Max Output: How to Maximize Your Spray Output with the DJI Agras T50
Let’s talk about what every spray drone operator wants to hear:
“How do I spray more acres in a day?”
The DJI Agras T50 is a serious workhorse. Under ideal conditions, it’s rated to cover up to 40 acres an hour—but as any real-world farmer knows, we don’t always get ideal conditions.
At Green Aero Tech, we’ve logged thousands of acres with the T50, and we’ve learned that the difference between 20 and 40 acres an hour doesn’t come from pushing the drone harder—it comes from optimizing everything around the drone.
1. Nail Your Ground Workflow
The biggest time-waster we see? The drone sitting on the ground waiting for you.
To keep output high, your job is to keep the drone’s downtime low. That means building a workflow where:
- A fresh battery is always ready
- The tank is refilled while you swap batteries
- You’re not wandering around looking for a hose fitting or mixing jug
Pro tip: Set up your trailer like a pit stop. Crews have gone from 4–5 flights/hour to 8+ flights/hour just by streamlining turnaround time.
2. Use Three Batteries and a Fast Charger
With the DB1560 batteries and C8000 rapid charger, you can build a rotation that lets you fly continuously.
Here’s how it works:
- One battery flies
- One charges
- One cools and waits
This only works if you have:
- A 12kW+ generator (rated for 9,000 W but extra power is ideal)
- A 240V dual-cable setup
- A cooling fan kit running to manage battery temps in hot weather
It’s not just about having enough batteries—it’s about having the infrastructure to keep them moving.
3. Set Realistic Flight Parameters
Yes, you can fly 35 km/h at a 30-foot spacing—but only with calm wind, flat terrain, and a suitable product.
Our baseline settings:
- Speed: 32 ft/s (35 km/h)
- Altitude: 10–15 ft above canopy
- Swath width: 25–30 ft depending on product
- Droplet size: 200 microns (400 on windy days)
Don’t guess—test. Use water-sensitive paper or field trials to calibrate swath width. It pays off with every pass.
4. Don’t Fight the Wind—Work With It
You might technically fly in 35 km/h wind, but your spray won’t land where it should—and your battery will drain fast.
Recommendations:
- Ideal wind speed: under 21 km/h (6 m/s)
- Use hedgerows or treelines as wind breaks
- Spray into the wind to reduce drift
- If wind increases mid-job, slow down or increase droplet size
More speed ≠ more output if you’re not putting product where it’s needed.
5. Plan Your Flight Smartly
Use DJI’s mission planning tools or mapping apps like DJI Terra and DroneDeploy to:
- Pre-map fields with headlands
- Divide complex fields for multi-drone operations
- Save mission plans for reuse
Bonus tip: Use the Mavic 3M for multispectral imaging to support prescription spraying or targeted applications.
6. Keep Maintenance Tight
Downtime kills productivity. Between flights, check:
- Are your spray nozzles clear?
- Are your props balanced and clean?
- Are your sensors clean?
- Any clogs in the tank or lines?
Wipe sensors, remove debris, and tighten loose parts during battery swaps. Five minutes of maintenance can save hours of lost time.
7. Avoid Rework
This is big: Don’t waste a whole day respraying a job you thought was done.
Test spray patterns, calibrate droplet size, and plan tasks smartly. Overspray wastes product. Underspray wastes time.
Real-World Example
We sprayed a field over two days. On Day 1, light wind and 30-ft spacing gave great results. On Day 2, wind increased but we didn’t adjust. Coverage suffered, and we had to reapply.
Lesson: even small changes like adjusting spacing can make a big impact on quality and efficiency.
Recap: How to Maximize Output
| Tip | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Build a ground crew workflow | Minimizes downtime |
| Use 3 batteries + C8000 charger | Enables continuous flight |
| Calibrate swath width | Ensures consistent coverage |
| Fly in good weather | Prevents wasted product |
| Pre-plan your mission | Saves time in the field |
| Do quick maintenance checks | Avoids mid-day breakdowns |
| Match spray settings to conditions | Increases quality and efficiency |
Want to spray 300+ acres in a day? You don’t need more drones—you need a tighter system. The T50 can absolutely do it—but it takes planning, prep, and practice.
Need help dialing in your setup or mapping out a field workflow? Give us a call—we’ve helped farmers across Canada build their ideal spray trailer, flight plan, and maintenance routines.