Soybeans are grown on significant acreage in every county in Maryland; however, production in several Maryland counties (and throughout the northeast) is on smaller, fragmented fields. These small, often irregularly-shaped fields, can make it a challenge for farmers to apply necessary crop protection products (such as herbicides and fungicides) with modern ground spray equipment; and aerial applications with helicopters or airplanes may not be suitable for every field as a result of size, shape, topography, and/or proximity to field edge vegetation or buildings.

With the rapid advancement of drone technology, the possibility of aerial pesticide applications with drones is now realistic, and as a result, drone applicator companies are popping up and offering this commercial pesticide application service to farmers. However, there are several unanswered questions with this new method of application and there is very little research regarding spray coverage and efficacy from drone applications. Likewise, even less is known about the efficacy of aerial seeding cover crops into standing soybeans using drones. A literature review of the subject returns only a handful of references, indicating that very little research has been conducted. The studies that have investigated using drones as sprayers focus on the engineering and physical constraints of drones (lift capacity, battery life, GPS, user interface, etc.) and not as much on the agronomic issues, such as spray coverage or their practical application in row crop agriculture1-5. Our research in 2020, 2021, and 2022 indicates that drones can successfully seed radishes as a cover crop and deliver what adequate spray coverage in corn and soybeans.

Objective 1. Determine the efficacy of foliar, drone applied fungicides in corn and soybean.
Objective 2. Determine cover crop establishment from drone vs. helicopter.
Objective 3. Publish and disseminate results.

Objective 1. Determine the efficacy of foliar, drone applied fungicides in corn and soybean.
-Two sites will be selected for this trial. A corn hybrid susceptible to northern corn leaf blight and a soybean variety susceptible to frogeye leaf spot will be planted into replicated plots at the sites. Susceptible varieties will give is the greatest chance of seeing fungicide efficacy.
- 2020 field trials showed promising results, but spray coverage could possibly be improved, which we achieved with different flight parameters in 2021. Here we propose to compare fungicide efficacy at various rates to determine what is sufficient to achieve efficacy.
- A fungicide (TBD) will be applied to corn and soybeans around VT in corn and R1 in soybeans using a drone. Treatments will include a nontreated check and a fungicide at 1.5 gallons/A, 2.5 gallons/A, and 5 gallons/A spray volume.
- Plots will be rated for disease incidence and severity.
- Plots will be harvested at maturity to determine yield and treatment effects.
- This information will be used to make drone spray recommendations.

Objective 2. Determine cover crop establishment from drone vs. helicopter.
- Cooperating farmers in Harford and Baltimore Counties will be identified by the PIs as sites for on-farm cover crop trials; the goal is to have two sites. Fields will be chosen that have relatively similar soil types and characteristics across the field.
- Fields will be split and seeded ½ via drone and ½ via helicopter.
- Cover crops that are seeded into cooperator’s fields will be evaluated for stand establishment by counting the number of plants per square foot at several locations throughout the field after harvest. Cover crop species and planting date will be noted, as well as rainfall. Data will be compared and analyzed.

Objective 3. Publish and disseminate results.
- Results from this project will be shared with farmers and clientele in various educational outputs, such as: newsletters, meetings, and the possibility of field days and workshops.
- Results and data will be published and shared in peer-reviewed journal and professional conferences.

Update:
Fungicides are scheduled to be applied via drone at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center (WMREC) the week of August 1 to tasseling corn. Fungicides will be applied at different rates to compare efficacy. Plots will be rated for diseases incidence and severity throughout the remainder of the season and yield data will be collected at harvest. We will use this data to evaluate the efficacy of fungicides applied aerially via drone.

The side-by-side cover crop comparison portion of the study will occur in the fall. Exact field locations are being determined.

Update:

View uploaded report

View uploaded report 2

Cover Crop:
These data show the potential for aerial seeding a radish cover crop with drones as a viable method for establishing cover crops, and offers a method for planting early cover crops for many farmers that do not have access to a helicopter or plane. Additional acres in cover crops will help Maryland farmers improve their soil and help meet stringent water quality goals. Future work will be done to replicate and gather additional data so that we can fully understand the feasibility of seeding cover crops with drones, as well as to perform a series of outreach and education for farmers interested in using this technology for planting cover crops.

Pesticide application:
We were able to successfully apply fungicides to standing corn at three rates (2, 3, and 5 gallons/acre). Disease pressure was not heavy enough to induce any treatment effects in yield between the treatments; however, plant greenness was affected between the treatments, which further confirms that we were able to deliver the product to the plants in a sufficient spray volume.

Improved pest management and plant health through the ability to apply crop protection products in-season