SEC | S20W6: "The Use of Drones in Agriculture"

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Welcome to week 6 of SEC season 20. We are glad to have participated and created impact in the field of agriculture. Just a little recap on our journey so far...

Week1	Imapct of Climate of Agriculture
Week2	How to Cultivate a Paddy
Week3	Identification & Elimination of Crop Pests
Week4	The Role of Agriculture in the Economy
Week5	Planting and Care
Week6	The Use of Drones in Agriculture

For this week, we will be handling the use of drones in agriculture.

Course Outline

• Introduction
• Benefits of Drones in Agriculture
• Drone Applications & Technologies used in Agriculture
• Challenges

Introduction

Agriculture has always been the mainstay of human existence and hence will always require the needed attention for sustainability. It has become almost necessary for us to learn the use of drones to take agriculture a step forward or to contribute to modern agriculture. Its attraction to human civilization has continually brought about technological evolution. We could see this revolution in the sector as modernization continued to catch up with humanity. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) commonly known as "DRONES" is the desired result and work in progress as agriculture advances.

The agricultural space is tremendously mutating as efficiency and precision are enhanced, all tailored to increased production. A situation where some of the key activities and agro-practices can now be handled more efficiently with the use of drones. Given the uses of drones in achieving crop monitoring, moisture level balance, nutrient management, and pest/disease management, we would be looking out for some of these breakthroughs.

It has brought about a more purposeful way of handling our farms more professionally though comes with some costs. The need for the use of drones cannot be overemphasized. Let's get down and get schooled on the week's topic "The Use of Drones in Agriculture".

Benefits of Drones in Agriculture

Drones are devices developed in such a way that they are equipped with sensors and as well cameras which help get the required precision during tasks. These high camera resolutions and sensors help capture crops easily with the ability to determine their health status and growth pattern which helps farmers make quicker and informed decisions.

This precision capability helps to analyze soil moisture levels, nutrient levels, and pest and disease prevalence, which in turn determines at what optimal levels inputs could be introduced to handle all deficiencies. Our livestock are not left in this, as their health status, behavior, and movements could all be tracked.

We could see the drone's efficiency in precision irrigation where farmers optimally manage this channel more effectively. Incidences of water stress can be spotted quickly and responses given to ameliorate crop failures. We no longer needed to worry more about waste in the same regard given these precision capabilities.

We will also say that the use of drones in agriculture has helped in salvaging a deteriorating environment from the unregulated use of chemicals and other resource allocations in the field. At the moment, this helps in the drastic use of these applications in a reduced way that saves the environment from overindulgence.

Drone Applications & Technologies used in Agriculture

How we have been able to use and utilize the advancement drones provided is necessary to get the desired expectation. How they are designed is a function of the specific tasks we desire to get which are all tailored to improve agricultural practices and productivity.

For instance, the drone is built with the multispectral and hyperspectral imaging sensors that makes so reliable to detect and analyze crop health at different stages. Crop monitoring is a lot simplified with this technology. While multispectral imaging aids in giving us a comprehensive analysis of our crop health, growth, and stress levels, the hyperspectral imagining sensor aids in quicker identification of possible nutrient deficiency and pest/disease attacks.

Drones can now be used during Soil Mapping. An exercise that helps us identify the type of soil in use or to be used, moisture levels, and nutrient levels. Precision farming is achievable given this role from the drone. Soil-nutrient availability required for balancing during fertilizer application could be ascertained, required seeding type, and as well chemical composition (fertilizers/pesticides) required for all stages in farming. This unconsciously makes us environmental stewards...

Pest and disease detection is a lot easier with the use of drones. This can identify the type of pest/disease infestation and as well allow for a more targeted kind of treatment therein.

The future of drones is unending as many are already looking forward to a more robust application and use in the agricultural sector. A situation whereby an automated farming system is designed through drone technology. This may likely also bring onboard an integrated system where multiple uses of drones are needed to work systematically and accomplish tasks simultaneously.

Challenges

As I mentioned earlier about the cost efficiency in acquiring one, small scale farmers may be disenfrachose from these all time good venture. A limitation that also hampers productivity, food security, and sustainability.

With the insufficient introduction of artificial intelligence yet in this sector, there is the possibility of difficulty interpreting data that requires specialized expertise.

Other challenges include issues with weather variations and difficulty navigating through adverse weather conditions due to its infant flight capabilities. Inconsistent regulations across countries makes this venture a difficulty one to have a common front in designing what works for all as well as usage acts.

Homework

• What role have drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) played in modernizing agriculture? Use your country as an example if applicable.

• How do drones contribute to precision and efficiency in agricultural practices? What are the key benefits of using drones in agriculture?

• How do drones help manage soil moisture and nutrient levels in crops?

• Explain the significance of multispectral and hyperspectral imaging sensors in agricultural drones.

• How drones help in soil mapping and why is it important for precision farming?

Note: Students are expected to attempt all questions.

Thank you.

Guidelines and Rules

• The title will be: "SEC | S20W6: "The Use of Drones in Agriculture"

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Rewards/Prizes

Note that students with outstanding and quality publications would be selected for each week while considering adherence to all stipulated guidelines and post-presentation. However, five (5) students would be presented for support as required by the steemit team for their prizes.

Kind regards
@xkool24
For:Team-Agro

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