Precision farming equipment and advice specialist AS Communications is bringing to UK farmers the spot-spraying and variable-rate application capabilities offered by AI crop sensor technology, thanks to an agreement between the Huntingdon-based company and Danish development firm PerPlant.
Compatible with machines with a working width up to 36m, and in crops including cereals, oilseed rape, grass, maize, potatoes and sugar beet, the PerPlant cab-mounted sensor technology offers significant potential to help users maximise margins both by enhancing yields and by reducing input use. Calculations suggest a return on investment is possible within approximately one year. Variable application of seed, and of nutrients based on precise in-field biomass measurements, contribute significantly to this, minimising crop variation and reducing lodging risk.
Precise input application is possible with centimetre-level measurements and real-time dosing, optimising effective use of resources. With no requirement for field camera monitoring, preparation of application maps, USB transfer of data, license upgrades or ensuring files can be read, the system is particularly simple to use.
The sensor is installed in three simple steps. The hardware is supplied with the PerPlant app, which automatically installs on the user’s universal terminal or dedicated PerPlant screen. It provides real-time guidance during field operations, and offers precise dosage recommendations for fertilisers, seeds and plant protection products while automatically tracking application rates and logging data. The app also calculates the required volumes for a task, for optimal resource utilisation, minimised waste and maximum efficiency.
In operation, the sensor continuously monitors, evaluates, and records real-time conditions, and sends precise signals to the implement, enabling targeted dosage and section control for specific areas as needed. Spot treatment is possible down to a resolution of 1.0m2 on sprayers equipped with pulse width modulation (PWM) technology.
The operator retains full control over application strategy, whether choosing to redistribute product, combine redistribution with overall reduction in quantities, or implement spot application. Throughout the in-field process, users have full oversight and control of field operations, with the ability to track dosage applications in real-time via the PerPlant app.
The PerPlant system provides automatic scanning on every field pass, detecting any key differences. All data collected by the sensor during field operations is stored securely in the cloud, provide comprehensive insights for advanced analysis and strategic planning. Information can be used for purposes including evaluating nitrogen uptake, mapping productivity zones, and generating official documentation. With each pass through the field, the sensor autonomously improves its understanding of the user’s unique agricultural landscape, continuously enhancing precision and effectiveness. As a result, its intelligence saves time and optimises resource allocation.
Through ISOBUS, the sensor can be used for variable rate application of fertilisers, fungicides and growth regulators according to need. In addition, it provides the imaging required for spot spraying, with green-on-green (at up to 18m working width), green-on-brown and green-on-yellow recognition capabilities. It can also be used without hook-up to an implement, to can scan and make exact prescription maps – for example from the roof of a combine.
In addition to biomass, PerPlant can also measure Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess plant health, density and greenness by calculating the difference between near-infrared (strongly reflected by vegetation) and red light (absorbed by vegetation).
The PerPlant sensor package priced is £14,995, including installation training and one year’s cloud analytics, and it qualifies for the SF1 PRF1 category. AS Communications has a unit available for testing and demonstration.
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