Autonomous Orchard Sprayer Coverage Test in South African Citrus and Blueberry Farms
Recently, a South African distributor conducted real-field spray deposition tests using the LJ Tech S1000 and S500 Pro autonomous orchard sprayers.
The tests were carried out in two representative crop environments: a dense citrus orchard and a large-scale blueberry farm. Using fluorescent tracer water and special lighting observation methods, the trial visually evaluated spray coverage, droplet deposition, and spraying performance under different canopy structures and planting conditions.
The results provided practical insight into how autonomous spraying systems perform in high-value orchard operations.
S1000 Test in Dense Citrus Orchard
The first test was conducted in a citrus orchard using the S1000 autonomous orchard sprayer.
The orchard featured tall citrus trees with dense canopies and tree heights of approximately 6 meters. This type of environment is typical of high-canopy orchard spraying operations, where spray penetration and canopy coverage are often challenging.
During the test, the S1000 operated steadily at approximately 3 km/h, with an application rate of 2250 L/ha.
After spraying, fluorescent observation showed visible droplet deposition across the upper, middle, and lower canopy layers. Spray residue could also be observed on some internal leaves inside the canopy structure.
These results indicated that the S1000 maintained stable droplet delivery and effective canopy coverage under dense orchard conditions. The spraying system demonstrated the ability to support practical citrus orchard plant protection requirements, particularly for crops with large canopy volumes.
Tower Fan Configuration for High-Canopy Orchards
For orchard crops such as citrus, apples, pears, and peaches, the S1000 can also be equipped with a tower fan module.
Compared with conventional airflow systems, the tower fan structure creates a more vertical air-assisted spray pattern along the tree canopy. Airflow disturbance helps transport droplets into upper canopy zones and internal leaf areas, improving spray penetration in dense orchard environments.
The LJ Tech tower fan solution has already entered field testing in European orchard conditions. The configuration expands the S1000’s adaptability for high-density and high-canopy orchard operations.
S500 Pro Test in 140-Hectare Blueberry Farm
The second test took place in a 140-hectare blueberry farm using the S500 Pro autonomous sprayer.
Unlike tall citrus orchards, blueberry fields feature lower plants but much denser planting patterns. As a result, growers must maintain consistent spray coverage throughout concentrated canopy zones while avoiding missed areas during operation.
In addition, blueberries are high-value crops that require precise and stable plant protection management. To address these requirements, the S500 Pro maintained steady navigation and uniform spraying performance throughout the test.
During testing, the S500 Pro operated at approximately 3 km/h with an application rate of 600 L/ha. Fluorescent tracer observation was again used to evaluate droplet deposition after spraying.
Field observations showed stable row-to-row operation and consistent spray distribution throughout the blueberry canopy. Droplet attachment on leaves and canopy surfaces appeared relatively uniform across the test area.
The test also demonstrated good maneuverability and operational stability under large-scale berry farm conditions.
Adapting to Different Orchard Structures and Farm Scales
The two field tests highlighted how autonomous spraying equipment can adapt to different crop types, canopy structures, and orchard management requirements.
In dense citrus orchards, the focus was on canopy penetration and airflow-assisted droplet transport. In blueberry farms, the emphasis shifted toward stable navigation, uniform coverage, and efficient operation across large planting areas.
Following the trials, local growers and the South African distributor reported positive feedback on spray coverage, droplet deposition, operational stability, and orchard adaptability.
Moreover, the tests provided valuable field data for autonomous orchard spraying under South African growing conditions. As autonomous agricultural equipment continues to expand into high-value crop production, these results also offer practical reference for citrus orchards, blueberry farms, and other commercial fruit-growing operations worldwide.
