Why is it key to understand the difference?
In the agricultural world, choosing the right method for pest and disease control can make the difference between a healthy harvest and a compromised yield. The terms fumigation and spraying are often used interchangeably, but in fact, they refer to very different application techniques, each with its own purpose, benefits, and limitations. Understanding the differences between these methods is not only helpful but also essential for applying the most effective and safe phytosanitary treatment for your crops.
With the rise of agricultural technology and innovative solutions such as agricultural drones, choosing correctly between fumigation and spraying becomes even more relevant. Now more than ever, efficiency, sustainability, and precision in the application of phytosanitary products are key factors in profitability and environmental care. In this article, we clarify the key differences between both procedures and why choosing the right one for each situation is crucial.
The importance of an efficient phytosanitary treatment
An adequate phytosanitary treatment protects crops from pests, fungi, and diseases, ensuring healthy growth, quality, and yield. When the right product is applied in the right way, the impact is noticeable:
- It minimizes production losses.
- It reduces excessive use of chemicals, resulting in economic and environmental benefits.
- It enables targeted and localized control, especially when using drones for precision spraying.
The key lies in adapting the technique to the issue: while fumigation works internally or underground through gases or vapors, spraying acts on visible surfaces with liquid solutions. Knowing this difference is essential to avoid wasting resources and compromising treatment effectiveness.
What’s at stake if you choose the wrong method
Using the wrong technique is not only inefficient, but it can also lead to negative consequences:
- Loss of treatment effectiveness: if you spray when the issue is underground or internal, the product won’t reach the target.
- Unnecessary contamination: overuse or misapplication of phytosanitary products can affect soil, water, and biodiversity.
- Unnecessary economic expense: the farmer invests in products and labor without achieving the expected results.
- Pest resistance: incorrect application can promote resistance in certain species, worsening the issue over time.
At BENIU, we understand how crucial it is to choose the right method. That’s why we advocate for precision spraying with agricultural drones, a modern and efficient solution to combat visible pests with maximum effectiveness and minimal environmental impact.
What is agricultural fumigation?
Fumigation involves the application of phytosanitary products in gas or vapor form, aiming to penetrate the internal structures of the crop or the soil. Unlike spraying, which acts on external surfaces, fumigation allows treatment of areas where pests hide or where conventional liquids cannot easily reach.
This method requires a controlled environment and, in many cases, sealing of the treated area to prevent gas leakage. Its effectiveness lies in the infiltration capacity of the product, reaching inaccessible corners through other means.
How does fumigation work in soil and inside the plant?
The action of fumigation is based on the diffusion of gas in the medium where it is applied. This gas can infiltrate the soil, penetrate plant tissues, or move within agricultural structures (such as silos or greenhouses), directly affecting harmful organisms hiding inside.
It is especially useful in cases where pests or diseases are hidden or protected.
Thanks to its mode of action, fumigation enables comprehensive coverage, reaching areas where other techniques fall short.
Pests and diseases It effectively fights
Agricultural fumigation is highly effective against specific threats that cannot be treated with surface spraying:
- Nematodes: microscopic parasites that attack the roots.
- Underground or internal fungi: such as Fusarium or Verticillium.
- Insects developing inside the crop: such as certain larvae and soil beetles.
- Stored pests: in post-harvest contexts, such as the grain weevil.
Advantages and limitations of fumigation
High Penetration
One of the greatest advantages of fumigation is its penetration capacity. By using gases or vapors, the product distributes evenly and reaches areas inaccessible to liquids. This makes it an ideal option for deep treatments or enclosed environments.
Requires Strict Safety Measures
However, this method is not without challenges. The use of gases entails health and environmental risks, so strict safety protocols must be applied, including:
- Use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Controlled treatment area (isolation and signage).
- Professional supervision throughout the process.
Moreover, fumigation is not always the most efficient or sustainable option for open fields or exposed crops. That’s why, at BENIU, we advocate for more specific and controlled solutions, such as spraying with agricultural drones when dealing with external or surface pests.
What is agricultural spraying?
Spraying involves the dispersion of a liquid phytosanitary solution over crops using equipment that transforms it into fine droplets. These droplets adhere to the leaves, stems, or fruits of the plant, acting preventively or curatively against harmful organisms. Unlike fumigation, which acts deeply or in the subsoil, spraying is applied directly to the surface of the crop in the form of atomized liquid, ensuring immediate contact with the affected area.
The application can be done in the following ways:
- Manual: using backpacks or handheld sprayers.
- Mechanized: with tractors equipped with spray booms.
- Aerial: traditionally with planes and helicopters or more recently, with agricultural drones.
The goal is to achieve uniform coverage that maximizes product effectiveness without waste.
Application areas: leaves, stems, and fruits
Spraying is ideal for combating external and visible threats to plants. Products act by contact or absorption, being especially effective on:
- Leaves: where aphids, mites, or downy mildew commonly reside.
- Stems: which can be affected by fungi and larvae.
- Fruits: susceptible to diseases such as botrytis or fruit fly.
By focusing on aerial parts, spraying allows intervention exactly where the problem appears, without affecting the underground environment.
Target pests and diseases
Organisms that can be controlled through spraying include:
- Insects such as aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars, or thrips.
- Mites that colonize the undersides of leaves.
- Fungi such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, rust, or botrytis.
- Bacteria on the surface that attack stems and leaves.
This technique is also used to apply foliar fertilizers, biostimulants, plant strengtheners, and growth regulators.
Traditional spraying vs. precision spraying
With technological advancements, agricultural spraying has undergone a major transformation. It has evolved from inefficient manual systems to automated and highly precise solutions, such as the agricultural drones offered by BENIU.
Disadvantages of conventional manual methods
Traditional methods present several limitations:
- Irregular crop coverage.
- Excess product applied, generating waste and harming the environment.
- Operator exposure to chemicals.
- Difficulty accessing irregular or hard-to-reach areas.
Additionally, intensive use of heavy machinery can compact the soil and damage plants.
Shift towards automated technologies
The advent of precision spraying with drones has revolutionized phytosanitary treatment:
- Uniform and controlled coverage thanks to geolocation systems and sensors.
- Up to 30% reduction in product use by avoiding overlaps and waste.
- Access to difficult terrain such as slopes, muddy or flooded areas, as well as dense crops.
- Operator protection by avoiding direct exposure.
- Greater speed and efficiency enabling large areas to be treated in less time.
At BENIU, we apply this technology to offer farmers a sustainable, cost-effective, and precise solution tailored to the specific needs of each agricultural operation.
The confusion between Fumigation and Spraying
In agriculture, fumigation and spraying are often confused since both methods involve the application of phytosanitary products to protect crops from pests and diseases. However, the differences between the two techniques are significant, and understanding them is essential to choose the most appropriate treatment based on the crop’s specific needs.
The confusion arises because both are part of a phytosanitary treatment, but they differ in their mode of action, reach, type of pest targeted, and equipment used.
State of the phytosanitary product (gas vs. liquid)
- Fumigation: Uses gaseous products that penetrate the soil or enclosed structures to reach hidden or underground pests.
- Spraying: Uses liquid products that are spread as fine droplets on the crop surface, generally on leaves, stems, or fruits.
Crop areas treated
- Fumigation: Targets the internal areas of the plant or the subsoil, acting where liquid insecticides or fungicides cannot easily reach.
- Spraying: Applied directly to the visible parts of the crop: foliage, stems, and fruits, working in a localized way.
This difference defines the approach of each technique: fumigation seeks depth, while spraying aims for surface precision.
Types of pests and diseases
- Fumigation: Ideal for pests that hide within the soil, roots, or cavities, such as nematodes, larvae, or insects acting at the crop’s base.
- Spraying: More effective against surface pests or foliar diseases, such as mites, aphids, fungi, and visible bacteria.
Equipment used in each technique
- Fumigation: Requires sealed and controlled equipment to safely release gases, such as fumigation chambers, injectors, or gas generators.
- Spraying: Can be performed with manual, mechanical, or automated equipment, such as backpack sprayers, tractors, or precision agricultural drones like those offered by BENIU.
Costs, efficiency, and environmental sustainability
- Fumigation: Generally entails higher costs due to the need for strict safety measures and more specialized products. It is effective but its environmental impact can be greater if not properly managed.
- Spraying: More accessible and versatile. When performed with precision technology like drones, it improves product efficiency, reduces input use, and minimizes environmental impact, making it a more sustainable option.
Technological Innovation: Precision Spraying with Drones
The evolution of modern agriculture demands more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions. In this context, precision spraying with agricultural drones represents a revolutionary advancement in crop protection treatments. This technology not only optimizes the use of inputs but also improves efficiency, reduces human risks, and minimizes environmental impact. At BENIU, we specialize in the use of drones equipped with advanced technology to carry out precision spraying in agricultural areas.
What does BENIU offer with its agricultural drones?
BENIU offers farmers a comprehensive agricultural spraying solution with high-precision drones. It’s not just about using drones, but a complete system of planning, execution, and monitoring based on real crop data.
Our services include:
- Preliminary mapping of the land to identify specific needs.
- Selective and precise application of phytosanitary products.
- Drones equipped with GPS, sensors, and smart spraying technology, ensuring uniform coverage without overuse.
- Professional technical support to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment according to the crop’s phenological stage.
This solution is especially designed for producers seeking a safe, modern, and environmentally friendly alternative.
Benefits compared to conventional methods
Spraying with drones represents a paradigm shift compared to traditional methods. Here we highlight its most relevant advantages:
Greater coverage in less time
BENIU’s agricultural drones can cover large crop areas in a fraction of the time required by manual or mechanized methods:
- Increased application speed (up to 10 hectares per hour per unit).
- Reduced reliance on intensive manual labor.
- Greater operational efficiency during narrow time windows due to weather.
Minimization of waste and contamination
Thanks to precision spraying:
- Only the necessary amount of product is applied, avoiding excess.
- The risk of drift and contamination of non-target areas is reduced.
- The surrounding biodiversity is protected, improving the sustainability of the crop protection treatment.
This also implies a cost reduction by decreasing input consumption.
Access to difficult or hazardous areas
Drones have the ability to operate in conditions where traditional methods cannot be safely used:
- Land with steep slopes or waterlogged areas.
- Plots with dense or fragile crops.
- Areas with risk to the operator, eliminating their direct exposure to chemicals.
Agricultural technology at the service of your crops
Understanding the differences between fumigation and spraying is not just a technical issue, but a strategic decision that directly impacts the health, yield, and sustainability of your crops. Each crop protection treatment must be tailored to the specific needs of the crop, the type of pest or disease, and environmental conditions. In this context, technology is not a luxury, but a key tool for smarter, safer, and more efficient agriculture.
BENIU’s commitment to sustainable and precision agriculture
At BENIU, we are committed to precision agriculture based on data, technological innovation, and deep agronomic knowledge. While we are currently focused on spraying with agricultural drones, we understand the importance of choosing the right technique for each situation, whether it’s fumigation or spraying.
Our commitment is clear:
- Use cutting-edge technology to maximize the effectiveness of each treatment.
- Reduce the use of inputs and minimize environmental impact.
- Improve the profitability of the farmer without compromising soil or ecosystem health.
By integrating precision agricultural drones into our services, we not only ensure a more effective crop protection treatment but also one that is more responsible and adapted to the challenges of modern agriculture.
Do you want to optimize the performance of your farm and take the leap toward more efficient and sustainable agriculture?
Contact us today and discover how technology can transform your field.
