Monitoring and risk analysis of residual pesticides drifted by unmanned aerial spraying

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the residual characteristics of pesticides drifted by unmanned aerial spray according to buffer strip, windbreak, and morphological characteristics of non-target crops, suggest prevention for drift reduction, and finally conduct a risk analysis on pesticides exceeding the maximum residue limit (MRL) or uniform level (0.01 mg/kg) of the positive list system (PLS). Non-target crops were collected around the aerial sprayed area (paddy rice) in Boryeong, Seocheon, and Pyeongtaek after UAV spray. When pesticides were detected in more than three samples, Duncan’s multiple range test was performed. In cases where pesticides were detected in only two samples, an independent sample t-test was conducted (p < 0.05). The drift rate of pesticides tends to decrease by up to 100% as the buffer distance from aerial sprayed area increases or when a windbreak, such as maize, is present between two locations. Thus, the reduction of drifted pesticides could be effective if both factors were applied near the UAV spray area. Moreover, the residue of drifted pesticides was found to be the highest in leafy vegetables such as perilla leaves or leaf and stem vegetables such as Welsh onion, followed by fruit vegetables and cucurbits, owing to the morphological characteristics of crops. Therefore, selecting pulse or cereal such as soybean or maize as a farm product near the UAV spray area can be considered to minimize the drift. For pesticides that exceed the MRL or PLS uniform level, %acceptable dietary intake is 0–0.81% with no risk. Additionally, employing pesticides approved for both paddy rice and farm products in UAV spraying can effectively minimize instances where MRL or PLS are exceeded. Therefore, this study aims to provide farmers with effective guidelines for mitigating drift. Furthermore, we strive to promote stable and uninterrupted food production while facilitating the utilization of agricultural technologies such as UAV spraying to address labor shortages and ensure sustainable food security.

Peculiarities of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Use in Crop Production in Russia: A Review

“…Modern agricultural technologies, such as PA, acknowledge that PPA and fertilizers have a specific dosage that positively affects plant growth [63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72]. However, exceeding these standards does not increase the biological effect and harms the environment, resulting in unnecessary treatment costs.…”

“…Most large farms in Russia with extensive acreage typically use traditional ground machines for spraying. This method involves applying high solution rates, ranging from 100 to 300 L per ha [66][67][68], with large droplets of low concentration, which is believed to reduce crop stress. Analysis of the data in Tables 5 and 6 and comparison with conventional application rates shows the importance of the ULV spraying technology.…”

“…Analysis of the data in Tables 5 and 6 and comparison with conventional application rates shows the importance of the ULV spraying technology. Speed-adaptive variable-rate spraying is a type of technology that allows spray droplet size to be adjusted [68][69][70][71][72]. When ULV technology is used, it is believed that the crop impact of PPA application is achieved with 10-100 µm droplets, as opposed to the conventional large droplets of 600-700 µm diameter [65,66].…”

“…Optimal droplet size of plant protection agent (PPA) for 100% insect and disease control[66][67][68].…”

Carbon Dot Nanozyme for Enhancement of Yield and Quality in Maize through Multimechanism Joint Effects

“…However, the overuse of fertilizers results in several environmental problems such as soil acidification, water pollution, and reduced biodiversity . (2) Pesticide spraying can effectively control maize diseases and pests, but some studies have demonstrated that even registered and widely used safety pesticides can cause environmental pollution when improperly applied . (3) Gene editing technology can enhance maize resistance to diseases, pests, and disasters .…”