NDSU Researchers Test Spray Drones as an Option for Wheat Scab Control
Fusarium head blight, commonly known as wheat scab, is a serious disease concern for wheat producers in North Dakota. The disease can lower yields and grain quality while increasing deoxynivalenol, or DON. Elevated DON levels can result in dockage or grain rejection at the elevator.
Fungicide applications can help manage wheat scab, but applying the product at the right time is important. Wheat has a short flowering period when it is most vulnerable to the disease. Wet field conditions can make it difficult for ground sprayers to enter fields during this important window.
Spray drones may provide another option when fields are too wet for traditional equipment.
NDSU Compares Drone and Ground Spraying
Researchers at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center conducted a field study comparing drone and ground fungicide applications in hard red spring wheat. The study was conducted by Dr. Karn’s Lab.
Researchers used three treatments: untreated control, ground application, and drone application. Both application methods used Miravis Ace at the same product rate.
The ground sprayer applied 15 gallons per acre, while the Hylio AG-230 spray drone applied 5 gallons per acre. The drone operated 12 feet above the ground at 10 miles per hour.
Both Applications Lower Disease
Preliminary results showed that both fungicide treatments reduced Fusarium head blight compared with the untreated crop.
The untreated control had an FHB index of 11.56%. The ground treatment reduced the index to 2.83%, while the drone treatment reduced it to 2.50%. Both methods also lowered disease incidence and severity.
The results show that proper fungicide timing can play an important role in protecting wheat during flowering.
Yield Results Show Small Differences
The untreated crop produced 61.3 bushels per acre. The ground treatment produced 63.7 bushels per acre, while the drone treatment produced 63.9 bushels per acre.
Test weight also increased slightly with fungicide applications. The untreated crop had a test weight of 57.42 pounds per bushel. The ground treatment reached 57.62 pounds, while the drone treatment reached 57.88 pounds.
These are preliminary numerical results, and additional research is needed to determine how consistently the methods perform under different conditions.
Drones Offer Another Application Option
Spray drones can be useful when wet soil prevents large ground sprayers from entering a field. This may help producers protect wheat during the narrow flowering window for wheat scab treatment.
However, producers still need to consider spray coverage, application rates, weather, crop stage, field conditions, and product label requirements when selecting an application method.
The preliminary NDSU findings show that both ground sprayers and drones can reduce wheat scabs when fungicide is applied at the proper time. Additional research will help determine how drone settings, spray volumes, and growing conditions affect disease control.
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