This year, a premiere for Flanders, Belgium, was scheduled: a drone sowed winter rye. The demonstration was possible through a collaboration with Agriflight, which is the first company in Flanders to receive permission to seed and fertilize with drones. Jonathan Van Beek, researcher at Belgian institute ILVO, stated: “By seeding with a drone, we reduce the pressure on the soil and decrease the period that fields remain fallow. This results in weed suppression and early germination, without disturbing the soil.”
The seeding drone, a modified spraying drone from DJI, was demonstrated by ILVO at a field in Hansbeke (B) during the annual demo day at the Agro-ecology Test Platform early July. During the demo day, it was demonstrated how the drone can be used to sow winter rye. Jonathan Van Beek from ILVO explains how it works: “Beneath the drone hangs a seeding module with a rotating disk that can disperse the seeds as set in the machine.” Drone magazine Dronewatch attended the demonstration
Constant ground coverage
According to Van Beek, the seeding drone offers several advantages: “Farmers do not need to prepare the field. Especially on poorly maintained fields, it is an advantage that no heavy machinery is needed that could burden the soil. Moreover, we can drop the seeds among an existing crop. When this crop is harvested, the new seeds are already germinating, which ensures almost constant ground coverage. This reduces the growth of weeds and thereby also the need for herbicides. Additionally, the quality of the soil improves due to the constant green cover.”
Although the advantages are clear, there remains one major disadvantage: the lack of a legal framework for the use of the seeding drone. Van Beek explains: “Licenses are being issued to drone pilots, possibly to farmers as well, but the legislation has not yet been adjusted to this innovation.”
Future perspectives
ILVO does not suggest that seeding drones will replace all agricultural methods. Van Beek emphasizes: “We only want to demonstrate that seeding drones can be very useful for specific applications. However, for broader adoption, it is necessary for legislation to be adjusted to fully integrate the use of seeding drones into the agricultural sector.”
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