Comparison of Droplet Size, Coverage, and Drift Potential from UAV Application Methods and Ground Application Methods...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Pest Management
• Precision Agriculture

Background:

• Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used for pesticide application globally, but adoption for Midwestern row crops lags.
• Conventional ground sprayers are the standard for pesticide application in large-scale agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare droplet size, coverage, and drift potential of UAV sprayers versus ground sprayers in Midwestern cornfields.
• To evaluate the efficacy of UAVs for targeted pesticide application.

Main Methods:

• Field trials were conducted comparing UAV (with and without boom) and ground (regular and pulse) sprayers.
• Droplet size, deposition coverage (droplets cm⁻²), and vertical distribution were measured.
• Downwind pesticide drift potential was assessed for each application method.

Main Results:

• UAVs produced significantly smaller droplets (112–179 μm) than ground sprayers (303–423 μm).
• UAVs provided localized, high droplet coverage, while ground sprayers offered broader coverage across the entire field width.
• Despite smaller droplets, UAVs showed less potential for downwind drift compared to ground sprayers.

Conclusions:

• UAVs demonstrate potential for "spot" or "band" pesticide application, beneficial for pest control and drift reduction.
• The smaller droplet size, reduced spray volume, and agility of UAVs contribute to their effectiveness and potential for targeted spraying.
• Findings suggest UAVs could be a valuable tool for integrated pest management in Midwestern agriculture.