Stay on target
Apr 01, 2020
FAUNTLEROY, KY -- As anyone in either industry can tell you, rice and ducks already have a very symbiotic relationship that goes a long way to enhancing both the duck habitats and populations and the rice industry’s sustainability credentials. And now researchers are attempting to write the next chapter in the relationship – training ducks to deliver crop protection and fertilizer to fields.
“One of the great promises of drones, or UAVs, is the ability to deliver chemicals to crops in the field, but payload limits and technology cost are both limiting factors,” explained Dr. Clarence Nash who is leading the research project for East Virginia Polytechnic in western Kentucky. “Waterfowl have no inherent cost to the farmer and are capable of carrying 125 percent of their bodyweight, so we saw a great deal of potential.”
Nash said current ag UAVs on the market offer a liquid payload of about 10kg per flight, or almost five flights per acre to deliver initial nitrogen treatments. A rice farmer would only need 17 mallards to make one pass per acre to deliver the same 105 pounds of nitrogen.
“Waterfowl are quite comfortable flying in formation,” Nash said. “The trick is getting them to wear the harness that holds the liquid tank. But we get closer every day.”
For more information on this innovative research or to schedule a demonstration, please visit www.eastvapoly.edu/aprilfools.