Precision Weed Control: Revolutionizing Rice Cultivation with Spot-Spraying Technology

Agriport Kato, a service provider for rice paddies in Hokkaido, Japan, adopted precision agriculture techniques to address the challenge of excessive herbicide use in rice farming. Using a DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral drone, they collected detailed field data and processed it with PIX4Dfields. The Magic Tool in PIX4Dfields identified specific weed locations during the critical tillering stage, when weed control is essential for minimizing yield loss.

The data was used to create spot spray maps that were exported to a DJI T-30 Agras spray drone. The targeted herbicide application reduced herbicide usage by two-thirds, significantly lowering costs and environmental impact while protecting the rice crops from herbicide damage. The project, completed in just two days, demonstrated the efficiency and scalability of this approach in sustainable rice farming.