DJI AGRAS T100 – real field performance. How many hectares per day?

The manufacturer boasts impressive figures — a 100-liter tank, 20 m/s speed, spray width up to 13 meters. But farmers are interested in one specific question: how many hectares per day can this drone actually cover? In this article, we'll calculate this fairly — without marketing embellishments, but including downtime, battery charging time, and typical operating conditions in Polish agriculture.

Let's start with the manufacturer's numbers

DJI declares an operational efficiency for the AGRAS T100 of up to 12 hectares per hour when spraying fields with a rate of 30 L/ha. For comparison, the previous flagship T50 achieved 6 ha/h. On paper, the T100 is twice as efficient.

Where do these numbers come from? The math is simple: a flight speed of 20 m/s with a working width of 10 m is 200 m² per second, or 72,000 m² per minute — without accounting for turns, refills, or other downtimes. In ideal conditions, on a large rectangular field, without obstacles, and with an optimal liquid dose, the result indeed approaches these values.

The problem is that ideal conditions are rare in Polish rural areas.

Real-world efficiency — what do users in the field say?

Operators working with the T100 in Australia, Brazil, and the USA consistently report efficiency levels of 10–15 hectares per hour of effective flight time. The range closest to Polish conditions (large but irregular fields, varied terrain) is 10–12 ha/h — let's use this as a starting point.

Calculating a workday step-by-step

Basic Assumptions

Where does the difference between 16.5 and 10–12 ha/h come from? Turns at the ends of the field, transfer time between plots, irregular field shapes, and momentary stops reduce efficiency by 25–35% in typical conditions. On large rectangular fields (100+ ha without obstacles) values closer to the upper limit are entirely achievable.

Workday — 8 effective hours of work

What most affects efficiency?

1. Working liquid dose

This is one of the most important factors. The lower the dose — the more hectares from one tank and the shorter the flight time, but more refill cycles. The T100 operates most efficiently in the range of 15–50 L/ha.

2. Field shape and size

Large, rectangular fields are a paradise for agricultural drones — minimal losses on turns, maximum efficiency. Small, irregular plots below 5 ha significantly reduce efficiency, as the drone spends a lot of time maneuvering along field boundaries. The T100 performs best on plots over 20 ha.

3. Battery rotation

Three DB2160 batteries in the Combo kit are the minimum for continuous operation without downtime. With the C12000 power supply (charging 8–9 minutes from 30% to 95%), one power supply + three batteries create a smooth rotation: the drone works, two batteries charge, you swap after landing. A fourth battery in reserve completely eliminates waiting time.

4. Weather conditions

The T100 operates stably up to 6 m/s wind. Above this limit, safe execution of the treatment becomes problematic — not because of the drone, but due to liquid drift and uneven coverage. Early mornings (calm, no thermals) are the optimal working time. In strong winds, plan for downtime or work at reduced speed.

5. Terrain and obstacles

The T100's LiDAR and Penta-Vision system handle slopes up to 90° and automatically avoid obstacles at speeds up to 13.8 m/s. In intensely undulating terrain or with a dense network of power lines, flight speed automatically decreases — which directly impacts efficiency. Invest time in accurate field mapping before the campaign: the T100 can map 20 ha in a single flight (without payload).

T100 vs. T50 — how much do you really gain?

If you work with the T50 and are wondering if an upgrade makes sense, the numbers are clear. The T50 achieves about 6 ha/h at a dose of 30 L/ha and a 40 L tank. The T100 at the same parameters — 10–12 ha/h. For a 1000 ha farm, this means:

In agriculture, the precision of the agro-technical window determines yields. A 10-day difference for a fungicide treatment on wheat can mean a real difference in yield.

For whom does the T100 make economic sense?

The T100 is a justified choice if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You provide agricultural aviation services — high efficiency directly translates to the number of clients served per day and revenue per drone
• You manage a farm over 500 ha — at this scale, treatment time is critical, and equipment depreciation is faster
• You need versatility — one drone for spraying, fertilizer spreading, and material transport replaces several machines
• You work in orchards and specialized crops — optional mist nozzles allow for precise treatments in hard-to-reach areas

Summary — what to take away from this article?

The DJI AGRAS T100 actually covers 80–100 ha per day under typical Polish conditions and a dose of 30 L/ha. With lower doses or large, regular fields, efficiency increases to 120–150 ha per day. The key to maximizing efficiency lies in three elements: a sufficient number of batteries in rotation, large fields, and optimal weather conditions.

This is not a drone for everyone — but for operators and large-scale farms, the T100 is simply a different class of equipment. Where the T50 needs a week, the T100 finishes the job in half the time.