The optimal window for weed spraying is closing for another season, but where one window closes another opens, meaning its drone seeding season!
The reason why drone seeding is optimal, is because of the low application rate per hectare, which is between 1kg to 15kg per hectare for most treatments. So, what does that mean? Well applying product at the heavier rate of 15 kg/ha with my XAG P30 having a 17kg payload capacity means you could rip through 1 hectare per load. This is where application drones shine, they can comfortably cover many Hectares in day compared to high volume UAV Spraying.
To put things into perspective, applying “Grazon extra” to any weed with a drone as per the label requires “200 litres per hectare (basically 200kg/ha) of mixed product in half overlapping passes”, divided by a 16 litre payload tank is 12.5 tanks per hectare making it only practical for spot spraying. This example is rather extreme because most spray application rates fall between 30 to 100 litres per hectare, but you get the point.
With aerial drone seeding the UAV can be flown higher above the treatment area compared to spraying because the solid product is less effected by wind, it doesn’t have the same drift potential as spray liquid, also the higher altitude results in a wider coverage width per pass.
Now I’m not saying drone seeding is a replacement for spraying because it’s definitely not! both services are essential and are designed to compliment each other, I’m just demonstrating which service is more efficient.
Aerial application drones where originally invented for applying grain and treating Rice fields in Asia to save on labour and help boost yields, In Australia UAV’s are becoming widely adopted as an implement of choice not only because of their efficiency but because they are non-destructive in that they leave no wheel tracks or damage, also drones do most of the heavy lifting by meticulously applying product in an automated fashion.
There are so many solid products that can be applied via drone seeding such as; Baiting products for crickets, Slugs/Snails, Rats/Mice also Inoculated grain for pasture or cover crops and conservation work after fires and erosion control. Another rising trend with drone seeding is to help boost population of natives in forestry and baron areas.
With the Jetseeder attachment on my XAG P30 I can spread products from 1 to 10mm in size 17kg’s at a time, so if you’re interested in my drone seeding services you can contact me through the “contact” page or ask for a quote through my “request quote” page. I’m based in Orange NSW and I travel around the central west NSW but can go further (if the incentives right)
Thanks for reading this post and I hope you enjoyed it! and there are many more to come, I look forward to flying with you soon!
Cheers😉,
Joel Gilbert
