Location: Crop Production and Protection
Project Number: 0500-00053-005-243-G
Project Type: Grant
Start Date: May 1, 2026
End Date: Apr 30, 2030
Objective:
Identify optimal spray drone application parameters for managing Fusarium head blight in wheat and compare their performance with ground-based sprayers. The project aims to improve fungicide deposition, reduce disease severity and DON contamination, and provide science-based guidance for effective use of spray drones in wheat production systems.
Approach:
Field trials will be conducted in Illinois and Arkansas to evaluate spray volume, speed, and swath overlap using spray drones. Results will be compared with ground-based applications. Disease severity, DON levels, and spray deposition will be measured, and findings will be used to develop practical recommendations for growers and applicators.