4D Farm

The Digital, Data-Driven Demonstration Farm

Research Update: Drone Seeding Cover Crops

At a Glance

ETDS Progress

  • Research Topic: Drone Seeding Cover Crops
  • PI: Nicholas Basinger, Wesley Porter, and Jodi Maynard
  • Team: Chance Warren (MS student) ​
  • Main Objective: Compare drone seeded cover crops against traditionally seeded cover crops in cotton​

Motivation

  • Optimal seeding of cover crops isn’t always achieved due
    to challenges arising from both management and weather.
  • A potential solution is drone seeding cover crops; however, there is limited research on the matter regarding applying multiple species mixes and applying across multiple time frames.

Proposed Solution

Apply early-seeded cover crop via drone 2 weeks before cotton defoliation, along with drone-applied and tractor-applied cover crops 2 weeks after harvest.


Compare application rates between both systems and
note any differences that occur in biomass or the soil.

Results to Date

We are currently in the first year of the study, with data collection ongoing.

Cover crop biomass was collected in intervals of 30 days after planting to ascertain if any difference exists between early and late drone seeded cover crops or in cover crops spread by a tractor.

Soil samples will be collected to gauge changes in organic matter and nutrient content. Regardless of the rate or mixture, the drone varied in application rate, ranging from below, at, and above target rate.

DJI T-40 prior to calibration as to create an internal calibration curve based on gate openings.
T-40 in the field prior to seed application.
Returning to add seed and change batteries.

Next Steps

  1. Compare uniformity of rates between applications flown under the same parameters.
  2. Determine why gate settings are internally manipulated by the drone against desired settings and how this affects the applied rate.
  3. Ascertain if defoliants and or boll openers negatively impacted seed applied prior to defoliation.​
A person in a red shirt and khaki shorts is standing, back facing the camera, piloting a drone.
Drone en route to fly a mission.

Citation

  • Feng, X., Alletto, L., Cong, W.-F., Jérôme Labreuche, & Lamichhane, J. R. (2024). Strategies to improve field  establishment of cover crops. A review. Agronomy for
    Sustainable Development, 44(5).
  • Hassler, S. C., & Baysal-Gurel, F. (2019). Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Technology and Applications in Agriculture. Agronomy, 9(10), 618

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