Three reasons to conduct a drone spraying field experiment with EAS Group!
Using a drone for crop spraying is a growing trend in many countries where national regulations allow it
This solution is easy to adopt - it allows the operator to reach difficult areas such as steeply sloped vineyards, and it is compatible with spot spraying.
This short video shows our team drone spraying, taken during a recent sunflower field study in Hungary.
Here, our expert field teams answer three main questions around drone applications:
1. What are the optimum application parameters?
Spraying quality is influenced by drone flight speed and height, as well as external conditions such as wind and temperature. The tank mixture also needs to be optimized: drone applications use very low volumes of water and this has an impact on droplet size, drift and adherence on target crop. For some formulation types, the formula itself needs to be adapted for drone spraying. Finally, the choice of the right nozzle type and spray pressure are critical, and specific adjuvants may be required to achieve the right crop coverage and minimize drift
2. Is it safe to the operator and the environment?
The risk of drift should be evaluated specifically, as the application method and the product concentration are specific to drone spraying. In our field experiments, we systematically evaluate the drift on neighbouring areas. Our dedicated operator exposure team can evaluate the risk to human operators or by-standers. Together with our expert ecotoxicology team, we can set up specific studies to evaluate the risk to non-target organisms. Safety studies are typically performed under GLP compliance.
3. What are the efficacy performances?
Whether we evaluate a foliar fungicide sprayed broadcast, or an herbicide in a spot spraying scenario, our field agronomists carefully assess the efficacy of the treatment, typically comparing with a ground-sprayed application method, at regular intervals. During this 2022 summer season, we conduct these efficacy experiments in Romania and in Hungary, under GEP compliance.
Contact Dave Clark with any enquiries!
