The effect of the UAV sprayer on the reduction of agricultural environmental hazards

Document Type : Applied Article

Author

Associate Professor, Agricultural Engineering Research Institute. Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO). Karaj. Iran

10.22059/jhsci.2026.412588.930

Abstract

Conventional sprayers used for controlling pests, diseases, and weeds often lead to several challenges, including excessive water and pesticide consumption, low spraying efficacy, and significant risks to both humans and environment. In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) sprayers has emerged as a promising alternative technology with considerable potential for improving spraying performance.
Objectives: The main objective of this research was to evaluate the performance of a UAV sprayer and compare it with three conventional spraying systems: a tractor-mounted turbine sprayer, a tractor-mounted boom sprayer and a tractor-mounted lance sprayer.
Method: Key parameters such as water and pesticide usage, spraying quality, water and pesticide loss, and crop damage were measured and compared for the four investigated sprayers.
Findings: The results indicated that water and pesticide consumption in the turbine, boom and lance sprayers were 17, 16 and 25 times higher than that of the UAV sprayer, respectively. Among the tested systems, the boom sprayer had the highest field efficiency, while the UAV sprayer had the highest uniformity. Furthermore, the UAV sprayer demonstrated superior spraying efficacy compared to the other methods two weeks after application. In terms of environmental impact, The UAV sprayer had the lowest water and pesticide usage, and the lance sprayer had the highest. In fact, the UAV sprayer poses lower environmental hazards due to lower pest consumption. The boom and lance sprayers caused 3.85% and 4.45% crop damage, respectively.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that UAV spraying technology can significantly reduce input use and environmental risks while maintaining or improving spraying performance. Therefore, the use of UAV sprayers is recommended, whereas the lance sprayer is not advised due to its comparatively higher environmental hazards.

Keywords

References

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Environmental Management Hazards
Volume 12, Issue 4
January 2026
Pages 317-331

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