Every acronym, decoded.

A satellite positioning correction system that gives centimetre-level accuracy, so the drone knows its exact location in the sky and over the field.

GPS correction via base station or NTRIP network giving 1cm accuracy horizontal, 1.5cm vertical. Essential for precision spray terrain follow 0.5m above canopy and for repeatable mapping.

Bihar: Used in Nalanda district for precise rice transplanting and spraying, ensuring the drone flies exact parallel lines with 2-3 cm overlap.

Similar to RTK, but the position corrections are calculated after the drone lands, not during flight. Cheaper and works even without internet on the field.

Like RTK but correction applied after flight, not real-time. eBee Ag uses PPK 1cm accuracy for 500ha mapping where RTK link may drop.

Bihar: Used by survey teams mapping 500+ hectare sugarcane blocks in West Champaran where mobile network is unreliable.

A colour-coded map of crop health made from satellite or drone images. Green means healthy, yellow means the crop needs water or fertiliser, brown means damaged.

(NIR - Red)/(NIR + Red). -1 to 1. 0.7-0.9 healthy dark green, 0.6-0.7 light green thirsty, 0.4-0.6 yellow stress needs urea/water, <0.4 brown diseased. Detects stress 7-10 days before eye.

Bihar: Farmers in Vaishali use NDVI maps to spot wheat stress 7-10 days before visible yellowing, so they apply urea on time.

An improved version of NDVI that works better on thick, mature crops where the leaves overlap heavily. It detects nitrogen shortage in late-stage plants.

(NIR - RedEdge)/(NIR + RedEdge). Better than NDVI after canopy closure LAI>3 because RedEdge penetrates deeper. Shows nitrogen deficiency in late stage wheat/rice.

Bihar: Used in Muzaffarpur litchi orchards and late-stage paddy fields where NDVI readings are no longer reliable.

A thermal camera index that measures how thirsty a crop is by comparing leaf temperature to air temperature. High values mean the plant needs water urgently.

Thermal index (Tc - Ta) normalized. 0-0.3 well watered, 0.7-1 stressed. Thermal 640 camera finds water stress 2-3 days early, clogged drippers.

Bihar: Thermal drones over Vaishali maize fields detect clogged drip lines 2-3 days before leaves visibly wilt.

3D elevation maps of the land. DSM shows the top surface including crops and trees; DTM shows the bare ground underneath. Subtracting them gives crop height.

DSM includes canopy top, DTM is bare earth. CHM Canopy Height Model = DSM - DTM. Used for orchard volume Mango/Litchi and elevation drainage mapping 5cm accuracy via LiDAR L2.

Bihar: Used in Bhagalpur mango orchards to measure tree height and canopy volume for yield estimation.

Taking photos in multiple light wavelengths (not just visible) to see crop health, water stress, or disease before it's visible.

Bihar: DJI Mavic 3M captures multispectral images to detect nitrogen deficiency in Bihar wheat.

Using a special camera that detects heat (infrared) to find stressed crops, irrigation problems, or pest hotspots.

Bihar: Thermal drones detect water stress in Bhagalpur mango orchards by showing cooler stressed areas.

A large, seamless aerial photo map stitched together from many drone photos, corrected for distortion so it's accurate for measurement.

Bihar: Patna district uses orthomosaic maps to measure crop area for insurance claim verification.

A 3D map made of millions of dots showing exact positions of objects, created by LiDAR or photogrammetry.

Bihar: LiDAR drones create point clouds of Bhagalpur mango orchards for tree height measurement.

Software that combines map data with information (like soil type, yield, pest history) to help farmers make decisions.

Bihar: Bihar Agriculture University uses GIS to map pest hotspots across Nalanda and Vaishali.

A measurement of how much water is in the soil, often measured by drones using thermal or microwave sensors.

Bihar: Thermal drones map soil moisture in Bihar wheat fields to decide irrigation scheduling.

The total water lost from soil and plants combined — important for irrigation planning.

Bihar: CWSI-based ET estimation helps Bihar farmers optimize irrigation in water-scarce districts.

A standard file format for storing map data (field boundaries, spray paths) that can be loaded into GIS software.

Bihar: Bihar agriculture department provides field boundary shapefiles for crop insurance verification.

A drone that takes off straight up like a helicopter, then tilts forward and flies like an aeroplane. No runway or catapult needed, and it covers large areas fast.

Takes off vertically like multirotor, then flies like fixed-wing for long range. No runway needed. Lift+Cruise most popular hybrid for Bihar small fields.

Bihar: Ideal for Bihar's small 1-2 acre plots — takes off from a tiny clearing, then surveys or sprays large areas efficiently.

A code (like IP67) that tells you how well a device is protected against dust and water. Higher numbers mean better protection — important for flying in rain or dusty fields.

IPX6K = high pressure water jets, IPX4 = splash, IP67 = immersion 1m. Bihar needs IPX5+ for monsoon dust and washing after spray. Dhaksha IP67 best.

Bihar: Dhaksha drones with IP67 rating fly reliably in Bihar's monsoon conditions and can be washed clean after chemical spraying.

The maximum total weight a drone can safely lift when taking off, including the drone itself, battery, and payload (spray liquid).

Bihar: DJI Agras T10 has 24.8 kg MTOW — 13 kg drone + 3.8 kg battery + 8 kg spray load.

The extra weight a drone carries besides its own body and battery — in agriculture, this is the spray liquid or spreader material.

Bihar: XAG P40 carries 16 kg payload of spray liquid for rice fields in Nalanda.

A motorized mount that keeps a camera steady while the drone moves, allowing smooth video and clear photos.

Bihar: DJI Mavic 3M has a 3-axis gimbal for stable NDVI imaging of Bihar crop fields.

Sensors (radar, sonar, or camera) that detect obstacles like trees or power lines and make the drone stop or go around them.

Bihar: DJI Agras T25 has spherical radar obstacle avoidance for safe flying in Bihar orchards.

Multiple drones working together in a coordinated group, controlled by one operator, to cover large areas faster.

Bihar: A 3-drone swarm covered 200 acres/day in Punjab rice fields, useful for Bihar's large farms.

A drone shaped like an airplane that flies forward using wings (not rotors), good for mapping large areas but cannot hover.

Bihar: senseFly eBee Ag is a fixed-wing drone used for mapping 1000+ acre farms in Muzaffarpur.

A drone with multiple spinning propellers (usually 4, 6, or 8) that can hover in one spot and fly in any direction.

Bihar: DJI Agras T10 is a multirotor drone — can hover over Bihar rice fields for precise spraying.

Lithium Polymer battery — the standard battery type for drones, lightweight and high power density.

Bihar: DJI Agras T10 uses 14S LiPo battery (51.8V, 9500mAh) for 9-17 min flight time.

A fast charger designed for drone batteries, can charge in 7-10 minutes for quick turnaround.

Bihar: DJI T10 smart charging station charges batteries in 7-10 min for continuous Bihar field operations.

A portable power generator used to charge drone batteries in the field when grid power is not available.

Bihar: Bihar drone operators carry inverter generators for field charging in rural Nalanda and Gaya.

Flying a drone beyond the pilot's line of sight — more than about 1 km away — using 4G/5G video links. Requires special government approval for each mission.

Flying beyond pilot eye sight >1km via 4G/5G or SATCOM. Requires DGCA BVLOS approval case-by-case. Enables sugarcane mill command area 1000ha survey via dock without pilot on field.

Bihar: A sugarcane mill in Saran district surveys its entire 1000-hectare command area using a docked drone without a pilot on the field.

A mandatory security chip/software in every certified Indian drone that prevents it from taking off unless the pilot has a valid digital permission from the DGCA (aviation regulator).

Firmware that blocks takeoff unless DGCA permission via DigitalSky. Mandatory for all certified drones. DJI Agras, XAG, Garuda already compliant.

Bihar: All XAG and Garuda drones used by FPOs in Patna district must have NPNT compliance to operate legally.

The official pilot licence required to fly drones weighing 250 grams to 150 kg in India. Obtained after a 5-7 day training course at a DGCA-approved school.

DGCA pilot license for Small (250g-25kg) or Medium (25-150kg). 5-7 days course ₹35k-45k at FTO Flight Training Organization, validity 10 years. Nano <250g exempt in Green Zone.

Bihar: Youth from Gaya complete RPC training at the local FTO for ₹35,000-45,000 and then offer drone spraying services to neighbouring farmers.

Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee — the Indian government body that approves which pesticides can be legally sold and used.

Bihar: CIBRC approved Chlorantraniliprole for drone spraying in 2022, enabling Bihar farmers to use it legally.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation — the Indian regulator that controls all drone operations, licensing, and airspace.

Bihar: DGCA requires all agricultural drone operators in Bihar to have Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC).

The official term for a drone system including the aircraft, controller, and all supporting equipment.

Bihar: DGCA classifies agricultural drones as UAS under Small (25-25kg) category for Bihar operations.

A person or company authorized by DGCA to operate drones commercially, with proper training and insurance.

Bihar: Bihar drone service providers must be AOP certified by DGCA for legal agricultural spraying.

A unique number assigned by DGCA to each drone, like a vehicle registration number.

Bihar: All agricultural drones used in Bihar must have UIN from DGCA before operation.

DGCA's digital platform for drone flight permission — operators must get approval before each flight.

Bihar: Bihar drone operators apply for DIGIT-SKY permission before each spray operation.

How much liquid a drone sprays per hectare. Drones use only 10-15 litres/ha versus 500 litres/ha with a manual knapsack sprayer — 90% less water, but the same amount of chemical.

Drone sprays 15L/ha vs manual knapsack 500L/ha = 90% water saving. But dose of chemical same per ha (e.g. 150ml Coragen per ha) — only water reduced, chemical same. CIBRC approves drone dose with 15L water.

Bihar: A drone sprays 15 litres/ha on a 10-acre maize field in Samastipur, finishing in 15 minutes instead of a full day with a knapsack.

When pesticide mist blows away from the target area due to wind, wasting chemical and harming nearby crops or people.

Bihar: Bihar farmers spray early morning (before 8 AM) to avoid drift in Patna wheat fields.

A chemical added to the spray tank to help the pesticide stick to leaves or spread better, like adding soap to water.

Bihar: Silicone adjuvant is mixed with fungicide in Muzaffarpur litchi orchards for better leaf coverage.

A pesticide that gets absorbed by the plant and moves through its sap, protecting new growth too.

Bihar: Chlorantraniliprole is systemic — it protects new rice leaves in Nalanda even after spraying.

A pesticide that kills pests only when it touches them directly, does not get absorbed by the plant.

Bihar: Neem oil is a contact bio-pesticide used on vegetables in Vaishali district.

The minimum number of days you must wait after spraying a pesticide before harvesting the crop, to ensure food safety.

Bihar: Wheat sprayed with Propiconazole has 14-day PHI — Bihar farmers must wait 2 weeks before harvesting.

The minimum hours workers must wait before entering a sprayed field, to avoid pesticide exposure.

Bihar: After spraying Chlorpyriphos in Saran rice fields, workers wait 24 hours before re-entering.

A farming approach that uses multiple methods (biological, cultural, chemical) to control pests with minimal pesticide use.

Bihar: IPM in Bihar rice: use Trichoderma for disease + Beauveria for insects + minimal chemical spray.

The study of timing of natural events like flowering, fruiting, and harvest — important for knowing when to spray.

Bihar: Litchi phenology in Muzaffarpur: spray fungicide at flower initiation stage (Feb-March).

The upper layer of leaves and branches of crops or trees — drones must penetrate canopy for effective spray.

Bihar: Bihar mango orchards have dense canopy — drones need to fly lower (2-3m) for effective spray.

A side shoot that grows from the base of cereal crops (rice, wheat) — more tillers usually means more grain.

Bihar: NDVI maps show tiller density in Bihar wheat — farmers use this to decide nitrogen top-dressing.

The diameter of individual spray droplets — smaller droplets (100-200μm) give better coverage but drift more.

Bihar: DJI Agras T10 nozzles produce 130-250μm droplets — fine enough for Bihar rice canopy penetration.

How much liquid a sprayer puts out per minute, measured in litres per minute (L/min).

Bihar: DJI Agras T10 flow rate: 1.8 L/min with standard nozzle for Bihar rice spraying.

The width of the area covered by one pass of the drone sprayer, typically 3-11 meters.

Bihar: DJI Agras T25 covers 7m spray width per pass — efficient for Bihar's long rectangular rice fields.

The area where two adjacent spray passes overlap, ensuring no gaps in coverage — typically 20-30%.

Bihar: Bihar drone operators use 25% overlap for uniform rice spray coverage in Nalanda.

Riverine flood-prone land along the Ganges in Bihar — unique farming conditions requiring special drone operations.

Bihar: Patna Diara wheat farmers use drones for timely fungicide spraying when fields are waterlogged.

The monsoon cropping season (June-October) — main crops: rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, pulses.

Bihar: Kharif rice spraying in Bihar starts July — peak drone demand in Nalanda, Vaishali, Samastipur.

The winter cropping season (October-March) — main crops: wheat, mustard, gram, lentil, potato.

Bihar: Rabi wheat spraying in Bihar starts December — fungicide application for rust prevention.

A pesticide formulation where the active ingredient is dissolved in oil, mixed with water before spraying.

Bihar: Lambda Cyhalothrin 5% EC is a common insecticide formulation used in Bihar rice spraying.

A pesticide formulation where solid particles are suspended in liquid — no solvent needed, safer.

Bihar: Chlorantraniliprole 18.4% SC is preferred for drone spraying in Bihar due to low solvent content.

A solid pesticide formulation that dissolves in water — easy to measure and store.

Bihar: Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG (WG type) is used for bollworm control in Bihar cotton.

Mixing two or more pesticides or fertilizers in the same spray tank for a single application.

Bihar: Bihar farmers tank-mix insecticide + fungicide for rice: saves time and fuel in one drone pass.

Rice crop in the field (before harvest) — the most important Kharif crop in Bihar.

Bihar: Paddy covers 35 lakh hectares in Bihar — largest crop area suitable for drone spraying.

Scattering seeds or fertilizer evenly over a field by hand or machine — drones can do this faster.

Bihar: DJI Agras spreading system broadcasts urea over Bihar paddy fields at 50-100 kg/ha.

Pouring pesticide or nutrient solution directly at the base of plants, used for soil-borne diseases.

Bihar: Neem cake drenching for root-knot nematode control in Bihar vegetable farms.

The cost charged per acre for drone spraying services, varies by crop, region, and chemical used.

Bihar: Bihar drone spraying rates: ₹500-700/acre for rice, ₹400-600/acre for wheat.

A facility where farmers can rent agricultural equipment (including drones) by paying a fee, instead of buying.

Bihar: Nalanda CHC rents drones to small farmers at ₹500/acre for rice spraying.

A group of farmers who join together to buy inputs, sell produce, and access technology like drones at lower cost.

Bihar: Muzaffarpur Litchi FPO uses drone for orchard management, sharing cost among 50+ farmers.

Using artificial intelligence to automatically plan the best flight path for a drone, considering obstacles, crop type, and wind.

Bihar: DJI Agras T40 uses AI route planning to optimize spray paths in Bihar rice paddies.

Applying different amounts of pesticide or fertilizer to different parts of the same field, based on crop need maps.

Bihar: Variable rate spraying in Nalanda reduces pesticide use by 20% by spraying less on healthy crop areas.

Operating a drone beyond what the pilot can see, using cameras and telemetry — requires special DGCA approval.

Bihar: BVLOS operations in Bihar require DGCA approval and 4G connectivity for real-time monitoring.

Adding GPS coordinates to a photo or data point, so it can be placed exactly on a map.

Bihar: Drone photos of Bihar crop damage are geotagged for insurance claim verification.

Real-time data transmitted from the drone to the controller — includes position, speed, battery, and spray status.

Bihar: Bihar drone operators monitor telemetry on their controller for safe and efficient spraying.

A metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters (2.47 acres) — standard unit for agricultural measurements.

Bihar: Bihar rice yields are measured in quintals per hectare (q/ha) — average 25-30 q/ha.

How much spray liquid is applied per hectare — drones use 10-15 L/ha vs 200-500 L/ha for manual spraying.

Bihar: Bihar drone spraying uses 10-15 L/ha, saving 90% water compared to manual knapsack spraying.

A unit for measuring very small concentrations — used for micronutrients, growth regulators, and pesticide dosing.

Bihar: Neem oil at 1500 ppm concentration is used for bio-pesticide spraying in Bihar vegetable farms.

A traditional Indian unit of land area — 1 Bigha ≈ 0.62 acres in Bihar (varies by state).

Bihar: Bihar small farmers typically have 2-5 Bigha (1.2-3.1 acres) — ideal for single drone pass.