Uso de aeronaves remotamente pilotadas (ARPs) no controle do bicho-mineiro do cafeeiro (Leucoptera coffeella)

Abstract

The coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeella) is a pest that can cause significant damage to coffee crops and, consequently, reduce productivity. The management of this pest is largely carried out through the use of pesticides applied by ground spraying, which increases production costs and poses a greater risk of contamination to the applicator. The management of crops using precision agriculture (PA) techniques enables higher productivity and cost optimization. The use of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) has been gaining ground due to its ability to reduce input usage, minimize operator exposure time to chemical products, and allow spraying in steep or hard-to access areas. In this context, to meet the proposed objectives, the study was divided into two stages, with the following general objectives: (1) to evaluate the spray distribution pattern using two nozzle types (XR11001VS and TXA8001VK) and three flight directions (perpendicular, along the planting row, and between rows); and (2) to assess the technical performance of chemical control using the molecule Isocycloseram applied by RPA and knapsack sprayer. In the first stage, each treatment included eight replications and five water- sensitive papers placed in each third of the plant (lower, middle, and upper), and spraying was performed using an RPA DJI Agras T10. In the second stage, based on the results of the first experiment, the treatment that achieved the best uniformity of droplet distribution across the coffee plant canopy was selected for the agrochemical application. The combination of the hollow-cone nozzle and the flight over the planting row resulted in greater droplet density and more uniform coverage in the middle and lower layers of the plant. In contrast, sprays performed between rows and perpendicular to the planting row, as well as those using flat-fan nozzles, resulted in lower deposition. Moreover, the product application results showed no significant differences in Leucoptera coffeella infestation levels among treatments. This behavior may be related to the spraying methods used, demonstrating that both techniques are suitable for the control of the coffee leaf miner.