Spraying has long been one of the clearest examples of the difference between traditional fieldwork and data-driven farming. In many operations, the same rate is still applied across the entire field, even though crop vigor, weed pressure, and soil conditions can change meter by meter.
To show what a more intelligent workflow looks like in practice, a field test in Turkiye paired a New Holland tractor and 3-point mounted sprayer with the FJD ATS Precision Spray Autosteering System and FieldFusion. The goal was straightforward: compare constant-rate spraying with a prescription-map-driven workflow and evaluate how much more precise the operation could become.
Why Constant-Rate Spraying Falls Short
Uniform spraying is simple to execute, but it assumes the field is uniform too. In reality, stronger zones, weaker zones, and patchy problem areas rarely need the same treatment. When every square meter gets the same dose, growers often pay for unnecessary chemical use while still missing the opportunity to treat the field according to its real condition.
- It ignores field variability: healthy areas and stressed areas receive the same treatment even when their needs are different.
- It increases input waste: over-application in low-need zones pushes chemical cost up without adding value.
- It can limit crop performance: blanket treatment may over-handle stronger areas while under-serving weaker ones.
- It raises sustainability pressure: unnecessary chemical use increases runoff risk and reduces overall efficiency.
"Precision spraying is not about spraying less everywhere. It is about applying the right rate exactly where the field needs it."
How The Turkiye Test Was Set Up
The test workflow replaced guesswork with zone-based execution. Multispectral field data was first processed inside FieldFusion to generate a prescription map, then that map was sent directly to the in-cab spraying workflow for execution.
- Field data was collected first: multispectral imagery was used to reflect real variability across the field.
- FieldFusion generated the prescription map: the platform translated the field condition data into small management zones with different application instructions.
- The sprayer executed by zone: the ATS system used autosteering, section control, and ATS-V flow-rate adjustment to apply the planned rate for each part of the field.
The on-site trial was carried out on an 11.51-hectare field. To maximize precision, the prescription map divided the field into 1 x 1 meter grids, giving the system very fine control over where and how much product should be applied.
What Changed With Prescription-Map Spraying
Engineers on site tracked automatic section control and live flow-rate adjustment during the test. The result was clear: the prescription-based workflow completed successfully and demonstrated a more efficient use of chemicals than a constant-rate approach.
| Operational Area | Constant-Rate Spraying | Prescription-Map Spraying |
|---|---|---|
| Application logic | One fixed rate across the whole field | Variable rate by zone based on field data |
| Chemical use | Higher risk of over-application | Applied only where needed and at the planned dose |
| Field efficiency | Less responsive to variability | Better aligned to real field conditions |
| Crop treatment quality | Blanket treatment across mixed conditions | Different zones receive different levels of treatment |
| Sustainability | More waste and higher runoff risk | Lower chemical footprint with more targeted use |
| ROI potential | More spend can be lost in low-need areas | Inputs are tied more closely to agronomic need |
Why This Matters For FieldFusion Users
What makes this workflow compelling is not just the machine control in the cab. It is the closed loop between field data, prescription-map generation, and execution. FieldFusion becomes the planning layer that turns imagery into action, while the ATS spraying workflow carries that plan into the field with much tighter control than a blanket-rate method can provide.
For growers, that means better alignment between agronomic insight and operational output: fewer wasted inputs, more confidence in zone-based treatment, and a clearer path toward profitable and sustainable spraying decisions.
A Smarter Spraying Workflow Starts With Better Maps
The Turkiye test reinforces a simple point: once prescription maps become part of the spraying workflow, application decisions no longer need to rely on averages. FieldFusion helps teams move from broad assumptions to field-specific execution, turning precision spraying into a practical operating model rather than a future promise.
If you want to see how prescription maps, equipment connectivity, and precision execution fit together in your operation, talk with the FieldFusion team.