DJI spray drones on cane: T100 or T70?

Here’s the straight talk for cane growers getting into drones and weighing up DJI’s T100 vs T70. We’ll keep it practical, Australia-focused, and cane-specific.

The short answer

• If maximum hectares/day is the priority: T100 has the edge — a touch more capacity (within AU limits), broader effective swath, stronger downwash for canopy penetration, faster connection routing, and more precise height-keeping over uneven cane.

• If you’re tight on trailer space, budget, or mostly doing lighter work: T70 still gets it done — just expect to run a little slower in cane to keep spray quality up.

Note the T100 is currently selling in Australia (Sep 2025), we suspect the T70P may come here in 6-12 months but don’t have the official news yet. 

Speed (spray vs routing)

• Top speed: T70P’s max varies by region. Some markets allow 20 m/s; others (e.g., EU) cap it at 13.8 m/s. AU cap is not yet confirmed.

• Why it matters: High top speed is valuable for return-to-home and connection routing (non-spray legs). If AU gets the higher cap, that’s a T70 plus. If AU is limited to 13.8 m/s, routing will be slower.

• Realistic spray speeds in cane: To land droplets and push spray into the stalks, plan on ~8–10 m/s. In comparable conditions, the T100’s stronger downwash means you can often run ~1–2 m/s faster than a T70 for the same on-crop quality.

Bottom line on speed: Faster non-spray legs go to whichever platform has the higher regional cap; on-crop spray passes will typically be quicker with the T100 for the same coverage quality.

Legal payload (AU)

• T100 (AU): 75 L liquid or 75 kg granular (MTOW-limited).

• T70P: 70 L liquid or 70 kg granular.
  So, within CASA limits, the T100 nets you +5 L/kg per flight. That’s not huge, but over a day it adds up.

Note: Some operators talk about loading beyond 75 L/kg — that’s outside CASA rules. We don’t recommend it.

Spray performance in cane

Brochure effective swath (ideal conditions):

• T100: 5–13 m

• T70: 4–11 m

Cane reality check: Dense canopy and tall stalks usually compress brochure numbers. A conservative, real-world expectation might look like:

• T100: ~5–10 m

• T70: ~4–8.5 m

Why T100 pulls ahead: Larger airframe and stronger downwash drive droplets deeper into the crop — that’s what lets you hold pattern quality at slightly higher speeds or open swath a little wider without sacrificing deposition.

Granular spreading (when you’re not spraying)

• T70 tank: 100 L, 70 kg

• T100 tank: 150 L physical volume, but AU MTOW still caps you at ~75 kg (heavier loads may be allowed elsewhere; follow AU rules).
  If you’re spreading low-density product, the extra 50 L volume on T100 is handy. For typical cane programs where spraying dominates, this is secondary.

Sensing, height-keeping & smoothness

• T70: Vision/radar based; no LiDAR listed.

• T100: Adds LiDAR height sensing alongside other sensors.

In variable cane height, LiDAR helps the aircraft track canopy changes more precisely, reducing bobbing and keeping nozzle-to-target distance consistent. Practically, that means smoother passes, fewer sensor-induced slow-downs, and more uniform deposition — especially where stool height and ratoon vigour vary across the block.

(We’ll keep saying it plainly: these are grounded expectations — they align with physics and spec sheets — but on-cane flight hours will always teach you the fine tuning on your farm.)

Productivity per day

Put the pieces together — slightly wider effective swath, a bit more legal payload, stronger downwash allowing ~1–2 m/s higher spray speed for equal quality, faster routing (if caps permit), and fewer sensor-induced stalls — and the T100 should cover meaningfully more hectares per day.

If AU’s T70 speed is capped to 13.8 m/s, the T100’s routing legs pull further ahead.

When the T70 still makes sense

• You’re space-constrained and want a simpler single-operator rig.

• You’re budget-sensitive and can trade some throughput for lower capital outlay.

• Your work is mostly lighter canopy or shorter blocks where the T100’s advantages don’t compound as much.

Setup realities (don’t gloss this over)

• T100 is bigger. To run it efficiently solo (or to run multiple T100s), plan your vehicle layout, mixing station, battery flow, and staging properly. With a smart truck fit-out, the size penalty disappears and the throughput gains dominate.

Bottom line

• Chasing throughput in cane? Choose T100.

• Balancing cost, space, and adequate performance? T70 can still be the right call.
  Either way, keep spray speed realistic for cane (think ~8–10 m/s), set swath by on-crop coverage checks, and stay within AU MTOW limits.

If you’d like block-specific settings (speed, swath, flow, runs, battery rotation) for your cane, we’ll map it out with you and get the numbers dialled. Please ask for Nick or Oscar! 1300 029 829 or [email protected] 

Drones For Hire (DFH) — here when you’re ready to push more hectares, with fewer headaches.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional or legal advice. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content, readers should consult with qualified experts or local authorities before making decisions related to agricultural drone use, regulations, or investments.

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