On average 3.42% of tillage fields are occupied by tramlines in Europe. This equates to an area of around 1.67 million ha.

A new study published by UCD post-doctoral researcher Dr. Gary Gillespie found that by using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also referred to as drones to apply crop protection and nutrition products, this would negate the need for tramlines.

Tramlines are a common sight in tillage fields.

Instead this area could be used to grow crops. This could result in an additional 8.14 million tonnes worth or produce equating to €1.43 billion extra revenue for farmers.

This additional output would contain enough calories to feed 29.56 million people annually.

Sustainable intensification

The global population is growing by 200,000 people per day. In order to provide enough food for this growing population, agricultural sustainable intensification methods need to be adopted.

Gillespie explains that the use of technology, in particular UAVs, may be one of these methods.

The conventional approach by tillage farmers in Europe includes the establishment of tramlines during crop dilling. Tramlines are narrow, concave, un-vegetated areas that are used as guidance markers for spraying and fertilising operations.

Visualisation of the portion of tramlines that is potentially available for further cultivation.

The use of UAVs for the completion of agricultural tasks such applying fertiliser and spraying may negate the need for tramlines in European tillage systems. As a result, output from farms would increase without the need to increase crop area.