Variable insecticide application in soybeans is becoming crucial. Rising insecticide costs and stricter environmental regulations create major challenges for farmers worldwide. Meanwhile, global demand for sustainable and non-GMO soybeans is rapidly increasing—especially in European and North American markets, where consumers are seeking healthier and more eco-friendly products. As a result, farmers face additional pressure to reduce production costs, lower their carbon footprint, preserve soil health, and meet new sustainability standards through precision agriculture and targeted spraying.
In collaboration with our partner Agrimetrix doo, we conducted a project on variable insecticide and amino acid application in soybean fields, utilizing Agremo technology and drone-based targeted spraying. The result? Up to 70% savings in crop protection products, while maintaining both yield and overall crop health. This approach demonstrates how precision agriculture and efficient crop protection are transforming soybean production, thereby reducing costs, increasing profitability, and making agriculture more sustainable, resilient, and prepared to meet the growing global demand.
Soybean Field Overview & Variable Insecticide Application
Crop: Soybean 🌱
Field size: 3.4 ha 🗺️
Growth stage: BBCH 39 🌾
Mapping drone: DJI M3M 🚁
Analysis: Agremo Plant Vigor Analysis + Fertilizer Tool 📊
Spraying drone: XAG P100 Pro 💧
Treatment: Insecticides + Amino Acids 🛡️
Local conditions: 24°C, wind 1.9 m/s 🌤️
Precision Agriculture Process & Innovations in Soybean Insecticide Application
1. Field Mapping
Using the DJI M3M drone, we quickly mapped a 3.4 ha soybean field, capturing RGB imagery. (Agremo also supports multispectral imagery, but for this project, RGB images were sufficient.) We precisely planned the drone flight to cover the entire field at optimal altitude and speed, ensuring the most accurate data for further analysis.
Flight parameters:
Altitude: 93 m
Speed: 9.2 m/s
Resolution: 2.51 cm/pixel
Duration: 3 minutes
2. Data Stitching and Plant Vigor Analysis in Agremo
All images were immediately processed in the Agremo platform, where fast stitching generated accurate orthomosaics. After that, the Plant Vigor Analysis was conducted, precisely identifying crop stress areas and mapping zones where plants were in excellent condition versus those showing signs of stress.
The results of the analysis were delivered within 24 hours, providing farmers with accurate, actionable insights for planning targeted treatments.
3. Fertilizer Tool and Variable Spray Map Setup
Based on the collected data, the Agremo Fertilizer Tool automatically generated a variable rate map for targeted application of insecticides and amino acids. Within the tool, we were able to define the number of field zones and set the treatment dosage for each zone, while Agremo automatically calculated the total treated area, the required solution volume, and the projected cost savings.
This approach enabled us to plan applications with precision, reduce input costs, and minimize the environmental impact—all while maintaining crop health and ensuring sustainable soybean production.
4. Drone Spraying
For the targeted application, the XAG P100 Pro drone was used, fully integrated with the Agremo platform, which enabled precise and efficient spraying of insecticides and amino acids exactly in the zones where it was needed. Furthermore, each zone was treated according to the variable rate map generated in Agremo, thus ensuring maximum resource efficiency, reduced pesticide overuse, and improved crop health and resilience.
Flight parameters:
Altitude: 3 m above the crop
Speed: 9 m/s
Spray width: 8 m
Spraying duration: 11 minutes –> This demonstrated how fast and adaptable drone spraying is for real field conditions.
Impressive Outcomes of Variable Insecticide Application in Soybeans
Precision Treatment Application: By using targeted spraying of insecticides and amino acids, we were able to treat only the zones that truly required intervention, thereby reducing unnecessary pesticide use.
Efficient Analysis and Planning: Moreover, Plant Vigor Analysis identified stressed areas and provided precise locations and coverage of healthy plants, which enabled optimized treatment planning.
Automated Resource Assessment: The Agremo Fertilizer Tool automatically generates a variable rate map, calculates the total treated area and required solution volume, and projects potential cost savings, simplifying precise planning and reducing input costs.
Full Drone Integration: The XAG P100 Pro drone, fully integrated with the Agremo platform, performed precise and efficient spraying according to the maps, thus ensuring optimal crop protection.
Speed and Practicality: We completed the entire process—from mapping and analysis to treatment planning and application—in a short timeframe, demonstrating how precision agriculture and drone technology are practical and effective in real field conditions.
Agrimetrix Insight on Precision Insecticide Application
“Using the Agremo platform in combination with our drones enabled highly efficient and precise treatment application. As a result, our clients achieve significant cost savings while maintaining crop health and protecting the environment. Farmers use this combined technology to transform soybean cultivation.”
— Goran R. & Slobodan J., Agrimetrix – Drone Service Providers
