Spray performance evaluation of a six‐rotor unmanned aerial vehicle sprayer for pesticide application using an orchard operation mode in apple orchards. Issue 6 (6th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Changling; Liu, Yang; Zhang, Zhenhua; Han, Leng; Li, Yangfan; Zhang, Hao; Wongsuk, Supakorn; Li, Yuanyuan; Wu, Xuemin; He, Xiongkui
• Is Part Of: Pest management science. Volume 78:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 2449
• Page End: 2466
• Publication Date: 2022-04-06
• Subjects: UAV sprayer -- orchard pesticide application -- flight pattern -- application volume -- spray coverage -- deposit density; Pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Pesticides -- Periodicals; 632.9
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.6875
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-498X

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In the last decade, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sprayers have been growing rapidly worldwide as a new method for pesticide application, especially in Asian countries. More and more manufacturers and service providers are currently aiming at UAV spraying operation for fruit trees with higher economic value. We evaluated the spray performance of an electric six‐rotor UAV sprayer using an orchard operation mode (different application volumes and flight patterns) in a hilly apple orchard with small and sparse trees (SS) and a plain orchard with tall‐spindle trees (TS). RESULTS: Application volume (APV) had a significant influence on the spray coverage parameters in both orchards, while flight pattern, intra‐row, inter‐row and verti‐row, had a relatively limited influence at 60 0 and 85 7 L/ha. The UAV's downwash airflow produced a good spray penetration in the isolated SS trees, but not for the conjoined TS trees. It is better to fly along and above rows at 63.5 L/ha or higher for SS trees. The excessively low underside coverage is the main drawback of UAV orchard pesticide application and the underside droplet size was generally less than 200 μm. CONCLUSION: Spray performance is closely related to tree shape, planting pattern, UAV payload, application volume, spray droplet size and downwash airflow field. The results provide data support for the best operational practice development and the decision model for the application volume of UAV sprayer orchard operations. The underside spray performance requires further improvement by several effective measures. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. Abstract : For unmanned aerial vehicle sprayer orchard spraying, application volume had a significant influence on the spray coverage and deposit density, while flight pattern had a relatively limited influence. Spray penetration differs from tree shape and planting pattern, and spray performance on the underside leaves requires further improvement.