Evaluation of seed sowing practices using unmanned aerial vehicles in Turkish red pine (pinus brutia)

Within the scope of this research, sowing operations involving the application of Anatolian Red Pine (Pinus brutia) seeds to the field were carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles known as "ecoDrone" across various sites located within different administrative units of the Muğla Regional Directorate of Forestry. The study areas consist of the Aksaz and Hisarönü sites under the Marmaris Forest Management Directorate, the Yangı and Sazak sites under the Köyceğiz Forest Management Directorate, and the Fesleğen site under the Milas Forest Management Directorate. The sowing operations were conducted during different periods. Activities in the Fesleğen, Yangı, and Akköprü sites were performed between January and March 2022; those in the Hisarönü site between October and December 2022; in the Aksaz site between January and March 2023; in the Hisarönü and Aksaz sites between October and December 2023; in the Hisarönü site between January and March 2024; in the Aksaz and Hisarönü sites between October and December 2024; and finally in the Hisarönü site between January and March 2025 using unmanned aerial vehicles. All areas included in the study are sites previously affected by forest fires. Following the sowing operations, seedling counts were conducted in December 2022, December 2023, and December 2024 in accordance with the procedures outlined in Circulars No. 298 and 317. Field evaluations were carried out over a minimum area of 5 hectares in each study site. Based on the seedling counts, germination success rates were determined to be 67% in the Yangı site, 64% in the Fesleğen site, 77% in the Sazak site, 68% in the Hisarönü site, and 64% in the Aksaz site.