Comparative performance of fertiliser application using unmanned aerial spraying system and boom sprayer on MD2 pineapple crop

Siti Noor Aliah, B.¹*, Rohazrin, A. R.¹, Zakaria, N. K.³, Mohd Nizam, Z.², Muslimin, J.⁴, Mohd Nadzim, N.¹, Muhammad Hariz, M.¹, Ismail, R.¹, Mohamad Saiful, N. A.¹, Bunyamin, A. K.¹, Adli Fikri, A. S.¹, Ahmad, M. T.¹ and Abu Bakar, B.¹

Abstract
Unmanned aerial spraying system (UASS) which is known as a spraying drone has gained popularity among farmers. It is non-contact to the ground, lightweight, portable and offers rapid spraying operation. Nevertheless, the effectiveness and efficiency of fertiliser spraying by UASS on pineapple crops were not much discussed in previous studies. This study evaluated and compared the effectiveness of fertiliser spraying using UASS with tractor-mounted-boom-sprayer (TMBS) based on crop growth performance which indicated by the number of leaves, length and width of D-leave and operational efficiency. Results from this study showed that there were no significant mean differences in the mean number of leaves, mean length and mean width of D-leave of crops that were sprayed with fertiliser using the UASS and TMBS. This showed that the effectiveness of fertiliser spraying by UASS on crop growth is comparable to the fertiliser spraying by TMBS. The field efficiency of the TMBS was however slightly higher than UASS. The man hour/ha of UASS was lower than TMBS which led to lower wages of UASS than TMBS. The results of this comparative study can be used as a guide to farmers in considering a spraying system that suits the requirements of their respective farms.

Keywords: unmanned spraying drone, boom sprayer, pineapple crop growth, fertiliser application, spraying performance

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