Yara N-Sensor V3.10
Operation Manual
conference, AFPP, p. 511 – 518 by publication of Kempenaar, C., Groeneveld,
R.M.W., Uenk, D.,).
The dosing algorithms relate crop reflection data at a scale of 1 – 10 m
2
to a minimum
effective dose of potato haulm killing herbicides (e.g. Reglone®, Finale® 14 SL, Spot-
light Plus (carfentrazone-ethyl 60 G/L) or Purivel®) for the respective area. Use of Pu-
rivel is phased out in the EU in 2008 in most countries. Potato haulm killing herbicides
are sometimes called/classified as leaf desiccants.
The figure below shows a dosing algorithm for Reglone. The higher the crop reflection
parameter, the higher the dose. A minimum and maximum dose is defined for each
herbicide.
The integration of the MLHD PHK dosing algorithms in the Yara N-sensor was finalised
in 2007. The system is tested in practice for both injection and conventional sprayers.
In potato crops on arable farms in the Netherlands, MLHD PHK module showed an av-
erage reduction of 40 % compared to standard practice while efficacy remained good.
Reports are available in Dutch on
http://www.geo-logisch.nl
and
http://www.mlhd.nl
.
Reglone
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
0
20
40
Reflection parameter CropScan
M
e
60
m
ve do
in
i
u
m
ef
fect
i
s
(l/h
a
)
5.4.4
Tips & tricks for agronomic calibration and operation
Read the instructions in the N-Sensor manual before MLHD PHK is used. (see section
5.4.1 and 5.4.2). Hereafter some tips & tricks for optimal use are given.
General:
Usually, the system should be activated at the beginning of the field and
should continue to operate throughout the whole field. The
Stop
button is only
pressed to pause operation within the field, i. e. in order to refill the sprayer. In the
headlands, the N-Sensor keeps running. The sprayer is operated as without the N-
Sensor connected, i. e. it is turned on and off in the headlands as usual.
When the field is completed, press the
Stop
button to deactivate the system. You
may now continue with another task on another field as described or remove the
data card and process the log-file(s).
Potato Haulm killing strategy:
The user has to decide which potato haulm killing
agent (herbicide) he wants to apply and the number of applications. In some situa-
tions two applications per crop are needed to get a good result. This is generally
the case when the potato crop is still very dense and green at the time of potato
haulm killing. Combinations of different herbicides are then possible, for instance
to start with a spray of Reglone followed by a spray of Spotlight one week later.
The user selects in the Agronomic calibration module menu per spray which agent
Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39
Page 49 of 64