Application of agricultural drones in vegetable cultivation: A comprehensive review

Drones are unmanned aerial vehicle used for aerial data collection and spraying. The application of Agricultural drones (Spraying drones) in vegetable cultivation had a significant impact on farming practices. Spraying drones equipped with cameras and sensors can capture high-resolution images of crops, allowing farmers to identify potential issues such as pest infestations, disease outbreaks and nutrient deficiencies. Farmer’s efficiency is increased in terms of using Agricultural drones. It includes cost-effectiveness, return on investment (ROI), labour savings and improvements in productivity. The use of Agricultural drones, assisting farmers in tackling current challenges and ensuring future food production. Agricultural Drones enable farmers to monitor large areas of vegetable crops fields quickly, saving time and helps the farmers to achieve sustainable and financially sound operations compared to traditional methods. This precision information minimizes resource wastage and ensures optimal conditions for crop growth and yield. It potentially reducing labour costs and increasing the efficiency. It is cost-effective provides timely data leads to improved yields and reduced costs associated with over-fertilization and pesticide use. Research has shown that Agricultural drones can increase productivity up to 30 %. A study conducted in the United States indicated that Agricultural drones save farmers an 15 % in operational costs, primarily through more precise resource allocation. While drones offer a futuristic approach to agriculture, their application in vegetable crop management is fraught with challenges. As the agricultural sector continues to evolve, it will be crucial to weigh these disadvantages against the potential benefits to determine the role of drones in the future of vegetable crop management.