As a recent heavy snowfall affected greenhouse facilities in central China's Henan Province, farmers in Shangqiu City turned to plant-protection drones, using the powerful downdraft generated by these aircraft to clear snow from greenhouse roofs. This innovative approach allowed the farmers to deal with accumulated snow quickly and efficiently, reducing labor-intensive manual clearing.
To balance between a maximum efficiency and avoiding damaging the facilities, local drone operators figured out their secret manual.
"The key lies in precise control of the altitude and angle. Flying too close risks damaging the greenhouse covering, while flying afar weakens the airflow. Through repeated practice, we found that directing airflow just above the side ridge of the greenhouse produces the best result, allowing wind to push snow smoothly down the roof surface," said drone operator Zhang Qing.
The method works best when snow has not yet compacted and is around 10 centimeters thick, and is particularly effective for large clusters of modern greenhouses with solid structures.
"The approach offers obvious advantages -- speed and cleanliness. Drones are used first to remove most of the loose snow, while workers then move in to handle corners, thicker accumulations, or weaker greenhouses vulnerable to external shocks, using support poles from inside," said Zhang Xinzhi, a senior agronomist with the Liangyuan District Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Shangqiu.
With snowfall continuing, experts noted that snow removal is only a part of safeguarding agricultural production. Measures to maintain warmth and prevent diseases are equally important.
"Amid current heavy snowfall and temperature drops, we must first inspect greenhouse foundations and supporting pipes, reinforcing them promptly when issues are identified, and adopt multiple warming measures to keep temperatures warm and ensure healthy growth of vegetables," said Zhang.
Farmers in Henan use drones to protect greenhouse against heavy snowfall
