Comparison of Volumetric Distribution in Drone Spraying Considering Height, Application Volume, and Nozzle Type

The advancement of technology in agriculture has driven the use of drones for spraying, with their increasing adoption presenting challenges in calibration and volumetric distribution efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the volumetric distribution of drone spraying by combining different operational parameters to determine spray swath and application uniformity. Experiments were conducted using a DJI T10 drone and a volumetric distribution table to assess the impact of different flight heights (2, 3, and 4 m), application volumes (8, 12, 16, and 20 L ha−1), and nozzle types (FV 110 015, FL 110 010, and CO 080 010). Environmental conditions were monitored, and data were analyzed using histograms, analysis of variance (ANOVA) by F-test (p ≤ 0.05), and the Scott–Knott test (p ≤ 0.05) to group means. Results indicated that a lower application volume (8 L ha−1) led to greater application uniformity and a narrower spray swath. Higher flight altitude (4 m) resulted in a wider spray swath and a normal distribution of spray deposition. Fine droplet nozzles (CO 080 010) enhanced uniformity, while very coarse droplets (FV 110 015) concentrated more volume in the center of the swath. Thus, using fine droplet nozzles (CO 080 010), lower application volume (8 and 12 L ha−1), and higher flight altitude (4 m) as operational parameters maximizes drone spraying efficiency; however, this also increases drift potential.