By Scout Nelson
Drone technology continues to play a growing role in modern agriculture, and new research in North Dakota is exploring how it can help farmers improve crop management and field monitoring.
This summer, graduate students at the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Carrington Research Extension Center are conducting studies focused on two important areas: wheat disease management and crop monitoring using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones.
One project examines whether spray drones can provide effective fungicide applications for controlling Fusarium head blight, also known as wheat scab. This disease can lower grain quality, reduce yields, and increase deoxynivalenol (DON) levels in harvested wheat. High DON levels may lead to discounts or rejection when grain is marketed.
Managing wheat scabs depends heavily on proper fungicide timing during flowering. However, wet field conditions often prevent ground sprayers from entering fields at the right time. Researchers are evaluating whether spray drones can offer a practical alternative because they can apply fungicides without touching the soil.
The study compares untreated wheat with fungicide applications made by both traditional ground sprayers and spray drones. Researchers are measuring spray coverage, disease levels, yield performance, test weight, and DON content. The goal is to determine whether drone applications can provide similar protection while improving flexibility during challenging weather conditions.
A second research project focuses on crop monitoring through UAV imagery. Drones equipped with cameras are being used to collect images from research plots throughout the growing season.
The imagery helps researchers evaluate crop growth, canopy development, field variability, and possible stress conditions. By analyzing these images, researchers can calculate vegetation indices, estimate canopy cover, and identify differences in crop performance across fields.
The information collected through drone flights is then compared with field observations to improve understanding of how crops respond to management practices and environmental conditions.
Researchers believe these tools can help improve data collection, increase evaluation accuracy, and support better decision-making for producers. As drone technology continues to advance, it may provide farmers with more efficient ways to monitor crops, manage inputs, and respond to field conditions.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-seregalsv
Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Wheat