Drone Herbicide Applications Prove Effective for Common Reed Control
10 July 2025
Last update: 26/08/25 14:13
New research from the University of Waterloo shows that a single, targeted herbicide application from a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) can suppress common reed invasions with more than 99% effectiveness. This result is among many research findings recently published online in Invasive Plant Science and Management (IPSM), volume 18, 2025, by Cambridge University Press, a Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) research journal.
“The 99% reduction in live common reed stems observed with RPAS-based herbicide application demonstrates its capacity to suppress invasive common reed effectively,” says Rebecca Rooney, Ph.D., an associate biology professor at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada, and the study’s lead author. “This method matched or exceeded the efficacy of conventional helicopter and backpack applications.”
While the study’s researchers observed short-term declines in plant diversity from the RPAS applications, they also noted that early evidence suggests some native species recolonized in treated areas within a year. “These findings indicate that RPAS technologies can offer a safe and scalable alternative for invasive species control,” says Rooney.
“This approach also holds promise for accelerating ecological recovery in wetland habitats.”
More information about this study is available in the IPSM journal article, “Suppression efficacy of remotely piloted aircraft systems–based herbicide application on invasive Phragmites australis in wetlands.” IPSM is the official publication of the Weed Science Society of America.
About Invasive Plant Science and Management
Invasive Plant Science and Management is a journal of the Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society focused on weeds and their impact on the environment. The publication presents peer-reviewed original research related to all aspects of weed science, including the biology, ecology, physiology, management and control of weeds. To learn more, visit www.wssa.net.
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