Agras T55, T70P and T100: How Unmanned Drone Spraying Compares to Manned Methods

Every pass of a tractor rig leaves more than wheel tracks. A two-year maize trial on sandy loam compared two and six vehicle passes against untrafficked soil, and the researchers recorded yield penalties of between 7.6% and 15.5%, even when compaction was limited to the topsoil. That’s yield you’ve already paid to plant.

Manned crop-dusters avoid the soil problem, but bring their own: charter bookings, weather windows and blocks too small to justify the flight.

So where do unmanned agricultural spraying drones fit? By the end of this article, you’ll know how the DJI Agras T55, T70P and T100 compare with tractor rigs and manned aircraft on five factors that matter on South African farms: soil impact, terrain access, input accuracy, operator requirements and running cost. As an authorised DJI distributor, we help farmers match the right configuration to their land, and this is the comparison we walk through most often.

If you’d like to browse the full range first, explore our unmanned agricultural spraying drones.

Protecting Soil Structure Season After Season

Tractor sprayers are reliable workhorses. But weight is weight. Grain SA notes that tractors, combines, trailers and trucks all compact the soil they drive on, and the damage builds with every season of repeat passes.

Drones never touch the ground during application. No tramlines, no hardpan from the sprayer, no ruts after a wet week. Manned aircraft share this advantage, which is why the real comparison on soil comes down to drone versus tractor, and the drone wins outright.

Reaching Slopes, Wet Lands and Awkward Blocks

Picture a waterlogged land after summer rain. The tractor stays in the shed until it dries. Meanwhile, the fungal window is closing.

All three Agras models follow the terrain automatically, holding a steady height over uneven ground. The DJI Agras T55 handles slopes of up to 50°, which covers most contour banks and rolling lands. The DJI Agras T70P and DJI Agras T100 follow terrain without aerial mapping, and the T100 manages slopes up to 90° with no prior mapping. That means koppies and hillside orchards become sprayable ground.

Manned aircraft cover large, open lands well. Smaller or irregular blocks are a different story, since the turnaround and set-up rarely make sense for a few hectares. A drone treats a 5-hectare block and a 50-hectare block with the same effort.

Targeting Inputs Where Your Crop Needs Them

Here’s where both traditional methods share a limitation. Tractor booms and aircraft typically apply product at one uniform rate across the whole field, whether a zone needs it or not.

Agras drones support variable-rate application through prescription maps. Pair them with multispectral scouting data and the drone adjusts its output zone by zone: heavier where disease pressure is high, lighter where the crop is healthy. The result? Less product wasted on healthy plants, and more attention on the patches that actually need it.

Running a Full Operation With One Person

A tractor rig needs a driver and, often, someone managing mixing and refills. Aircraft need a licensed pilot, a ground crew and an airstrip.

All three Agras models are built for single-operator use. Plan the route once, confirm it with one tap, and the drone flies it automatically. The DJI Agras T100 and DJI Agras T70P also remember obstacle locations, so each subsequent flight bypasses them more precisely. Power lines, windbreaks and that one troublesome pole near the dam get handled more smoothly each time.

Operators do need proper training and SACAA compliance, and we cover both through our in-house training programme.

Managing Running Costs on Your Own Schedule

Hiring an aircraft means paying for someone else’s schedule, equipment and travel. When conditions turn, your spray date moves with theirs.

Owning a drone puts timing back in your hands. You fly when the crop is ready and the wind is right, not when the charter is available. Compared with tractor spraying, you also skip the fuel burn and wear of dragging a heavy rig across every hectare. For many operations, that flexibility is worth as much as the direct savings.

Choosing Between the T55, T70P and T100

Your land decides the right fit:

• DJI Agras T55: A light, intuitive drone with a streamlined setup, carrying 50 L for spraying. Well suited to mid-scale operations and mixed blocks.
• DJI Agras T70P: Carries a maximum spraying payload of 70 L, a strong middle ground for growing operations.
• DJI Agras T100: Designed for large-scale commercial growers, with a maximum spraying payload of 100 L, meaning fewer refills over big, open lands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can unmanned agricultural spraying drones replace tractor sprayers entirely?

For many spraying jobs, yes. Some farms keep a tractor rig for specific tasks and use drones for wet ground, slopes and targeted applications.

Do I need a licence to operate an Agras drone?

Yes. Commercial drone operations in South Africa must comply with SACAA regulations, and we provide training to help you get there.

Which Agras model suits my farm?

It depends on your block sizes, terrain, and crop types. Larger open lands favour the T100, while the T55 suits mid-scale and mixed operations.

Can the drones spray on steep or uneven ground?

Yes. Terrain following adjusts flight height automatically, keeping application consistent. The T55 is rated for slopes up to 50°, while the T100 handles slopes up to 90°.

Spray Smarter With Afri Air

Unmanned agricultural spraying drones protect your soil, reach ground that tractors can’t, target inputs zone by zone, and put the whole operation in one person’s hands. The question is which Agras model matches your land.

We’ll help you choose the right configuration and get your team trained. Contact our team to discuss your farm’s needs.