DropSight - a digital tool to for measuring spray deposition launched in South Africa

An easy-to-use, scientifically developed tool to for measuring spray deposition has just been launched in South Africa.  

Billions are spent annually on agricultural products, applied by spray machinery onto the crop to protect trillions in crop value from pests and diseases, but nobody knows whether the formulation reaches and settles on the intended target area. DropSight was developed to do just that, putting the quantitative measuring power of spray deposition in the producer’s hand.

A team of spray deposition specialists from the agricultural consulting company ProCrop, Bekker Wessels, Dr. Gideon van Zyl and Philip Rebel, collaborated with Marius Ras, an engineer specializing in Application Technology, who has over 40 years’ experience in agricultural spraying technology. This formidable team of experts determined the problem areas in agricultural spray deposition and together with the Electronic Engineering team from ARCi Technologies designed the in-field solution to benefit the industry. 

Through the specially designed photographic box (LeafLab), UV fluid (UView) and the DropSight app for a smartphone, the farmer of today can stop guessing and make informed decisions based on quantitative measurements of spray deposition.

LeafLab is a portable, on-site laboratory, purpose developed for plant leaf UV photography with DropSight to quantify the deposition efficiency onto a crop within minutes of application. UV led lightning with wavelength, intensity and uniformity to optimise fluorescence for smartphone photography when using UView tracer, completes the technical specification. The UView fluorescent fluid is recognised by DropSight software when the sprayed sample is placed in LeafLab. 

The DropSight app offers multiple solutions, including taking photos, comparing spray depositions, store and download past and present batches to enable the producer to compare improvement. The app was designed with ease-of-use in mind and is a handy and user-friendly tool to assist users in bettering crop protection.

What are the advantages of using Dropsight?

• For the first time the producer can now know how effective the deposition of spray material is on the target.

• “Do it yourself” – use in the orchard or on the land - and get the answers immediately.

• Make adjustments, re-evaluate, and improve the effectiveness of your pest / disease / weed control.

• Optimise the use of agrochemicals and thereby reduce input costs.

• Reduce the polluting of natural resources.

LeafLab and UView will be distributed via the leaders in Agrochemical industry.Visit www.dropsight.ag for information, prices and step-by-step instructions, or to find a distributor near you.