D3005: Use of sprayer drones in IPM

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a vital component of sustainable agriculture. The use of sprayer drones is emerging as an innovative technology that can improve the precision and effectiveness of insect pest management. They offer a potential solution to address the challenges associated with traditional insect pest management methods. Sprayer drones are specifically designed to carry and apply pesticides or biological control agents to targeted areas within crop fields. The use of sprayer drones can potentially reduce the amount of pesticide and water use, increase the coverage and uniformity of application, and overcome the limitations of terrain and labor availability. Sprayer drones integrated with sensing drones allow for precise monitoring crop health and identifying pest infestations. Despite their potential, sprayer drones face several challenges that hinder their widespread adoption. These challenges include technical limitations, regulatory hurdles, acquisition cost and maintenance, and the need for spray performance evaluation. Researchers are actively conducting several studies to test and optimize the role of sprayer drones in IPM settings.