August 20, 2020
DJI Drone MG-1S
Potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is a severe oomycete disease that leads to leaf death and tuber rot in potato crops.
Late Blight
Potato late blight initially manifests as water-soaked, green-brown spots on the tips or edges of leaves, often surrounded by a pale green halo. Under conditions of high humidity, these lesions rapidly expand, darken, and develop a ring of white mold (cysts and spores), particularly on the underside of the leaves. In dry conditions, the lesions become brown, dry out, and turn brittle, causing them to crack easily, with no white mold present. The spread of the disease slows under these dry conditions. If the stem or petiole is infected, brown streaks may appear.
In severe cases, late blight causes leaves to droop, curl, and eventually leads to the blackening and rotting of the entire plant, leaving fields scorched. This disease affects potato crops worldwide, with potential yield losses of up to 30% in epidemic years.
Situation
At the request of the Yongshan County Agricultural Bureau, Yunnan Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. took part in a drone spraying operation to combat potato late blight.
A total of six drones were deployed for this operation, covering an area of 600 acres. A combination of automatic and manual operation modes was utilized, and two separate spraying operations were conducted with a 7-day interval between them.
Crop Information
Late blight is one of the most significant diseases affecting potatoes, and the primary objective of this operation was prevention.
| Crop Type | Acres | Growth period | Object | Description |
| Potato | 600 | Flowering | Late blight | Prevention |
Job information
| Time | 2017.06.23-07.03 | Location | Yongshan County |
| Terrain | Hillside | Environment | Altitude 2400-2700 meters, 23°C, 79%, breeze |
Environmental Information
This was a high-altitude operation, testing the MG-1S drone’s endurance in such conditions. According to operator feedback, the MG-1S demonstrated reliable performance, successfully spraying a full tank of liquid with a single battery charge.
Operation Parameters
| Mode | Manual | Speed | 4M/S |
| Altitude | 2M | Space | 4M |
| Apply Rate | 2GPA | Nozzle Model | Fan nozzle XR11001 |
Due to variations in the growth stages of potato seedlings across different plots, the application rate per acre was adjusted slightly.
Medication Information
The operation was carried out in two applications, spaced 7 days apart. Based on local practices and market availability, a wettable powder was used for both applications.
Suggestion: It is recommended to minimize the use of wettable powder in plant protection drone operations to prevent clogging of the nozzles or filters.
| Fungicide name | Formulation | Active ingredients and content | Acre Dosage |
| Jin Jin (Nail Cream Manganese Zinc) | Wettable powder | Total composition 58% (metalaxyl 10%, mancozeb 48%) | 480g |
| Green State 98 Broad Spectrum | Foliar fertilizer | / | 125g |
First medication
| Fungicide name | Formulation | Active ingredients and content | Acre Dosage |
| Antaisheng (Prosenzinc) | Wettable powder | 70% | 600g |
| Silver Farley (Fluorobacteria, Promethazine) | suspending agent | Total composition 687.5g/L (fluopyram 62.5g/L, propamocarb hydrochloride 625g/L) | 360ml |
Second Application
During the second application, the MG-1S drone was utilized to control potato late blight across four townships in Yongshan County. Growers were able to witness firsthand the uniformity and atomization quality of the MG-1S spraying. Following the treatment, they reported that late blight was virtually absent in their potato fields, demonstrating the drone’s excellent preventive effects.
Drone operations have introduced greater convenience, allowing people to fully appreciate the power of technology. As technology advances, traditional production methods will evolve, with more efficient and convenient tools significantly enhancing production efficiency.
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