New research from the University of Waterloo shows that a single, targeted herbicide application from a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) can suppress common weed invasions with more than 99 per cent effectiveness.
That is one of the findings mentioned in an article in Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) research journal.
“The 99 per cent reduction in live common weed stems observed with RPAS-based herbicide application demonstrates its capacity to suppress invasive common reed effectively,” said Dr. Rebecca Rooney, an associate biology professor at the University of Waterloo.
“This method matched or exceeded the efficacy of conventional helicopter and backpack applications.”
Managing the invasive common weed with herbicides in wetlands can pose significant challenges for land managers, often due to either limited or difficult access to the weeds via foot or with ground spray equipment.
Using ground access with heavy equipment can potentially trample wildlife and desirable vegetation. RPAS technology provides more convenient access to spraying the weeds than with ground-control methods, with less risk of trampling or disturbance.
RPAS application also allows smaller spray widths and lower flight heights compared to helicopters, with reduced off-target impacts and lower risk of drift.
“It’s important to avoid the potential for herbicide drift and any collateral damage to native vegetation, which is especially valuable in ecologically sensitive wetlands,” said Rooney.
While the study’s researchers observed short-term declines in plant diversity from the RPAS applications, they also saw early evidence that suggests some native species recolonized in treated areas within a year.
“These findings indicate that RPAS technologies can offer a safe and scalable alternative for invasive species control,” said Rooney
