UAV-Assisted Pesticide Application in Potato Cultivation Under Waterlogged Soil Conditions: Orthophotomap-Based Monitoring and Field Assessment

The operational limitations of ground-based machinery in waterlogged soils of northern regions often lead to missed agronomic treatments, resulting in substantial yield losses. This problem is important in potato production, where a delay in disease protection can quickly lead to loss of leaf mass and reduced yield. This article evaluates an integrated UAV-based approach for crop production in potato cultivation, encompassing aerial soil analysis, weed segmentation, targeted spraying, and yield prediction. A field experiment was designed using a developed GD-4 drone on a 300 m × 6 m test plot. Aerial photography was used to generate an orthophotomap for monitoring and planning pesticide applications. The UAV, operating at a 2-m altitude, achieved a 3-m spray swath, enabling complete plot coverage. Visual assessment confirmed superior plant health in the test plot compared to the control. Quantitative analysis revealed a yield of 39.06 t/ha in the test plot, a 15.2% increase over the control plot (33.91 t/ha), with a comparable percentage of marketable tubers (94.5% vs. 93.3%). The study concludes that UAV technology is a reliable means of remote sensing and offers an alternative for ensuring timely agricultural operations and enhancing yield in inaccessible terrains.