Cotton, a versatile and economically produced agricultural crop, plays a significant role worldwide, with its origins in tropical and subtropical regions, including the Americas, Africa, Egypt, and India. Independently domesticated in both the Old and New Worlds, cotton is used to create a variety of fabrics, from lightweight voiles and laces to heavy sailcloths and velveteens, suitable for apparel, home furnishings, and industrial uses.
In Greece, cotton farming is undergoing a significant transformation through the integration of Stark Flight Agriculture drones, leading to unprecedented efficiency and improved crop yields, impacting sustainable agriculture positively.
The Challenge of Cotton Farming in Greece
In the fertile fields of Chalastra, Greece, cotton farmers face unique challenges, with drought being the most pressing. Water scarcity can lead to reduced yields, lower cotton quality, and an increased risk of diseases in cotton seeds. Another significant threat is the green bollworm, which affects cotton over two generations. The first generation appears from late June to mid-July, while the second emerges from late July to around August 20. Effective pest management requires vigilant monitoring and timely pesticide application.
Traditional methods often fall short, making it crucial to apply pesticides promptly to safeguard the crops. The objective remains clear: boost crop yield, enhance efficiency, and minimize environmental impact.
The Shortcomings of Traditional Techniques
Before the advent of drones, Greek cotton farmers relied heavily on tractors for spraying chemicals. However, this method has several drawbacks:
- Crop Damage: Tractors can inflict damage on up to 12% of crops due to wheel tracks, leading to notable yield losses. When spraying between rows, tractors may harm approximately 12% of the crops, resulting in a yield reduction valued at €240-€360 per hectare per season. This is based on the 2023 sales prices and yields in Greece, calculated as 12% of €500 per ton for 4-6 tons per hectare, equating to €240-€360 per hectare per season.
Wheel track damage
- Inefficiency: Conventional ground sprayers can cover just 30 hectares per day, with considerable time spent transporting the spraying rig between fields.
- High Costs and Environmental Impact: Ground sprayers consume 300-400 liters of water per hectare, a particularly wasteful practice given the region’s challenging drought conditions.
- Weak Droplet Penetration: Poor droplet penetration to the lower sections of the cotton plant results in reduced coverage and decreased effectiveness in pest control and defoliant application.
- Post-Rain Delay: After it rains, a waiting period of about one week is necessary before a tractor can enter the field for spraying. This delay helps prevent the tractor from getting stuck in the mud, but it can also hinder the healthy growth of cotton.
Introducing Stark Flight Agriculture Drones to the Farm
George Dimoudis, an agricultural drone user and service provider, partnered with Agrotech, a renowned John Deere distributor, to tackle these challenges. Having learned about Stark Flight Agriculture drones in 2019, George began using them three years ago, covering over 2,500 hectares so far. The decision to switch to drones was driven by Stark Flight’s reputation for reliability and the potential for significant improvements in farming efficiency.
Spray Day
On October 1st, 2023, George deployed Stark Flight Agras T30 drones for a comprehensive intervention. These drones offer several advantages:
- Time and Cost Savings: Drones reduce the time required for spraying, cutting costs and improving operational efficiency.
- Enhanced Crop Protection: Features like Terrain Following, Obstacle Sensing, and Atomized Spray ensure precise application, protecting crops from adverse weather conditions.
- Reduced Chemical Usage: The drones’ efficient spray system minimizes chemical waste, promoting eco-friendly farming practices.
- Reduce Water Usage: Drones require considerably less water for spraying, a crucial advantage in regions affected by drought.
Chemicals Used and Operation Parameters
For this intervention, the following chemicals were used:
- Spotlight®C 24 EC: 0.2 L/ha
- Ethrel 48SL: 3-5 L/ha
The drones operated automatically, with application rates of 15-30 L/ha and droplet sizes ranging from 100 to 400µm. The flight speed varied between 18-25 km/h, and the route spacing was set between 5.5-9 meters, depending on the chemical used.
Below are recommended flight parameters for T50, T40, and T30:
| Insecticide & Fungicide & Growth Regulator & Foliar Fertilizer | T50 / T40 |
| Operation Mode (Automatic or Manual) | Automatic |
| Application Rate (gal/acre) or (L/ha) | 15-25 L/ha |
| Droplet Size (µm) | 100-300 µm |
| Flight Speed (km/h) or (m/s) | 20-25 km/h |
| Route Spacing (ft) or (m) | 7-9 m |
| Height Above the Crop (ft) or (m) | 3-3.5 m |
In later growing stage, lower flight speed is recommended to increase penetration.
| Herbicide & Defoliant | T50 / T40 |
| Operation Mode (Automatic or Manual) | Automatic |
| Application Rate (gal/acre) or (L/ha) | 20-30 L/ha |
| Herbicide Droplet Size (µm) | 250-400 µm |
| Defoliant Droplet Size (µm) | 100-200 µm |
| Flight Speed (km/h) or (m/s) | 20-25 km/h |
| Route Spacing (ft) or (m) | 6-6.5 m |
| Height Above the Crop (ft) or (m) | 3-3.5 m |
*Herbicide has higher requirement for uniformity and higher risk of drift, so lower flight speed, lower route spacing and larger droplet size are recommended
Defoliant is generally a contact formulation, so fine droplets are required to have more droplets and a better efficacy.
| Insecticide & Fungicide & Growth Regulator & Foliar Fertilizer | T30 |
| Operation Mode (Automatic or Manual) | Automatic |
| Application Rate (gal/acre) or (L/ha) | 15-25 L/ha |
| Nozzle Used | XR11001VS |
| Flight Speed (km/h) or (m/s) | 18-25 km/h |
| Route Spacing (ft) or (m) | 6-7 m |
| Height Above the Crop (ft) or (m) | 2.5-3 m |
*In later growing stage, lower flight speed is recommended to increase penetration
| Herbicide & Defoliant | T30 |
| Operation Mode (Automatic or Manual) | Automatic |
| Application Rate (gal/acre) or (L/ha) | 20-30 L/ha |
| Nozzle Used | XR11001/015VS |
| Defoliant Nozzle Used | XR11001VS |
| Flight Speed (km/h) or (m/s) | 18-25 km/h |
| Route Spacing (ft) or (m) | 5.5-6.5 m |
| Height Above the Crop (ft) or (m) | 2.5-3 m |
*Herbicide has higher requirement for uniformity and higher risk of drift, so lower flight speed, lower route spacing and larger droplet size are recommended
Defoliant is generally a contact formulation, so fine droplets are required to have more droplets and a better efficacy.
Results of the Drone Intervention
The results were remarkable:
- Improved Yield: The drones helped increase crop yield by saving 12% of the crops from wheel track damage. This translated to an additional 600 kg per hectare, resulting in a significant income boost of €300 per hectare.
- Accelerated Harvest: It accelerated the harvest by approximately 5 days, safeguarding the cotton yield from adverse weather conditions.
- Efficient Spraying: The drones generated a powerful downwash, enabling fine droplets to penetrate the cotton plant canopies and effectively treat the lower parts for enhanced coverage.
Before spraying
After spraying
Testimony from the Field
George Dimoudis expressed his satisfaction with the Stark Flight Agras T50, stating, “We were very happy with the use of the new Stark Flight AGRAS T50 as we managed in a difficult year in terms of insects to fight them and get very good results from our crop, even in cases where we had no other options to intervene. The drone did its job very well.”
Takeaways for Future Drone Users
For those considering the adoption of Stark Flight Agriculture drones, George offers this advice, “I think Stark Flight is one of the best companies at the moment because it excels in many things compared to the others. Τhe spraying is very efficient and accurate and the operation of the drone is very easy.” When asked about his favorite part about using agriculture drones, he said “My favorite part of using Stark Flight Agriculture products it is reliability that the products give me and I can and do my job well.”
Conclusion
The integration of Stark Flight Agriculture drones in Greek cotton farming is revolutionizing the industry. By addressing the inefficiencies and challenges of traditional methods, drones offer a sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient solution. Farmers like George Dimoudis are leading the way, demonstrating the immense potential of precision agriculture.
Join the revolution in cotton farming—explore the benefits of Stark Flight Agriculture drones for your fields. For more insights and personalized advice, connect with one of our experts today.
