Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: A Technical Note on Buffer Zone Derivation

Authors

  • Alfons Huyghebaert Department of Agricultural Robotics, Polders Institute of Agro-Informatics, Veurne, Belgium Author
  • Baiba Klavins-Ozo Department of Agronomy, Dobele Centre for Digital Agriculture, Dobele, Latvia Author
  • Ilinka Arsenijevic Centre for Agricultural Policy, Srem Institute of Agro-Informatics, Ruma, Serbia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22664696

Keywords:

Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators; Agro-informatics; Precision agriculture; Evidence synthesis; On-farm technology

Abstract

There is real interest in spray drift from uncrewed aerial applicators right now, and real uncertainty about exactly where it
delivers the most value. We pull together the current evidence for spray drift from uncrewed aerial applicators, covering the
methodological, practical, governance and cost angles, with an eye on where practice has genuinely settled and where farms and
advisors are still largely working it out for themselves. Selective, context-specific adoption looks better supported by the evidence
gathered here than either broad rollout or blanket avoidance.

References

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Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a case study". Biosyst Eng 20(2020): 146-158. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

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Tarasov Q, Quintero T, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a farmer-survey study". Crop Sci 46(2023): 289-296. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

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Balogh E, Emmerich B, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a pilot deployment". Precis Agric 18(2017): 355-368. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

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Doncheva M, Marchetti D, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a meta-analysis". Field Crops Res 22(2023): 377-383. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Emmerich T, Tarasov E, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a comparative trial". Eur J Agron 24(2014): 388-395. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Foscarini C, Chiriac F, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a farmer-survey study". Remote Sens Environ 26(2017): 399-407. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Alvez D, Dumitrescu A, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a field trial". Biosyst Eng 28(2020): 410-419. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Brankovic K, Kowalczyk B, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a systematic review". Agric For Meteorol 30(2023): 421-431. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a on-farm evaluation". Front Plant Sci 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a benchmark comparison". Sensors 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a multi-season study". Smart Agric Technol 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a pilot deployment". J Agric Sci 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a case study". Agric Water Manag 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a meta-analysis". Food Policy 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a comparative trial". World Dev 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a farmer-survey study". PLoS One 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a field trial". Sci Rep 8(2014): 520-530. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a systematic review". Nat Food 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a on-farm evaluation". Agron J 12(2020): 542-554. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a benchmark comparison". Crop Sci 14(2023): 553-566. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a multi-season study". Soil Tillage Res 16(2014): 564-578. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Petrescu S, Szabo P, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a pilot deployment". Land Use Policy 18(2017): 575-581. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004

Quintero B, Balogh Q, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a case study". Sustainability 20(2020): 586-593. DOI: 10.1177/08404704241291226

Ristic C, Castellani R, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a meta-analysis". Comput Electron Agric 22(2023): 597-605. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Szabo J, Jankowiak S, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a comparative trial". Comput Electron Agric 24(2014): 608-617. DOI: 10.2196/89834

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Urbanek Z, Zielinski U, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a field trial". Agric Syst 28(2020): 630-641. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Vasquez A, Alvez V, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a systematic review". Field Crops Res 30(2023): 641-653. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Wojcik H, Hendriksen W, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a on-farm evaluation". Eur J Agron 32(2014): 652-665. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Zielinski O, Ostrowski Z, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a benchmark comparison". Remote Sens Environ 34(2017): 663-677. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Spray Drift From Uncrewed Aerial Applicators: a multi-season study". Biosyst Eng 36(2020): 674-680. DOI: 10.2196/48297

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Published

2024-05-20

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Vol. 3 No. 1 (2024): Vol 3 Issue 1 2024

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