The Effectiveness of Drones over Airplanes in Applying Fungicides

Every farmer wants to ensure their crops are free from fungus and all the various diseases that can be caused by it. As an experienced farmer, you likely already have a preferred fungicide you’ve found works best on your crops. But are you sure it’s being applied in the most efficient manner? If you’re using an airplane to have your fungicide applied, your crops may not be getting the best protection possible. In fact, a recent study conducted by a University of Missouri graduate student showed that drones can actually be more effective than planes when deploying fungicide.

The Experiment

University of Missouri grad student Jesse Yount set out to answer a question last year: how do unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) compare to existing technology when it comes to deploying fungicide on crops. The goal was to compare the differences in application coverage, disease severity, lodging, and yield. Three farms across the state of Missouri – one each in Mound City, Truxton, and Green Ridge – agreed to allow him to do treatments on fields that had been scheduled to receive a fungicide application.

Prior to the experiment, each area had used a different plane, pilot, fungicide product, and rate. But for the purposes of the experiment, they used the same rate and products at each location. Meanwhile, he used DJI Agras T40 drones – one equipped with two gallons of fungicide per acre (GPA) and one with four – at two different points to make the comparison. Water sensitive spray cards were placed on three plants on each plot at three different levels – on the ear leaf, two leaves above the ear leaf, and two below. Disease severity ratings were taken at application, as well as R3 and R6 growth stages.

The Results

Once all the data was collected for the 2024 growing season, the results pointed in a very simple direction. Drone deployment provided significantly more coverage than the planes. It resulted in less or similar levels of disease across all locations and all diseases and equal or higher yields across all locations. Meanwhile, there was no differences in lodging across all treatments and locations.

What This Means for You

If you’re a farmer that’s currently using a plane to deploy your fungicide, you may want to consider the use of drones. This experiment shows they have the potential to provide similar or better spray coverage, disease prevention, and yield when compared to aircraft applications. If you’re interested in making the switch, Skybusters Drone Services is here to help. We employ the same DJI T40 models that were used in the Missouri experiment. Contact us to get a quote today!