Automatic Section Control (ASC) Technology

Michael BuschermohlePrecision Agriculture Specialist

UT Extension

Sprayer Automatic Section Control

Increasing Production Efficiency

Reduced Chemical Costs

Improved Environmental Stewardship

Sprayer Automatic Section Control

Tank

Boom Shut-off Valves

Nozzles

ON-OFF Control Signal to Boom Valves or Nozzle Solenoids

Pump RegulatingValve

FlowMeter

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 54

As Applied MapGNSS ReceiverController + Software

Closed LoopControl

Sprayer Automatic Section Control

5.7%30 acres

6.8%23 acres

10.8%23 acres

6.7%22 acres

No Control versus Automatic 7 Section Control

Sprayer Automatic Section Control

1 2 3 4 5 60.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

7 Section Control Individual Nozzle Control

Fields

% C

hem

ical

Sav

ings

No Control versus Automatic 7 Section Control

Courtesy of Luck et al. (2010), University of Kentucky

Manual 5 Section Control versus Automatic Section Control

6.2% average reduction

Increasing Production Efficiency

Increasing Production Efficiency

• Reduced chemical costs• Increased spraying efficiency• Less fill-ups • Reduced operator fatigue• Improves environmental stewardship• Preservation of conservation structures

Benefits

Operator Response

Needed OverlapMinimum Double-Planted Area

Head

land

Pas

s Skipped Area

Ove

r-Pla

nt A

rea

Planter Automatic Section Control

Increasing Production Efficiency

Planter Automatic Section Control

As Applied MapGNSS Receiver

Controller + Software

ControlModule

ControlModule

ControlModule

Types of Fields You Farm

Field Size (ac) Double-Plant (ac) % Double-Plant

Range 1.9 - 106 0.1 – 4.8 0.1 – 15.6

Average 33.2 1.1 4.6

Total 1725 54.7

Increasing Production Sustainability

% DP Range < 2%Avg. % DP 0.8%

# Fields 16Field Size Range (ac) 8.1 - 106Avg. Field Size (ac) 53.3

Total Acres 853

105.5 ac

77.5 ac 69.3 ac

34.4 ac

Slightly-Irregular Fields

Increasing Production Sustainability

% DP Range 2 % – 5%Avg. % DP 3.2%

# Fields 21Field Size Range (ac) 6.6 – 58.8Avg. Field Size (ac) 25.9

Total Acres 544

22.5 ac

23.8

30.3

16.3

Irregular Fields

Increasing Production Sustainability

% DP Range > 5%Avg. % DP 10.5%

# Fields 15Field Size Range (ac) 1.9 – 42.5Avg. Field Size (ac) 21.9

Total Acres 328

15.9 ac42.5 ac

20.5 ac

18.9 acHighly-Irregular Fields

Planter Automatic Section Control

• Reduced seed costs• Potential yield gains• Less risk of planting errors• Reduced potential for lodging• Reduced operator fatigue• Improved machine efficiency

Benefits

• GPS/GNSS Receiver

Automatic Section Control Components

John Deere Ag Leader

TrimbleTOPCON

GPS Accuracy

GPS Correction Services• John Deere SF2• OmniStar HP• RTK, Trimble’s RTX

Trimble

John Deere AgLeader

Raven

Dickey-john

TOPCON

Automatic Section Control Components

• Controller plusSoftware

KINZE

Automatic Section Control Components

Row Command TruCount

SureVac

• Section Control Mechanisms

Planters

Automatic Section Control Components

• Section Control Mechanisms

Sprayers

Boom Valve Individual Nozzle

Increasing Production Sustainability

economics.ag.utk.edu/asccc.html

Google: University of Tennessee ASCCC

Will it Make You Money?

Corn

500 acres 750 acres 1000 acres 1500 acres$0

$2,500

$5,000

$7,500

$10,000

$12,500

$15,00060%-25%-15% 30%-40%-30% 15%-25%-60%

Annu

al S

avin

gs

Will it Make You Money?Corn (15%-25%-60%)

500 acres 750 acres 1000 acres 1500 acres$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

With equipment Without equipment

Annu

al S

avin

gs

Payb

ack

Perio

d (y

rs)

Will it Make You Money?Corn (30%-40%-30%)

500 acres 750 acres 1000 acres 1500 acres$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

With equipment Without equipment

Annu

al S

avin

gs

Payb

ack

Perio

d (y

rs)

Will it Make You Money?Soybeans

500 acres 750 acres 1000 acres 1500 acres$0

$1,000

$2,000

$3,000

$4,000

$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

60%-25%-15% 30%-40%-30% 15%-25%-60%

Annu

al S

avin

gs

Will it Make You Money?Soybeans (15%-25%-60%)

500 acres 750 acres 1000 acres 1500 acres$0

$1,000

$2,000

$3,000

$4,000

$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10With equipment

Annu

al S

avin

gs

Payb

ack

Perio

d (y

rs)

Without equipment__

Will it Make You Money?Soybeans (30%-40%-30%)

500 acres 750 acres 1000 acres 1500 acres$0

$1,000

$2,000

$3,000

$4,000

$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

With equip...

Ann

ual S

avin

gs

Payb

ack

Perio

d (y

rs)

Without equipment__

What’s the Take Home Message?

• Field shape and size impact ASC savings

• Consult your dealer to learn about your options

• Purchase a display that allows for technology upgrades

• For better results use higher accuracy GPS/GNSS correction service

• Maximizing productivity should be your overall management goal

Questions