minimum tillage/selective spraying/technology
dbarda@peg.pegasus.oz.au
Fri, 8 Apr 1994 10:49:36 +1100
I am investigating a company who have developed a selective herbicide
spraying technology for broad acre agriculture. I am not very well
versed in the issues regarding broad acre agriculture, minimum tillage,
herbicide spraying (I believe they use an organic or biodegradable
herbicide). However would be happy to be enlightened as I am
providing some corporate direction to the company and would
like to see them succeed.
Put briefly, the issues as I understand them are
the tillage practices normally employed to weed broad acre crops.
Tillage causes loss of moisture and and soil erosion. The Detect spray
technology uses different frequencies of light to detect plant life on the
barren soil before sowing. When it detects such a plant (ie a weed) it sprays
it with a small amount of the herbicide. It uses between 50% & 95% less
herbicide and eliminates the need for tillage.
The technology is significant because
1) Legislation is being put in place to ensure
minimum tillage practices by 1995 (in the USA)
2) The Technology is patented and is supposedly unique and
The patent has been ruled by the US dept of agriculture to be of
fundamental importance.
If anyone is aware of information on this topic, or possibly
some reading material or individuals versed in this area, I would be grateful.
With thanks in advance
David Barda