ExactShot is the name of new John Deere technology that uses sensors and robotics to reduce the volume of starter fertiliser needed during planting by more than 60%.
Instead of adding a continuous flow of fertiliser to the entire row, the system uses a sensor to register when each individual seed is in the process of going into the soil. As this occurs, a robot sprays only the amount of fertiliser needed (approx. 0.2ml), directly onto the seed at the exact moment as it goes into the ground.
In North America, it is estimated that the technique could save over 93 million gallons (352 million litres) of starter fertiliser annually in maize grain, preventing wasted fertiliser from encouraging weed growth or increasing the risk of run off.
ExactShot will be available commercially in North America this spring. There is no current timetable for the technology in Europe.
