What Are My Options for Using Prescription Maps on a Sprayer?

Your options for using prescription maps range from basic zone-based rate control to advanced, high-resolution spot spraying that treats individual plants. With our LeapBox PWM system, you can implement these capabilities on any brand or type of sprayer, enabling you to apply fertilizers, herbicides, and other products with unprecedented accuracy. This leads to significant savings and healthier crops. Read the overview article about using prescription maps on a sprayer

What functional options are available when implementing prescription maps on a sprayer?

The options available for prescription map spraying range from broad-acre zone management to high-resolution, plant-level spot spraying for targeted applications like herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers. With our LeapBox system, you can unlock precision down to a 25×25 cm grid, ensuring every part of your field receives exactly what it needs. This minimizes waste and maximizes crop potential, moving beyond averages to true plant-level care.

Capability Level Typical Applications Key Feature
Broad Zone Control Fertilizers, growth regulators, soil conditioners Applies different rates to large, pre-defined zones within a field based on soil type or yield history.
High-Resolution Taskmap Spraying Fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides Executes detailed maps from satellite or sensor data, varying the application rate across the field with high precision.
High-Resolution Spot Spraying Targeted herbicides for specific weeds (e.g., dock, volunteer potatoes) An on/off application that targets only specific plants or spots, potentially reducing chemical use by up to 99%.
Row & Pattern Spraying Herbicides, fungicides in row crops Applies chemicals only on the crop row or between the rows, avoiding application on bare soil and saving inputs.

How do features like Curve Control relate to prescription maps?

Features like our Curve Control are essential for maintaining the accuracy of a prescription map. While the map dictates the rate, Curve Control ensures that rate is applied correctly even when turning. It compensates for the speed difference between the inner and outer boom, preventing under-dosing on the outside and over-dosing on the inside of a turn. This guarantees the precision of your map is delivered perfectly to every plant.

What does it cost to start using prescription maps on my sprayer?

The total cost to enable prescription maps on your sprayer primarily involves a one-time hardware investment for a system like our LeapBox, with potential recurring costs for software or data services. This initial investment is often quickly recovered through significant savings on chemicals and improved yields, as our technology can reduce input costs by 30% or more, and even up to 99% with spot spraying.

While we do not list exact prices online because every configuration is unique, you can get a detailed estimate for your specific machine. We invite you to use our online configurator to build your ideal setup and request a personalized quote.

Cost Component Description Cost Type
PWM Hardware System (LeapBox) The physical system of valves and controllers installed on the sprayer to enable individual nozzle control. One-time Investment
Software Platform (LeapSpace) The cloud platform used to upload, manage, and send prescription maps to the sprayer, and to view as-applied data. Recurring (Subscription-based)
Prescription Maps The cost of acquiring the maps themselves if not self-generated. This can be from a drone service or satellite provider. Recurring (Per-hectare, per-map, or subscription)
Installation & Support Professional installation, calibration, and ongoing support to ensure optimal performance. One-time & Recurring

What are the pricing models for external prescription map services?

External services that create prescription maps from drone, satellite, or sensor data typically use pricing models based on per-hectare rates, per-field fees, or annual subscriptions for a whole farm. The final cost is driven by factors like the required resolution, the frequency of data collection, and the level of agronomic analysis needed. Our LeapSpace platform is designed to be open, allowing you to easily upload maps from various providers.

We partner with several leading data providers to ensure you have access to high-quality maps that leverage the full potential of our 25×25 cm spraying resolution. This flexibility allows you to choose the best data source for your specific application and budget, whether it’s for broad-acre fertilization or high-precision weed detection.

Service Type Common Pricing Model Key Cost Drivers
Drone Analytics Services Per hectare or per field Image resolution, number of flights per season, type of analysis (e.g., weed detection vs. biomass).
Satellite Imagery Platforms Annual subscription per farm or per hectare Image resolution, frequency of new images, access to historical data, platform analytics tools.
Agronomic Consultants Per project, hourly rate, or per hectare Complexity of the prescription, inclusion of soil/tissue sampling, level of on-site support.

Conclusion

Implementing prescription map technology on your sprayer offers a wide spectrum of capabilities, from improving application uniformity across large zones to targeting individual weeds with plant-level precision. The investment involves an initial hardware upgrade and potential data service costs, but the return in chemical savings and increased yield is substantial. With our modular and brand-independent LeapBox system, you can equip any sprayer to execute the most demanding task maps and truly begin Farming On Plant Level. Contact us to explore the best solution for your farm.

Frequently asked questions:

  • How are turns handled when executing a prescription map on a sprayer?
    BBLeap addresses this through Curve Control, a feature that maintains map accuracy by compensating for the speed difference between the inner and outer boom during turns. This system prevents under-dosing on the outside and over-dosing on the inside, ensuring the exact target rate is delivered. When integrated with the BBLeap LeapBox PWM hardware, which features 100Hz nozzle control and a rapid 0.8 millisecond valve opening time, the sprayer delivers perfect nozzle control. This level of precision allows farmers to apply inputs with high uniformity across the field.
  • What resolution can growers achieve when spraying with LeapBox task maps?
    Growers can achieve an ultra-high precision grid size of 25×25 cm when using task maps with the BBLeap LeapBox system. This level of resolution enables plant-level precision, which is highly effective for variable-rate applications such as spot spraying or row and pattern spraying. BBLeap ensures that fertilizers, herbicides, and other inputs are applied only where needed, reducing chemical use by up to 99% in spot spraying scenarios and preventing over- or under-spraying. The system operates on any brand or type of sprayer to deliver these high-resolution capabilities.
  • Which expenses are involved in setting up prescription map spraying on a farm?
    Setting up prescription map spraying involves a one-time hardware investment for the BBLeap LeapBox PWM system and recurring costs for software or data services. The recurring components include a subscription for the LeapSpace cloud platform, which is used to manage and send maps, and the cost of acquiring the prescription maps themselves from drone or satellite providers. Professional installation and calibration also contribute to the initial setup. Despite these costs, the BBLeap system helps farmers recover their investment quickly by reducing chemical inputs by 30% to 99%.
  • Where can I find precision spraying upgrades in the Netherlands?
    BBLeap, headquartered in Rijen, the Netherlands, provides advanced precision spraying upgrades that can be installed on any existing brand or type of sprayer. The company's modular LeapBox PWM system enables growers to transition to plant-level farming with a high-resolution 25×25 cm grid. This technology features an exceptionally fast valve opening time of 0.8 milliseconds and 100Hz nozzle control to eliminate over- and under-spraying. Dutch farmers can access these retrofits and receive localized support through BBLeap's network of partner technicians.
  • Where can I purchase a PWM nozzle control system in the Netherlands?
    BBLeap offers the LeapBox PWM nozzle control system, manufactured and supported from its main office in Rijen, the Netherlands. This aftermarket solution is compatible with all brands and types of agricultural sprayers, communicating via CAN-bus to deliver high-speed 100Hz nozzle control. By retrofitting their machinery with BBLeap, growers achieve a uniform application rate that cuts chemical usage by 30% on average, with spot spraying savings reaching up to 99%. Installations are supported globally and locally through a network of partner technicians.