According to recent research, the global drone market within agriculture would grow at 35.9% CAGR and reach $5.7 billion by 2025.
The use of drone technology in agriculture is here to stay. This emerging technology can help reduce time and increase the efficiency of the farmers. The use of drones in the agricultural sector is only expected to rise as the industry matures, and so it is good to know how to use this technology judiciously.
Drones are a powerful tool for farmers and agronomists to assess the health of their crops. With the use of drones, they can get an overview of their fields and collect data much faster and more efficiently than traditional methods. Drones will allow farmers to see how healthy their plants are, where they might need water or nutrients, and if there is any pest activity before it gets out of control.
Drones use in agriculture forms part of an emerging trend to use advanced technologies in farming operations that allow farmers to optimise their workflow and use resources more efficiently.
Drones have a wide range of uses in agriculture, however, their main uses are in acquiring highly detailed data through the use of different sensors. This data can then be turned into different types of maps and 3D models of the area, these maps can then be used to analyse crop health, detect disease and stress in plants and identify irrigation problems.
Another emerging use of drones is in spraying chemicals to fight disease and pests as well as spreading mulch and planting seeds.
Uses of drone technology in agriculture
1. Aerial Surveying or Mapping
Drone farming normally begins with the mapping and surveying process. It’s a fairly straightforward task with a relatively simple goal. The agricultural drone equipped with flight planning software will allow the user to draw around the field that needs to be covered. This software then creates a fully automated flight path and takes photos (depends on the make and model).
The drone uses its onboard sensors and built-in camera and records the images with their corresponding GPS data. This will then create a model of the area that the farmer can use for planning.
2. Aerial Spraying or Crop-dusting
Aerial spraying drones are tank-carrying UAVs that spray crops with fertilizers or pesticides. Unlike a traditional tractor, drones can spray crops more precisely. Because they can be programmed to spray an even amount of liquid in all necessary sections, there’s no risk of overdosing your crops.
Cover larger areas in less time reducing labour, time costs and chemical usage. Utilizing the rotary atomizing spraying system, the drones secures farm produce quality while protecting the environment by reducing 30% of pesticide use and 90% of water waste.
3. Aerial Seeding
Aerial seeding is one of the functions of drones where they fly over a specific terrain equipped with a smart dispersal mechanism to plant-specific species to designated areas. If surveying was done right, the drone will have data on soil hardness and adjust the pressure for firing the seed pods, so the soil is penetrated effectively. Depending on the drone make and model, you can efficiently seed acres of land in just hours. This minimizes the need to hire additional labourers. Additionally, you can keep the farmers safer by deploying drones in hard to access areas.
4. Aerial Watering
One of the biggest advantages of using a drone for watering is its ability to track water needs. Using infrared technology, an aerial vehicle like this will be able to determine water absorption levels. This means that the user will have access to data on which areas are getting too little, the right amount, or too much water. Built-in sensors will also trigger notifications so the user knows when the drone tank water levels are low.
More advanced drones will come with ground sensors, so soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and other vital information are updated for the farmer’s reference.
5. Soil and Field Analysis
Agricultural drones can be used for soil and field analysis to help in field planning. They can be used to mount sensors that measure soil moisture content, topographical conditions, soil conditions, soil erosion, soil nutrients, and soil fertility.
6. Crop Monitoring
Crop surveillance refers to the monitoring of a crop from seeding to harvesting. This includes applying fertilizers at the appropriate times, tracking the impact of weather conditions, and inspecting for insect infestation. When dealing with seasonal crops, crop surveillance is the only way to secure a timely harvest. Crop failure could come from any faults made at this time. Crop surveillance helps in understanding and planning for the next farming season.
7. Plantation
Drones can assist with the planting of trees and crops, which was formerly done by farmers. This technology will not only save labour but also help in saving fuels.
8. Check Crop Health
Farming is a large-scale operation that takes place across thousands of acres. Constant surveys are required to keep track of the soil’s health and the crop that has been planted. Manually, this could take days, and even then, human mistake is possible. Drones can complete the same task in only a few hours. Drones can acquire information about the health of the soil and the crop using infrared mapping.
9. Geofencing
Drones equipped with infrared cameras can easily detect animals or humans. As a result, drones can protect the crops from animal damage, especially at night.
10. Irrigation Monitoring
Drones with hyper spectral, thermal, or multispectral sensors detect areas that are too dry or require the farmer’s attention. Drone survey helps improve water efficiency and disclose potential pooling/leaks in irrigation by providing Irrigation monitoring.
Benefits of agricultural drone use
1. Productivity
The single most significant benefit of using drones in agriculture is their ability to meet the demands of an ever-growing population. Some farming tasks that will require hundreds of workers can be accomplished by a single drone in a matter of hours. And because drones are equipped with software designed to ensure uniformity in operation, the output quality of crops is guaranteed in every farmland section. This means the lowest resources with maximum yield for every drone owner.
2. Climate Change Adaptation
Farming operations are greatly affected by climate change. The varying extreme conditions are affecting productivity and putting a strain on the humans working the land. This has led agricultural producers to search for new ways to increase production and improve efficiency that doesn’t exist in traditional farming. With the use of agricultural drones, true sustainability can be achieved.
3. Reduced Pollution
Agricultural runoff from pesticides and fertiliser is mainly caused by a farmer’s inability to calculate chemical absorption. This leads them to overcompensate and use more than the recommended amount for good measure. This practice will be discontinued with the use of drones. Drones process data that allow them to administer chemicals in a precise manner. This will eventually reduce the amount used and eliminate the chances of over spraying.