Aerial application results in production gains in relation to ground application in soybean

Beatriz Hiyori Hamada; Marcio Luiz  Sganzerla; Sarah  Wachtel; Dionathan Willian  Lujan; Armando Lopes de Brito Filho; Lincon Oliveira Stefanello da Silva; Daniel  Debona; Franciele Morlin Carneiro

doi:10.1590/1983-21252025v3812677rc

Authors

Beatriz Hiyori Hamada Foco Inovações Tecnologicas LTDA, Itaipulândia, PR, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2425-7997
Marcio Luiz Sganzerla Foco Inovações Tecnologicas LTDA, Itaipulândia, PR, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4436-7103
Sarah Wachtel Department of Agronomy, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Santa Helena, PR, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4415-1545
Dionathan Willian Lujan Instituto de Desenvolvimento Rural do Paraná, Santa Helena, PR, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4671-5995
Armando Lopes de Brito Filho Engineering Department, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8053-0399
Lincon Oliveira Stefanello da Silva Department of Agronomy, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Santa Helena, PR, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7223-5544
Daniel Debona Department of Agronomy, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Santa Helena, PR, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3701-783X
Franciele Morlin Carneiro Department of Agronomy, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Santa Helena, PR, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0117-7468

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252025v3812677rc

Keywords:

Precision agriculture. Statistical control of quality. Glycine max (L) Merril. Application technology

Abstract

Grain production plays a significant role in the economy and development of Brazil’s agricultural sector, with a particular emphasis on soybeans. To achieve greater productivity and reduce production costs, the agricultural sector has adopted new technological alternatives, including Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), also known as drones. The use of these aircraft for spraying is intended to provide practical and sustainable control of pathogens and weeds in crops. This study aims to compare terrestrial and aerial application methods to determine which operations provide productive gains in soybean cultivation. To achieve this goal, we monitored operations using Statistical Quality Control (SQC) tools and proximal remote sensing techniques. The experiment was conducted in the experimental areas of the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Santa Helena, Paraná State. The experimental design was based on the basic premise of SQC, comprising 48 sample points for evaluating productivity and 16 sample points for other indicators in each application, totaling 96 points for productivity and 32 points for other indicators. The quality indicators included crop biophysical characteristics and vegetation indices. The statistical analyses included descriptive analyses and SQC tools. It was concluded that RPAs provided a more uniform application, and a significant increase in productivity was observed with aerial application compared to ground application.

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