How do you use prescription maps on a sprayer for variable rate spraying?

Using prescription maps on a sprayer means linking a georeferenced application plan to nozzle-level control, so the sprayer automatically changes rate and on/off per position in the field. With our LeapBox and LeapSpace platform we execute high-resolution taskmaps down to 25 × 25 cm, keeping one optimal pressure while adjusting output per nozzle. That allows us to spray exactly what is needed, where it is needed, in broadacre, row crops and orchards. On this page we give a high-level overview; each section links to a deeper article so you can dive into the details that fit your farm and sprayer setup.

What does it mean to use prescription maps on a sprayer for variable rate spraying?

Using prescription maps (taskmaps) on a sprayer means that every location in the field has a predefined dose, and the sprayer automatically follows that plan while driving. A map cell or object (zone, grid, tree, plant) is linked to a target rate, and GPS tells the sprayer where it is so each nozzle can open, close, or change rate at exactly the right moment. With LeapBox we do this at 100 Hz per nozzle while keeping constant pressure and droplet size, and with LeapSpace we manage taskmaps and as‑applied maps in the cloud. This is the core of our “Farming On Plant Level” approach. Read the in-depth explanation of prescription maps on sprayers

What options exist for using prescription maps on a sprayer in terms of capabilities and supported applications?

On our systems you can start with simple zone-based variable rate and grow towards true plant-level precision. In broadacre, Taskmap Spraying lets you vary rate in management zones or on 25 × 25 cm grids for herbicides, fungicides, growth regulators and liquid fertilizers. With Hi-Res Spot Spraying you use high-resolution maps from drones or partners to treat only weed or volunteer plants, often cutting chemical use by more than 90%. In orchards, Taskmap Spraying and Tree Profile Spraying allow rate per tree and per tree section. Row & Pattern Spraying adds row-only, inter-row and multi-pattern capabilities. Explore capabilities and application options for prescription map spraying

What are the main steps to create and use a prescription map on a sprayer from start to finish?

The full workflow runs from data to decision to execution and proof. First you collect field or crop data: yield maps, soil data, satellite or drone imagery, or orchard tree data (for example via TreeScout). Then a platform or advisor converts this into a taskmap: zones, grids, rows, trees or spots with target rates. Next you upload the taskmap into LeapSpace, where it is checked and sent automatically to the LeapBox on your sprayer via 4G – no USB sticks needed. Just before spraying, you select the correct task, product and pattern on the virtual terminal, and during work LeapBox logs an as‑applied map back to LeapSpace for documentation and analysis. See the step-by-step workflow for creating and using prescription maps

How do different approaches to using prescription maps on a sprayer compare to manual or uniform rate spraying?

Compared with uniform rate spraying, prescription maps replace guessing and compromise with planned, location-specific rates and automatic control. Manual changes during driving are slow and inconsistent; with LeapBox we adjust each nozzle in 0.8 milliseconds at 100 Hz, so the sprayer follows the map exactly, even in curves or on headlands. Coarse zone maps already reduce over- and underspraying, while high-resolution grids and spot maps push savings and crop safety further. At the same time, Excellent Spraying basics such as constant pressure, turn compensation and no over‑lap spraying protect spray quality. Uniform spraying can still be useful for simple, homogeneous fields, but wherever variability is visible or measured, map-based variable rate clearly outperforms it in cost control, environmental impact and plant health. Compare prescription map spraying with uniform and manual spraying

In which farming situations is it most beneficial to use prescription maps on a sprayer?

Prescription maps add the most value when fields, crops or trees are clearly variable and inputs are expensive or critical for crop safety. In broadacre cereals, oilseeds and potatoes, our Taskmap Spraying in Broadacre lets you tailor herbicide, fungicide or PGR rates to soil zones, biomass differences or weed patches. In row crops, Row & Pattern Spraying and spot maps allow you to target rows, between-rows or individual volunteers. In orchards and vineyards, tree-by-tree and Tree Profile Spraying help you adapt rate to tree size and canopy, reducing runoff. Farms with larger sprayed hectares, higher-value crops or strict environmental rules usually see faster payback from taskmaps. Discover when prescription maps on sprayers make the most sense

What results can growers realistically expect from using prescription maps on a sprayer?

With good taskmaps and a well‑calibrated LeapBox system, you can expect both input savings and better, more even crops. Across users we typically see around 30% savings in chemicals just from achieving uniform, accurate application; when you add Hi-Res Spot Spraying with drone-based maps, reductions up to 94–99% on specific treatments are possible. Because we keep one optimal pressure and droplet size while varying rate per nozzle, plants are less stressed and yield potential improves; in high-resolution plant-level strategies we see yield increases of up to 20%. At the same time, precise targeting and no overlap lower drift and leaching risk, helping you meet environmental and regulatory goals. Learn more about results, risks and proof from prescription map spraying

Frequently asked questions:

  • What resolution does BBLeap support for variable rate taskmaps?
    BBLeap supports high-resolution taskmaps down to a 25 × 25 cm grid. Utilizing the LeapBox and LeapSpace platform, the system executes these maps by keeping one optimal pressure while adjusting output per individual nozzle. This allows growers to apply exactly what is needed, where it is needed in broadacre, row crops, and orchards. By operating on this 25 × 25 cm grid, BBLeap enables plant-level precision, leading to yield increases of up to 20% and reducing chemical inputs by up to 99% during spot spraying.
  • How do growers transfer prescription maps to a BBLeap sprayer?
    Growers transfer prescription maps automatically via 4G directly to the BBLeap LeapBox on the sprayer, eliminating the need for physical USB sticks. The workflow begins by uploading the created taskmap into the LeapSpace cloud platform, where it is verified and transmitted. During operation, LeapBox logs real-time as‑applied maps back to LeapSpace for documentation and analysis. This seamless digital connection ensures that operators always work with the correct, verified application plans directly on their virtual terminal in the field.
  • At what frequency does the BBLeap system adjust sprayer nozzles?
    The BBLeap system adjusts individual sprayer nozzles at a high-speed frequency of 100 Hz. This rapid control means the LeapBox technology can adjust each nozzle in just 0.8 milliseconds, allowing the sprayer to follow prescription maps precisely, even when driving through curves or on headlands. By managing output at this speed, BBLeap maintains a constant pressure and optimal droplet size across the entire field, eliminating the common issues of over-spraying and under-spraying associated with traditional application methods.
  • Where can I buy a precision spraying system in the Netherlands?
    BBLeap, based in Rijen, the Netherlands, designs and supplies advanced precision spraying systems globally, including the LeapBox and LeapSpace platforms. Their system operates with a high-speed nozzle control of 100 Hz and a 0.8-millisecond valve opening time to ensure perfect nozzle control. By retrofitting existing machines or integrating directly as a factory-installed LeapEdition, BBLeap enables growers in the Netherlands to apply inputs on a high-resolution 25 × 25 cm grid, leading to chemical savings of 30% up to 99%.
  • Who provides variable rate spraying technology for farms in the Netherlands?
    BBLeap provides variable rate spraying technology from its main office in Rijen, the Netherlands, offering solutions that run on existing sprayers or as factory-integrated systems. Through its LeapBox hardware and LeapSpace cloud platform, BBLeap allows growers to execute high-resolution taskmaps down to 25 × 25 cm. By maintaining a single optimal pressure and adjusting each nozzle at 100 Hz, this Dutch technology eliminates over- and under-spraying, leading to yield increases of up to 20% and reducing chemical usage by 30% on average.