switch between band spraying and full width spraying at the press of a button – ideal for targeting row crops such as potatoes, maize or sugar beet, again with savings of up to 65% on chemical usage being achieved.

AmaSelect Spot means that the sprayer can spot spray to a weed map to increase sprayer output by targeting chemical application as well as reducing the overall usage. FG

Make the most of rainwater harvest and storage

With the new spraying season not far away, now is a good time to be thinking about rainwater harvesting and storage. MJP Supplies can provide a wide range of tank sizes, all available from Enduramaxx which are produced locally to the company at Baston in Lincolnshire.

Rainwater has a lower pH than hard mains water, meaning spraying e cacy is greatly improved and water softeners and conditioners don’t need to be used – so saving money and time when lling sprayers.

Rainwater is also free, and most farms have large roof areas ready to collect from. The water can be ltered before storing, using one of MJP’s self-cleaning lter systems which prevents any debris or grit getting into the storage tanks. The company can o er multiple tanks joined together to provide extra storage for dry times of the year, and has a rainwater calculator available.

Another way of improving spraying e ciency is to mount one of MJP’s transport tanks in an existing grain trailer or on a at trailer, making an instant and cost e ective bowser that can be used to transport water or fertiliser safely and e ciently to the eld. MJP can o er transport tanks of up to 13,000 litres but says the 10,000 litre is the most popular as it can be used in an existing 12 or 14t trailer and still be safe if used with liquid fertiliser with an sg of 1.3.

For more details or free quotes and advice contact Marcus at MJP Supplies directly. FG

Protect crop potential this spring

Life Scienti c has launched two new, cost-e ective herbicides.

Laya is a water-soluble granule formulation containing 200g/ kg metsulfuron-methyl and is a reverse-engineered Ally SX. Laya can be used for spring-applied broad-leaved weed control in wheat, barley, oats and triticale.

Leash contains 200g clopyralid and is a reverse-engineered Dow Shield for controlling perennial and annual broad-leaved weeds in a range of di erent crops.

“With wheat prices as high as they are, this presents a good opportunity for growers to push for higher yields and pro ts. It is certainly not the time to scrimp and hold back on inputs that will detract from the crop achieving its full potential,” says Ruth Stanley, Life Scienti c country manager for UK & Ireland.

However, she also recognises that a balance between expensive inputs and pushing for yield has to be struck, and this is where she believes the new herbicides will t into a cost-e ective spraying programme very well.

“It is important to use sulfonylureas in programmes or tank-mix with herbicides with alternative modes of action. Laya can be applied as a joint application with one of the following ALS herbicides: Barton WG, Boxer, Cintac, Eagle, Galaxy, GF-184, Hatra, Horus, Hunter, Niantic and Othello.”

Leash is a selective systemic herbicide, which is e ective mainly by foliar uptake, and belongs to HRAC Group 4 (Auxin mimics).

Whilst Leash is approved for use in many important UK crops, Ruth advises checking the label as not all the crops have approval for the same timing, or individual or maximum dose. FG