Best crops for drone spraying to get maximum results

Is it taking more time or often wasting chemicals in the traditional spraying methods? It’s time to switch to drone spraying to get higher yields without much waste.

With precision spraying, drones are transforming the way farmers monitor or protect the crops. However, drone spraying works well on some crops for better results. 

So, which crops are the best fit for drone spraying? Let us look at some of the best crops for agricultural drone spraying to get maximum results!

Benefits of Drone Spraying in Agriculture

Crop spraying drones are helpful for farmers in many ways. Let us check out why farmers are increasingly switching to drone spraying in agriculture!

Precision Spraying

To increase efficiency or minimize chemical waste, drones use GPS & AI to precisely target areas that need to be sprayed. 

Precision is essential when spraying, whether it's on specific areas or changing how much to apply depending on the crop health.

Reduced Cost

Drones are a time or cost-effective option since they can fly over up even large farms in minutes. If you want to reduce the labor cost, making use of drones is an effective solution.

Low Soil Compaction

Drones have less compaction of soil in contrast to large tractors. This leads leads to higher yields.

Better Coverage

Drones can spray pesticides or fertilizers evenly over corn or sugarcane. But this is difficult to do with ground equipment.

Eco-Friendly

Drones save water or chemicals, which means they are better for the environment. In addition, farmers can also protect themselves from touching harmful chemicals directly.

What Factors Affect Drone Spraying Effectiveness?

Although drone spraying is beneficial, there are some important considerations for achieving maximum effectiveness. Let us explore some of the factors that affect drone spraying effectiveness!

• Crop Canopy Density- For dense crops ( such as sugarcane or soybeans) to reach the lower leaves, smaller droplets with higher penetration are necessary. 

• Wind & Weather Conditions- Chemicals might be wasted, or their efficiency can be reduced due to drift caused by strong winds. 

• Spray Droplet Size- Smaller droplets improve coverage, but larger ones decrease drift. Change the drone's nozzles according to the crops or pesticides you need to spray.

• Altitude & Speed of Drone- Always maintain the ideal height as well as speed for even application.

• Chemical Type- To avoid clogging, choose chemicals that are specifically designed to be compatible with drones.

7 Best Crops for Drone Spraying

1. Corn

Most farmers find it challenging to spray tall crops when they use traditional spraying methods. Drone spraying is able to efficiently penetrate the canopy.

Drone spraying also improves crop yields by helping with the application of fertilizers or pesticides.

Best Time to Spray: V5-VT stages (vegetative to tasselling)

2. Wheat

It is important to apply pesticides during the flowering stage of the wheat. Drones are useful for spraying pesticides precisely at the right time without harming plants.

Best Time to Spray: Before heading & flowering stages.

3. Rice

When it comes to water pollution, drone spraying is more effective than traditional spraying methods.

Drone spraying also helps in the prevention of pests or fungal infections in areas where water is stagnant.

Best Time to Spray: Tillering to panicle initiation

4. Soybeans

Fungicides or insecticides can be sprayed evenly with the help of drones. It also helps in the control of aphids or blight with targeted spraying.

Best Time to Spray: R1-R3 (early pod set)

5. Cotton

One of the best ways to manage bollworms or whiteflies is to spray them from the top. When compared to spraying from an airplane, drone spraying reduces chemical drift.

Best Time to Spray: Flowering or boll development

6. Sugarcane

Sugarcane fields are tall as well as dense. Hence, in most cases, ground sprayers do not work well. Drones help with chemical waste reduction or even make spraying more even.

Best Time to Spray: Early growth stages & pest outbreaks

7. Vegetables (Tomatoes, Potatoes, Peppers)

With the help of targeted spraying, you can prevent early blight or whiteflies. Drones prevent soil from being too compacted, which is bad for plant roots.

Best Time to Spray: Vegetative & flowering stages

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Drone Spraying

Although drone spraying is more effective with many benefits, a few common mistakes can reduce its effectiveness. 

Check out what not to do!

• Spraying in Strong Winds- There is a higher possibility of waste or uneven coverage due to bad weather conditions. You have to check the weather always before using the drone.

• Flying Too High- There is no denying that the spray may not be reachable to dense canopies if you are flying too high. You have to maintain the right height for maximum absorption.

• Ignoring Calibration- To avoid over or under spraying, proper calibration is important. Otherwise, it can have a negative effect on crop health.

• Using Non-Compatible Chemicals- You can't use every pesticide with a drone. Uneven distribution could happen if any of them clog nozzles. For best results, choose chemicals that are compatible with drones.

• Skipping Regular Maintenance- Inconsistent spraying or malfunctions can happen if the drone is not properly maintained. Check batteries as well as clean nozzles before each flight!

Increase Your Yields with the Right Crops for Drone Spraying

It is true that drone spraying is transforming modern farming, but choosing the right crops is equally important. With the right crops, drone spraying increases efficiency as well as lowers costs.

Get started with drone spraying today to increase yields as well as reduce labor or chemical usage!