The Efficacy of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for Controlling Rice Dirty Panicle Disease

Abstract

The efficacy of UAV for controlling dirty panicle disease in paddy field was investigated in Suphanburi province from August 2017 to October 2017. Field studies were conducted using the colorimetric method on two different rice growth stages: heading stage (74 days after sowing) and flowering stage (91 days after sowing). Spray deposition and spray drift deposition on the ground under actual working conditions were studied and compared with normal spray application. Application with UAVs was at the rates of 3.5 and 5 L/rai and the normal spray application by using spray lance was at the rates of 40 and 60 L/rai respectively. Results indicated that UAVs’ spray deposition did not differ from that of lance spraying technique, but the drift deposition on the ground of UAVs was 1 m. greater, To evaluate the bio-efficacy of spraying techniques, the effectiveness of fungicides on tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin 50% + 25% WG (Nativo 75 WG) on dirty panicle disease was determined in Suphanburi and Chainat provinces at a dose of 28 g/rai at the heading 
and flowering stages, respectively. From these trials, it was found that the UAVs had proven to be equally effective as the normal spray application method in the control of dirty panicle disease of rice. The results provide valuable information for further research on UAV pesticide application techniques and the establishment of the standard of spraying tests of UAV in crop field.