Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Aerial Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329796
Title: Integration of aerial imaging and variable-rate technology for site-specific aerial herbicide application

Author
item Yang, Chenghai
item Martin, Daniel - Dan

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2017
Publication Date: 7/14/2017
Citation: Yang, C., Martin, D.E. 2017. Integration of aerial imaging and variable-rate technology for site-specific aerial herbicide application. Transactions of the ASABE. 60(3):635-644.

Interpretive Summary: As remote sensing and variable rate technology are becoming more available for aerial applicators, practical methodologies on effective integration of these technologies are needed for site-specific aerial applications of crop production and protection materials. This study demonstrated how to integrate an airborne imaging system and a variable rate aerial application system for site-specific management of the winter weed henbit. Spatial and statistical analysis results showed that the imaging system was effective for mapping henbit infestations and for assessing the performance of site-specific herbicide application, and that the variable rate system accurately delivered the product at the desired rate to the prescribed areas for effective control of the weed. The methodology and results from this study will be useful for aerial applicators to incorporate airborne imaging and variable rate application systems into their aerial application business to increase their capabilities and profits.

Technical Abstract: As remote sensing and variable rate technology are becoming more available for aerial applicators, practical methodologies on effective integration of these technologies are needed for site-specific aerial applications of crop production and protection materials. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate how to integrate an airborne two-camera imaging system and an IntelliStar variable rate aerial application system for site-specific management of the winter weed henbit. The airborne imaging system was used to acquire natural color and near-infrared (NIR) images of a fallow field near College Station, Texas for mapping the infestation of henbit shortly before herbicide application. The images were then rectified, classified and converted to a binary prescription map with the full application rate on infested areas and the zero rate on non-infested areas. The variable rate aerial application system mounted on an agricultural aircraft was used to apply glyphosate over the field based on the prescription map. Airborne imagery was collected 14 days after the herbicide application. The as-applied map along with the prescription map and the post-application imagery was used to assess the performance of the site-specific application. Spatial and statistical analysis results showed that the imaging system was effective for mapping henbit infestations and for assessing the performance of site-specific herbicide application, and that the variable rate system accurately delivered the product at the desired rate to the prescribed areas for effective control of the weed. The methodologies and results from this study will be useful for aerial applicators to incorporate airborne imaging and variable rate application systems into their aerial application business to increase their capabilities and profits.