Drones are revolutionizing agriculture: Better harvests despite drought!

Drones are revolutionizing agriculture: Better harvests despite drought!

Agricultural engineers are facing new challenges, particularly with regard to climate change and the associated drought. An interesting approach that is being tested in Saxony-Anhalt is the use of drone seeds. Lars Gärtner, project manager at LLG, reports that drone sowing has shown the best results this year compared to direct and drill sowing. Drone seeding is characterized by less dense stands, but very strongly developed individual plants.

Direct sowing, on the other hand, is described as rather disappointing, while drill sowing produced a higher number of plants, but they were weaker. A particularly dry August created an additional challenge as many plants suffered from a lack of water. Fortunately, the rainfall in September caused a noticeable recovery in stocks.

Technology meets agriculture

The use of drones in agriculture is by no means just a trend, but is increasingly becoming a necessity. Loud agriculture.de Around ten percent of companies in Germany already use drones to reduce workload and at the same time maintain an overview of the fields. Drone seeding uses the latest technology, including RTK-GPS and optical and radar-based systems.

The drone flights are planned precisely: they move at heights of four to six meters and can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h. With a spreading width of five to eight meters, the seeds are optimally distributed. The recommended seed rate is around 1.5 times the usual amount. It is recommended to sow seeds seven to ten days before harvesting the main crop for best results.

More than just seeds

Drones can do much more than just sow crops. They help to make agriculture more efficient and sustainable. They enable the precise application of fertilizer and pesticides and also record the condition of plants and soil using special cameras. Detecting stress in plants, such as a lack of water or nutrient deficiency, is made easier by this technology.

Drones prove to be extremely helpful, especially in difficult terrain, such as steep vineyards. Their use can even reduce soil compaction and thus promote plant growth. In Japan, drones are widely used in rice cultivation, while in Germany their use has so far been largely limited to vineyards.

In summary, it shows that the innovative technology of drone seeding can represent a ray of hope for the future of agriculture. As Lars Gärtner notes, many farmers hope that the targeted use of drones will result in a better harvest despite the challenges posed by climate change. The need for such solutions will certainly continue to increase in the future.

For more information about drone seeds and their use in agriculture, read the articles from Farmer's newspaper and DLG announcements.