Spot spraying is a treatment where the sprayer only applies product where a camera detects a weed, instead of covering the whole field like a conventional sprayer. On our farm this job belongs to the Ecorobotix ARA: a machine with cameras and artificial intelligence that works here permanently and cuts chemical doses by around 70%. To the best of our knowledge, it is one of only three such machines in Poland.
What spot spraying is and how it differs from conventional spraying
A conventional sprayer applies the spray liquid evenly across the full width of the boom. The product lands on weeds, on the crop and on bare soil alike. Spot spraying flips that logic: first a camera identifies what is growing in a given spot, and only then does a single nozzle open above a specific weed. The crop itself stays untouched.
The difference is easiest to see side by side:
| Feature | Conventional spraying | Spot spraying (Ecorobotix ARA) |
|---|---|---|
| Where the product lands | On the whole field | Only on detected weeds |
| Main crop | In contact with the product | Fully protected |
| Product use | 100% of the field dose | Around 70% less (the manufacturer claims up to 95%) |
| Treatment decision | A person, for the whole field | Cameras and AI, for every 6x6 cm spot |
How the Ecorobotix ARA works
The ARA is a spot sprayer with a 6 metre working width and 156 nozzles. Cameras scan the field as the machine drives, and an algorithm identifies the plants and decides which nozzle should open. The machine works on a 6x6 cm grid, meaning it targets a square just six centimetres across. That is a level of precision no conventional sprayer can match.
In practice it looks like this: we drive across an onion field, the cameras spot a weed between the rows or within a row, and a nozzle opens only above it. The onion next to it does not get a single drop. This lets us protect the entire main crop while also raising produce quality, because the plant is not burdened with a product it does not need.
The Ecorobotix ARA cuts our chemical doses by around 70%. The manufacturer claims reductions of up to 95%, depending on the crop and weed pressure. To the best of our knowledge, only three such machines work in Poland.
Why we bought it for onions
Onions are exceptionally sensitive to weed competition. They keep the soil profile exposed all season long: they grow slowly, take a long time to close the inter-rows and never smother weeds the way cereals do. Every weather window brings a new flush of secondary weeds, and the 2025 season proved it beyond doubt: after downpours that locally brought 150-220 litres of water per square metre in a day, weed pressure was exceptionally strong.
With around 250 ha of onions we had two options: increase the number and rates of treatments, or spray smarter. We chose the second. The ARA lets us fight weeds exactly where they are, without raising doses across the whole field. It is the same philosophy that guides our entire approach to growing onions in Zulawy: respond to what is actually happening in the field instead of spraying just in case.
Less chemistry means cleaner produce for the buyer
For us, spot spraying is not a gadget but a quality tool. We produce using a pesticide-residue-free technology, in line with the principles of Integrated Plant Production. The less product goes onto the field, the easier that standard is to maintain, and we still check every batch with pesticide residue testing, along with tests for heavy metals and substances hazardous to health.
For packers and processors this means one simple thing: raw material that passes audits and testing without surprises. The rules we follow when deciding on every treatment are described in more detail in our post on Integrated Plant Production.
Part of our precision farming
The ARA does not work alone on our farm. We steer our tractors with RTK-corrected GPS guidance, apply fertiliser at variable rates, and sort onions, potatoes and beetroot with an optical sorter using cameras and AI. Spot spraying closes that chain on the crop protection side. All the equipment we run across more than 800 ha is shown in our machinery fleet.
Looking for onions grown with minimal chemical use? See our onion offer or write to us via the contact page.
