Evaluación del dron como tecnología de aplicación de herbicidas para control de malezas en implantación de pasturas mezcla

Weed control represents one of the main challenges in modern agricultural systems due to its influence on crop yield and production efficiency. For this reason, proper weed management within production systems is essential, employing different control methods and approaches in order to preserve productivity in both the short and long term. In this context, the incorporation of precision technological tools, such as the use of drones for herbicide application, emerges as a viable and innovative alternative to optimize resources, enable applications under certain unfavorable conditions, and reduce environmental impact. The objective of this study was to evaluate different drone application configurations for weed control in establishing pastures. To achieve this, two experiments were conducted, assessing the level of weed control, droplet impact density on the target surface, and recovery rate. The trials were carried out at the Estación Experimental Mario A. Cassinoni (EEMAC) of the Facultad de Agronomía between June and September 2025 using a DJI Agras T40 drone. In the first experiment, two treatments were evaluated corresponding to the application volumes of 10 L/ha and 20 L/ha, where recovery rate, droplet population parameters, and control efficiency were assessed. The second experiment consisted of four treatments resulting from the combination of the same application volumes with droplet sizes of 350 µm and 500 µm, determining droplet population parameters and the percentage of weed control. Overall, the results showed that neither application volume nor droplet size had a direct significant impact on the control efficiency of the weeds present. However, when modifying the configuration of these parameters, trends toward higher levels of control were observed depending on the weed species, plant size, and the environmental conditions during and after application. Droplet impact density did not show significant differences between treatments in Experiment 1, whereas in the second experiment an interaction between the evaluated parameters was detected. The highest number of droplets per unit area was achieved with the combination of 20 L/ha and medium droplet size (350 µm). Regarding the recovery rate evaluated in Experiment 1, a greater amount of recovered product was observed in the 10 L/ha treatment, mainly associated with the wind factor. Drone technology represents an innovative approach for pesticide applications; however, further studies on configuration parameters are required to ensure the responsible and effective use of this technology.