Field Trials of UAVs for Pesticide Treatments to Control Weed Vegetation on Agricultural Lands

Abstract

This study presents the results of field experiments aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for broadcast herbicide applications to control weed vegetation on agricultural lands. The experiment was conducted in 2025 in the Northwestern region of the Russia on plots previously used for agricultural production, after the harvest of spring (2 ha) and winter (1 ha) crops, characterized by a high degree of infestation with annual and perennial weed species. The systemic herbicide Tornado 540, containing glyphosate (potassium salt) at a concentration of 540 g/L as the active ingredient, was used as the treatment agent. It was established that the use of UAVs achieves a phytotoxic effect comparable to the classical method, while the high concentration of the preparation caused no damage to crop plants. Fourteen days after treatment, the weed vegetation was eliminated, confirming the high biological efficacy of the method. Additionally, the absence of mechanical impact on the soil cover was noted, as well as the possibility of performing agricultural operations under conditions of high soil moisture, where the use of wheeled machinery is impossible due to the risk of soil compaction and structure damage. The obtained data demonstrates the technological, economic, and environmental feasibility of integrating UAVs into the practice of pre-sowing chemical treatment of lands.