Evaluating the Efficiency of Drone Sprayers Using Distilled Water vs.

Chemicals

Introduction
Drone sprayers are increasingly used in agriculture to deliver pesticides, herbicides, and
fertilizers. While manufacturers typically test these systems with distilled water for
pressure and nozzle performance, the real-world application involves chemicals with
diverse physical properties. This study aims to assess the potential discrepancies
between water and chemical applications in terms of droplet size, spray coverage, and
deposition.

Research Questions

1. How does droplet size differ between distilled water and chemical applications
when using drone sprayers?
2. Is there a significant difference in spray coverage uniformity between water and
chemical applications?
3. Does the chemical composition affect spray deposition and adherence to target
surfaces?

Objectives

The main objective of the study is to quantify and compare the droplet size distributions
produced by drone sprayers when applying distilled water and various chemical solutions.
Specifically;
 To evaluate the impact of droplet size differences (between water and chemical
applications) on spray coverage uniformity.
 To assess the influence of chemical composition on spray deposition patterns
and adherence to targeted surfaces in the water sensitive paper.
 To determine if there are statistically significant differences in coverage
uniformity and deposition/adherence between water and chemical applications.

Literature Review
Several studies have explored the performance of drone sprayers, predominantly
focusing on water-based tests (PNS, 2021; Smith et al., 2022). These tests are valuable
for initial assessments but might not accurately reflect the behavior of various
chemicals. A limited number of studies have begun to investigate the impact of chemical
properties on spray characteristics (Chen & Liu, 2023), highlighting the need for further
research in this area.
Methodology
1. Experimental Setup:
o Drone Sprayer: DJI Agrass t10 drone sprayer will be used.
o Method of testing: The test procedure will follow the PNS Multi-Rotor
Remotely Piloted Aircraft-Powered Sprayer — Methods of Test
o Chemicals: used agricultural chemicals
o Test Area: University of Southeastern Philippines open field.
o Time: 6:00 am – as early as possible to minimize the impact of wind and
temperature during testing.
o Measurement Tools: Droplet size analyzers, water-sensitive
paper, graduated cylinder, and timer.
2. Experimental Design:
o Water Application: The drone sprayer will be calibrated and tested with
distilled water as a baseline.
o Chemical Applications: Each chemical will be tested
individually, maintaining consistent flight parameters and nozzle settings.
o Replication: Multiple replications will be conducted to ensure statistical
validity.
3. Data Analysis:
o Statistical analysis (e.g., ANOVA, t-tests) will be used to compare droplet
size distributions, coverage uniformity, and deposition rates between
water and chemical applications.
o Regression analysis will explore the relationship between chemical
properties and spray characteristics.

References

 Chen, X., & Liu, Y. (2023). Effects of chemical properties on the spray
characteristics of agricultural drones. Journal of Agricultural Engineering
Research, 125(3), 256-268.
 PNS (2021). Performance Nozzle System (PNS) Test Protocol for Drone
Sprayers.
 Smith, A.B., et al. (2022). Evaluating the efficacy of drone-applied herbicides for
weed control in corn. Weed Science, 70(2), 112-121.