Effect of flight speed and microner nozzle rotation speed of drone EFT-G620 on the efficiency and drift of nicosulfuron in forage maize

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of the flight speed and the rotation speed of dick nozzle of drone EFT-G620 on the spray deposition containing nicosulfuron in the target area and spray drift to the non-target area, weed control efficiency, and the forage yield of maize, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized basic design (blocks) with three replications in 2024 in a farm located in Asadabad, Hamadan. The first factor consisted of three levels of flight speed (5, 7.5, and 10 m/s), and the second factor consisted of three levels of nozzle rotation speed (3000, 4500, and 6000 rpm). Three pieces of moisture-sensitive card (76×26 mm) were installed horizontally in the plot's center and at a distance of 2.5, 5, and 10 m from the edge of that plot at a height of 25 cm to assess spray deposition. No drift of droplets occurred up to a distance of 10 m from the plot. The highest coverage (16.8%) and droplet density (1.34 no./cm2) were observed in the treatment of flight speed of 5 m/s + nozzle rotation speed of 6000 rpm, resulting in the highest chemical control efficiency against total weed density and dry weight (78 and 94%, respectively), which resulted in the highest maize forage yield (25.8 t/ha). 

Keywords

Main Subjects

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

 

Introduction

The application of herbicides by drones is rapidly developing in the world due to the lack of physical damage to crops, its suitability for small and wet fields, low labor costs, and the absence of user poisoning. In optimizing drones, attention should be paid to the parameters affecting their performance. In the present study, the effect of the flight speed and the rotation speed of dick nozzle of drone EFT-G620 (a hexa-copter equipped with a dick spray system) on the spray deposition in the target area and spray drift to the non-target area, the efficiency of chemical weed control, and the forage yield of maize was investigated.

Methods

The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment in a randomized complete (block) design with two factors and three replications, including two plots, weed-free and weed-infected, in 2024 in a forage maize (cv. SC704) field located in Asadabad, Hamadan. The first factor consisted of three levels of flight speed (5, 7.5, and 10 m/s), and the second factor consisted of three levels of nozzle rotation speed (3000, 4500, and 6000 rpm). In each plot, 80 g/ha nicosulfuron (Cruise®) + surfactant of trend® 90 (0.1% v/v) was applied at the maize's 3-4 leaf stage. Three pieces of moisture-sensitive card (76 × 26 mm) were installed horizontally in the plot's center and at a distance of 2.5, 5, and 10 m from the edge of that plot at a height of 25 cm to assess spray deposition.

Results

The results indicated an interaction effect between the above two factors on the measured traits. In the center of the plot, the lowest coverage (4.3%) and droplet density (11.2 no./cm2) were observed in the treatment of flight speed of 10 m/s + nozzle rotation speed of 6000 rpm. The highest coverage (16.8%) and droplet density (1.34 no./cm2) were observed in the treatment of flight speed of 5 m/s + nozzle rotation speed of 6000 rpm. In this experiment, the principle of "more deposition and less drift" was visible because in the treatment of flight speed of 10 m/s + nozzle rotation speed of 6000 rpm, although the highest spray volume (46.6 L/ha) was used, no drift of droplets occurred up to a distance of 10 m from the plot. Therefore, the highest chemical control efficiency against total weed density and dry weight (78 and 94%, respectively) was achieved, which resulted in the highest maize forage yield (25.8 t/ha).

Conclusions

Therefore, while recommending the use of the treatment of flight speed of 5 m/s + nozzle rotation speed of 6000 rpm, it is recommended that any method that increases spray volume can be beneficial in improving the efficiency of nicosulfuron against weeds.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed equally to the conceptualization of the article and writing of the original and subsequent drafts.

Data Availability Statement

Data available on request from the authors.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

Ethical considerations

The authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

 

 

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Iranian Journal of Biosystem Engineering
Volume 56, Issue 3
October 2025
Pages 43-59

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History

  • Receive Date: 20 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 28 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 08 October 2025

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