Effects of Operational Parameters on Spray Discharge in Agricultural Drone Applications

International audience The effects of key operational parameters such as nozzle type, spraying height and operating pressure on the spray discharge characteristics of agricultural drones are evaluated in this study, to obtain the optimal operational parameters for drone spraying operations. The study was carried out using specifically developed patternator of 8 m x 8 m. The spraying was performed using a multipurpose hexacopter drone equipped with flat fan and hollow cone nozzles, over the patternator under varying conditions. The study examined five different heights (0.5 m, 1 m, 1.5 m, 2 m, and 2.5 m) and three pressure levels (2 kg/cm2, 3 kg/cm2 and 5 kg/cm2). Each combination was replicated three times to ensure reliability. The discharge rate obtained varied between 0.6060 and 1.8150 L/min, with a median of 1.0255 L/min and an average of 1.1374 L/min. Statistical analysis conducted in RStudio included ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests to determine significant differences and interactions among the variables. The results indicated that the flat fan nozzle at a height of 0.5 m and maximum pressure of 5 kg/cm2 produced the highest discharge rates. It was observed that the discharge rate decreases as spray height increases. These findings underscore the significance of selecting appropriate nozzles and optimizing operational parameters to enhance the precision and efficacy of drone spraying in agriculture.