Autonomous sprayers promise to reduce labour and fuel in orchards

Karen Davidson

The Ontario apple industry is eagerly anticipating the orchard results of three autonomous sprayers which have been imported by Provide Agro Corp, Beamsville, Ontario. One machine was displayed at the recent Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention.

They will be set up for use in three different apple-growing regions: Hayden and Amanda Dooney’s Suncrest Orchard, Simcoe; Steve Bamford’ Bamford Family Farms, Clarksburg and Mike Gibson, Newcastle.

The Agbots arrived in the 2022 growing season for training. “I am confident that we can hit the ground running in the 2023 growing season to further validate the results of this technology,” says Hayden Dooney.

In his view, key benefits will be:

• Lowering inputs with the capacity to spray in ideal conditions, along with targeted tree level applications.

• Reduction in labour/repurposing of labour to other areas of the operation.

• Reduction of fuel usage. This equipment uses lower engine demands than traditional rigs for spraying, mulching and mowing.

• An opportunity to deploy further sensor-based technology that will take us in the direction of artificial intelligence for managing the orchard in the future and further enhance precision agriculture in the apple orchard.

“The Agbot from AgXeed based in the Netherlands, has multi-uses beyond crop protection,” says Sean Bartlett, business unit manager, Provide Agro Corp. “It can spray, weed spray, mow, flail chop and cultivate.”

According to the manufacturer’s website, AgBot 2.055W3 & CF2000-AB can be used for crop protection, weed control, the application of liquid nutrition and for mowing and shredding prunings. It is also possible to refill the tank in a controlled and unmanned manner. By reading in a task card and issuing commands for the machine, the AgBot 2.055W3 & CF2000-AB exactly knows what to do.

For spraying fungicides and insecticides, a crop protection module is placed behind the machine. That’s the home of the 2000-litre tank, an electrically driven fan, 16 nozzles (8 on each side) with nozzle holders and nozzles of the grower’s choice. The machine is also equipped with a H.S.S. Control box including GPS module and H.S.S. ISA. Weed control and the application of liquid feed is done with a three-point-supported frame. Two infinitely adjustable spray hoods with three nozzles per side or a double nozzle set including a pump of 150 litres/min per side hang from this. The frame also contains a 120litre tank and a Dosatron dosing pump for agent injection into the spray line. The frame is hydraulically lifting with mechanical width adjustment. The mechanical weed control works on both sides and is mechanically adjustable. The finger weeder has a diameter of 55 cm, has two sets of roller heels with a diameter of the discs of 380 mm. The working width is

+/- 55cm per side.

The AgBot 2.055W3 & CF2000-AB are the result of a collaboration between Hol Spraying Systems (HSS) and AgXeed. H.S.S. is the exclusive distribution partner for the fruit growing sector worldwide.

“I am excited to see this technology evolve through a full season of use in 2023,” Dooney concludes.