In today's rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, efficiency and sustainability are more critical than ever. Corn, a staple crop globally, plays a significant role in feeding populations and supporting economies. However, traditional farming methods often fall short in meeting modern demands. Enter DJI Agriculture drone solutions—a game-changer for corn farming.
Corn has been cultivated for over 9,000 years, originating in southern Mexico. Today, it's one of the most productive crops worldwide, with major producers like the United States, China, and Brazil. In 2020 alone, global corn production reached 1.16 billion tonnes.
However, traditional corn farming methods present several challenges. In this article, we explore how drones can be used to boost corn farming efficiency and yields.
Corn farmers have traditionally relied on methods like tractors, crewed aircraft, or manual labor to manage their fields. While these methods have served well for decades, they have significant drawbacks.
Traditional Method |
Drawback |
Tractors |
Risk of crop damage due to wheel tracks, soil compaction, high cost, and high fuel consumption |
Manual labor |
Labor-intensive, time-consuming, and inconsistent application of treatments |
Crewed aircraft |
High operational costs, uneven application, and safety risks to pilots |
When it comes to tractors, there are significant limitations and drawbacks to their use in spraying corn:
These limitations highlight the need for more innovative and efficient farming techniques. This is where DJI Agriculture drone solutions come into play.
Adopting drone technology in agriculture offers numerous advantages that address the shortcomings of traditional methods. DJI drones offer exceptional precision and efficiency in spraying and spreading applications, ensuring even distribution of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which reduces waste and increases effectiveness. By lowering the need for heavy machinery and extensive labor, drones cut operational costs. They also enhance crop health and yield through targeted applications that apply treatments precisely where needed, minimizing crop damage. Additionally, drones improve safety by eliminating risks to human operators and reduce environmental impact by minimizing chemical runoff and soil compaction.
Here are some benefits of drones in corn farming in detail:
Benefit |
Data |
No crop damage and yield loss from wheel tracks |
Drone increases income by €45.00-60.00/ha/season |
Saving chemical use, protecting the environment |
25% chemical savings; Chemical cost: €50-80/ha/time, saving €36-60/ha/season |
Significant fuel savings compared to ground sprayers |
€0.81/ha needed, saving 93% fuel cost; (€0.81/ha = €1.62/L gasoline * 25 L gasoline/50 ha used) |
Decreased labor requirement and cost |
1-2 people for T30 or T50 operation costing €50-100; Tractor requires 2-5 people costing €100-250 |
Higher efficiency than small & middle-sized ground sprayers |
Drone: 50-80 ha/day; Tractor: 25-30 ha/day, increasing efficiency by 66%-220% |
Saving water resources and alleviating agricultural water problems |
Drone: 10-20 L/ha; Tractor: 400-500 L/ha, saving about 95% water usage |
Timely response minimizes potential losses with post-rain spraying |
Drone can start spraying 1-2 hours after rain |
Drones offer versatile application opportunities throughout the corn lifecycle. Here’s how they can be integrated at different stages:
•VT: Fungicide and insecticide spraying
•R5~R6: Cover crop seeding
•Before V0: Burndown and pre-emergence herbicide spraying
•V0-V5:Post-emergence herbicide spraying
To maximize the benefits of drone technology, it's crucial to follow best practices tailored to your specific needs. Here's a recommended setup:
DJI Agras T40/T50--herbicide |
DJI Agras T40/T50--insecticide/fungicide/foliar fertilizer |
DJI Agras T30--herbicide |
DJI Agras T30--insecticide/fungicide/foliar fertilizer |
|
Application Rate (L/ha) |
15-25 L/ha |
10-20 L/ha |
15-25 L/ha |
10-20 L/ha |
Droplet Size (µm) |
250-400 µm |
100-300 µm |
XR110015VS |
XR11001VS |
Flight Speed (km/h) |
20-25 km/h |
20-25 km/h |
18-20 km/h |
20-23 km/h |
Route Spacing (m) |
6-6.5 m |
7-9 m |
5.5-6 m |
6-6.5 m |
Height Above the Crop (m) |
3-3.2 m |
3-3.5 m |
2.2-2.5 m |
2.5-3 m |
Adhering to these parameters ensures optimal coverage and effectiveness, helping you achieve the best results possible for your corn crops.
Time: August 1st, 2024
Location: Puieni, Giurgiu, Romania
The Riagro team, a well-known local spraying service, conducted a trial with support from FMC, the international chemical company, to test the effectiveness of Agras T50 in controlling the pest Helicoverpa armigera in corn crops.
Chemical used |
Chemical amount |
% Field Affected Before Spraying |
% Field Affected After Spraying |
Efficacy |
CORAGEN |
150 ml/ha |
90% |
10% |
88% |
Trial Method: The team employed a standard formula used in the Romanian agriculture industry to quantify pest impact. This involves calculating the degree of pest attack by multiplying the percentage of affected plants by the attack intensity, then dividing by 100. The percentage of affected plants represents the number of plants impacted among those studied, and the attack intensity is graded from 0 to 6 based on the extent of plant damage. Ultimately, the average degree of pest attack is expressed through this calculation.
Grade |
The percentage in which the plant is affected |
0 |
0% |
1 |
1-3% |
2 |
4-10% |
3 |
11-25% |
4 |
26-50% |
5 |
51-75% |
6 |
76-100% |
The integration of DJI Agriculture drone solutions in corn farming represents a significant leap towards modern, efficient, and sustainable agriculture. By addressing the limitations of traditional methods, drones offer enhanced precision, cost-effectiveness, improved crop health, and environmental benefits.
For farmers looking to optimize their operations and increase yields, adopting drone technology is a strategic move. Explore the full potential of DJI Agriculture drone solutions and take your corn farming to the next level.
Special thanks the Riagro team, Ferma Codrea and II Iovuta Ana Maria in Romania for their help with this solution article.
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