DJI Agras T100 Tutorials: Orchard Operations Safety and Fruit Tree Precautions ( FAA Part 137 Guide)

🇺🇸 U.S.A. FIRST — DJI Agras T100 Orchard Safety, Fruit-Tree Parameters & 3D Route Operations

Orchard spraying is one of the most demanding jobs assigned to an agricultural drone. Fruit trees create tall, irregular, three-dimensional canopies. Rows can climb steep terrain, branches can extend into mapped corridors, and the pilot may lose a direct radio path as the aircraft moves behind crowns, hills, windbreaks, or orchard infrastructure. At the same time, a loaded DJI Agras T100 has far more mass and momentum than a mapping drone, while fine droplets can be highly sensitive to wind, temperature, humidity, canopy density, and product-label restrictions.

DJI’s official Fruit Tree Operation Precautions tutorial organizes the job into three connected phases:

1. preparations before takeoff and selection of takeoff and landing points;
2. task-parameter settings; and
3. safe execution along three-dimensional routes.

This Ares Acres guide expands that sequence into a complete orchard operating workflow. It covers battery readiness, spray-system priming, center-orchard staging, signal planning, DJI Relay use, application-rate and flow-rate logic, speed, height, route spacing, tree-crown coverage, droplet size, signal-loss behavior, obstacle detection, FPV monitoring, and manual recovery from an interrupted 3D route.

The most important principle is that DJI’s numerical ranges are starting points for configuration—not universal pesticide directions. The pesticide label, crop, target pest, canopy condition, weather, water volume, nozzle configuration, state requirements, FAA authorization, and local operating conditions control the actual mission. In the United States, the EPA explains that using a registered pesticide inconsistently with its labeling is generally unlawful.

Ares Acres supports DJI Agras operators with aircraft, OEM parts, orchard-mapping resources, technical education, and field support. Explore the DJI Agras T100, DJI T100 Parts, DJI Agras Parts, DJI Accessories, Ares Acres Product Catalog, or contact Ares Acres.

Prefer to watch instead of read? The video above presents DJI’s orchard precautions. Use this written guide as the operating brief for site selection, parameter validation, first-flight signal-loss behavior, obstacle monitoring, and post-flight documentation.

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What You’ll Learn

• Why orchard work requires a different risk model from open-field spraying.
• How to inspect the T100 before loading a fruit-tree mission.
• Why DJI recommends more than 80% battery at takeoff.
• How to inspect the spray-tank filter and water outlet.
• How to prime the system, remove trapped air, and test the sprinklers with clean water.
• When a distant route start point may require a reduced payload.
• How to select an orchard takeoff and landing point.
• Why a central, elevated, open site can improve coverage and communications.
• Why water and power access matter—and how to keep them safely separated.
• How terrain, trees, and structures can block the control and video link.
• When DJI Relay may be appropriate.
• How crop age, crown size, density, and pest timing affect parameters.
• Why preventive orchard management is usually more effective than reacting after an outbreak.
• How Standard, Targeted, and Custom modes use different rate-setting logic.
• The corrected DJI Standard-mode reference range of 60–225 L/ha.
• The DJI Targeted/Custom reference flow range of 5–15 L/min.
• Why slower flight can improve penetration in tall, dense canopies.
• The DJI reference speed range of 1–3.5 m/s.
• The DJI reference height range of 2.8–5 m for the described fruit-tree conditions.
• Why Standard-mode route spacing may be reduced to 3–4 m.
• When a crown wider than 5 m may need two Custom-mode routes.
• When a large crown may need two or more Targeted-mode tree centers.
• How droplet size affects canopy distribution and drift.
• Why DJI’s under-100-micron suggestion only applies under suitable low-wind and label-permitted conditions.
• How to choose Hover versus Continue Task after signal loss.
• Why Continue Task is not permission for an unapproved BVLOS operation.
• How steep climbing routes can trigger obstacle-detection behavior.
• Why the first 3D route flight should occur in good light.
• How to monitor the forward view with the FPV camera.
• How to pause a task with the control stick.
• How to respond to the app’s obstacle-detection prompt and manually bypass an obstacle.
• How FAA Part 137, Part 91, Section 44807, pesticide labeling, drift controls, and worker-protection requirements fit around orchard operations.

Quick Answer: How Should a DJI Agras T100 Orchard Operation Be Prepared and Executed?

The highest-risk shortcut is copying a parameter from a video without checking the pesticide label and the actual orchard. The second is enabling Continue Task on signal loss before the route has been physically observed and proven safe.

DJI Orchard Parameter Reference Table

Parameter	DJI tutorial reference	Operational meaning
Battery at takeoff	Above 80% recommended	Preserves energy margin for a heavy payload, transit, climb, interruption, and landing.
Standard-mode application volume	60–225 L/ha	Set by area; validate against the pesticide label, canopy, target, and calibration.
Targeted/Custom flow	5–15 L/min	Set by time; confirm actual output and resulting per-area dose.
Flight speed	1–3.5 m/s	Slower for tall/dense canopies; potentially faster for short/sparse canopies when coverage remains acceptable.
Height	2.8–5 m	Starting range for the tree conditions described in the tutorial; verify how the app defines height.
Standard-mode route spacing	3–4 m	Tighter spacing can improve overlap and canopy coverage.
Custom mode, crown over 5 m	Two routes evenly above the crown	Prevents a single centerline from leaving crown edges under-covered.
Targeted mode, large crown	Two or more tree centers	Represents a broad crown with multiple application targets.
Droplet size	Below 100 μm in low wind; increase with breeze	Fine droplets may improve distribution but raise drift risk; the product label and conditions control.
First 3D route signal-loss action	Hover	Allows the pilot to approach and restore the link without an unproven autonomous continuation.
Proven 3D route signal-loss action	Continue Task may be considered	Only after the route is proven safe and the action is allowed by DJI instructions and operating authority.

Important Correction to the Transcript

Some automatic captions render the Standard-mode range as “60 to 25 L/hectare.” DJI’s mirrored fruit-tree training material gives 60 to 225 L/ha. A missing leading “2” changes the range dramatically. Operators should confirm the current value in the official tutorial and app rather than relying on an unreviewed transcript.

The Parameter Hierarchy: What Controls the Mission?

When several sources give different numbers, use this hierarchy:

1. Pesticide label and applicable law. Crop, pest, rate, carrier volume, aerial-use permission, droplet category, buffer, wind, temperature, PPE, REI, PHI, and other restrictions come first.
2. FAA exemption, Part 137 certificate, COA, registration, and operating limitations. These determine whether and how the aircraft may be flown.
3. Current DJI manual, app limits, firmware, aircraft warnings, and system configuration. Never command a setting outside supported limits.
4. Orchard-specific agronomic recommendation. A licensed crop adviser, product manufacturer, extension specialist, or certified applicator may establish the treatment plan.
5. DJI tutorial reference range. Use it as a setup and validation starting point.
6. Small controlled test and water-sensitive-paper results. Confirm deposition before full-scale treatment.

No generic blog can determine the correct pesticide rate for every fruit tree, disease, pest, formulation, canopy, or jurisdiction.

Why Orchard Operations Are Different From Open Fields

The Target Is Three-Dimensional

An open field often presents a relatively even crop surface. An orchard target extends from the crown top to the inner and lower canopy. Leaves overlap, fruit and branches create shadowed areas, and each tree may differ in height and width.

Coverage therefore depends on more than acres per hour. It depends on whether droplets reach the correct canopy layer without unacceptable drift, runoff, overspray, or injury.

Terrain Can Change Faster Than the Route

Mountain orchards may rise, dip, or break across terraces. A route that looks smooth on a two-dimensional map may demand aggressive vertical movement. Steep climbs can reduce energy margin, increase load on the propulsion system, affect spray distribution, and trigger obstacle-detection behavior.

Trees Can Block the Radio Path

The remote controller may have a clear map view while the physical link passes through wet foliage, crowns, a ridge, or a structure. Video transmission and command stability can degrade even when the route remains inside the orchard boundary.

The Aircraft Is Heavy

The T100 spraying system can carry a substantial liquid load. A heavy takeoff, climb, and long transit increase the consequence of poor site selection or an unexpectedly low battery. DJI’s above-80% takeoff recommendation is therefore an operational margin, not a substitute for battery-health and mission-energy review.

U.S. Authority: FAA Part 137, Part 91 & Section 44807

Part 137 Applies to Covered Agricultural Dispensing

The FAA explains that Part 137 governs covered agricultural aircraft operations, including dispensing an economic poison or another substance intended for plant nourishment, soil treatment, propagation of plant life, or pest control. Orchard spraying commonly falls within this framework when the material and mission meet the definitions.

A T100 Is Not Authorized by Part 107 Alone

Part 107 applies to small UAS weighing less than 55 pounds at takeoff. The T100 is above that threshold. For covered agricultural operations at 55 pounds or more, the FAA describes an operating framework involving Part 91 and Part 137, exemptions from applicable regulations, aircraft registration, an Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate, a COA where required, and the conditions and limitations in the operator’s actual documents.

A Remote Pilot Certificate may be required as part of the approved framework, but holding one does not independently authorize a loaded T100 orchard mission.

Signal-Loss Automation Does Not Expand Legal Authority

Selecting Continue Task after signal loss is an aircraft behavior setting. It does not authorize BVLOS, waive visual-observation requirements, expand the approved operating area, or override an exemption condition. The crew must remain inside the authority granted for the mission.

Verify the Actual Aircraft and Configuration

Confirm that the T100, registration number, spray configuration, maximum weight, remote controller, safety system, and intended operation are covered. Do not assume that an authorization for another Agras model or weight automatically covers the T100.

Pesticide-Use, Drift & Worker-Protection Boundaries

The Label Is the Controlling Application Document

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that it is generally unlawful to use a registered pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. Before building the task, review at least:

• crop and application site;
• target pest or disease;
• maximum and minimum application rate;
• maximum seasonal use;
• aerial-application permission or prohibition;
• carrier-volume requirements;
• droplet-size category;
• nozzle and pressure restrictions;
• wind-speed and wind-direction limits;
• temperature-inversion language;
• buffer zones and sensitive sites;
• PPE and handler requirements;
• restricted-entry interval;
• preharvest interval;
• pollinator and bloom restrictions;
• tank-mix and adjuvant instructions; and
• environmental-hazard statements.

Fine Droplets Need Special Caution

DJI recommends droplets below 100 microns for the described fruit-tree scenario when wind is low, with larger droplets as breeze increases. That is not permission to violate a label that requires a coarser spray quality. Fine droplets remain airborne longer and can increase off-target movement.

The EPA’s Worker Protection Standard Application Exclusion Zone guidance also distinguishes fine sprays and air-propelled or aerial applications. Confirm the current Agricultural Worker Protection Standard obligations and the exact label before establishing the exclusion zone.

Protect People, Animals & Sensitive Areas

The operating plan should identify homes, roads, workers, bystanders, livestock, beehives, surface water, wells, organic crops, susceptible neighboring crops, schools, recreation areas, and habitat restrictions. Suspend the application when conditions do not keep the treatment on target.

Phase 1 — Preparations Before Takeoff & Site Selection

Step 1 — Confirm the Mission Is Authorized

Before moving the aircraft into the orchard, verify the operator’s FAA authority, Part 137 status, aircraft registration, pilot and crew qualifications, airspace, applicable state pesticide credentials, and landowner permission.

The planned route, aircraft, operating weight, material, date, and location should match the authorization and job record.

Step 2 — Review the Pesticide Label and Treatment Plan

Confirm that the product can legally be applied to the fruit crop by the intended aerial method. Record the target, product, EPA registration number, rate, carrier volume, droplet requirement, buffers, REI, PHI, PPE, wind limits, and maximum use.

If a DJI tutorial parameter conflicts with the label, use the label-compliant value or do not perform the application.

Step 3 — Walk or Survey the Orchard

Identify:

• crown height and width;
• sparse and dense blocks;
• young and mature trees;
• gaps and missing trees;
• steep slopes and terraces;
• power lines and communication lines;
• irrigation risers and pump equipment;
• nets, trellises, poles, wires, and guy lines;
• buildings, vehicles, and public access;
• workers, animals, and sensitive areas;
• windbreaks and signal shadows; and
• safe emergency landing areas.

Update the map when the physical orchard no longer matches the stored model.

Step 4 — Validate the 3D Map and Route

Review every route segment in three dimensions. Confirm that terrain and canopy elevations are current and that the planned aircraft path does not intersect trees, wires, poles, terrain, or obstacle margins.

For the complete planning workflow, use the DJI T100 Fruit Tree Mapping Tutorial.

Step 5 — Choose the General Staging Area

DJI recommends selecting takeoff and landing points near the center of the orchard when conditions permit. A central location can:

• reduce outbound and return transit;
• increase practical coverage from the staging point;
• improve access to multiple blocks; and
• simplify water preparation and battery rotation.

“Center” is not an absolute rule. A safe edge location is better than a central site with poor footing, obstacles, people, drift exposure, or unreliable communications.

Step 6 — Prefer Higher Terrain When It Is Safe and Level

Higher ground can improve the radio and visual path across the orchard. It should also be:

• firm and level;
• large enough for the unfolded T100 and crew;
• away from a cliff, drop-off, or loose terrace edge;
• free of overhead branches and lines; and
• accessible without placing people in the flight path.

Do not place the aircraft on a steep slope simply because it is higher.

Step 7 — Confirm Open Space Around and Above the Site

Check the complete takeoff, hover, landing, and go-around volume. Low branches may sit outside the landing pad but extend into a propeller arc as the aircraft moves.

The T100 needs a deliberate vertical corridor—not only a clear patch of ground.

Step 8 — Confirm Water Access

Locate clean water for mixing, rinsing, emergency decontamination, and spray-system testing. Prevent contaminated rinse water from entering wells, waterways, drains, or unapproved ground areas.

The clean-water source used for the functional test should not introduce debris into the filter or pumps.

Step 9 — Confirm Power and Charging Access

Locate the approved charger or generator and battery-cooling area. Keep electrical equipment, generator exhaust, fuel, ignition sources, water, and chemical handling segregated according to their instructions.

Convenient access does not justify charging a hot battery or operating a generator in an enclosed or unsafe location.

Step 10 — Establish the Operating Zones

Separate the site into controlled areas for:

• aircraft takeoff and landing;
• chemical mixing and loading;
• clean-water supply;
• battery cooling and charging;
• generator and fuel handling;
• crew observation;
• emergency equipment; and
• vehicle movement.

Avoid routing workers through the aircraft or chemical zone.

Step 11 — Verify the Battery Is Suitable for Flight

Inspect the battery for damage, swelling, contamination, abnormal temperature, connector issues, or app warnings. Battery percentage alone does not establish airworthiness.

DJI recommends a battery level above 80% at takeoff for this fruit-tree workflow.

Step 12 — Estimate Transit and Climb Demand

Review the distance from takeoff to the first route point, terrain elevation change, expected hover time, route length, return path, temperature, and payload.

If the route start is far from the takeoff and landing point, DJI recommends reducing the load appropriately. A lighter payload can preserve power and controllability margin during transit.

Step 13 — Inspect the Aircraft

Complete the model-specific preflight inspection, including arms, frame locks, propellers, motors, landing gear, spray system, antennas, radar, vision sensors, LiDAR, FPV camera, RTK status, tank mounting, pumps, nozzles, battery interface, and remote controller.

Use the DJI T100/T50 Pre-Flight Safety Tutorial as a companion checklist.

Step 14 — Inspect the Filter at the Bottom of the Spray Tank

Verify that the filter is present, clean, correctly seated, and not blocked. A restricted filter can reduce flow, create uneven delivery, introduce pump cavitation, or cause discrepancies between commanded and actual output.

Service the filter only with the aircraft safely powered down and the tank depressurized and emptied as required.

Step 15 — Inspect the Water Outlet

Confirm that the tank outlet is securely fastened and shows no sign of leakage, damaged threads, poor sealing, or an incorrectly seated connection.

Do not load pesticide into a system that has not passed a clean-water leak and function check.

Step 16 — Add a Small Amount of Clean Water

Use clean water to perform the pre-operation spray-system check. The goal is to test the fluid path without exposing the site or crew to pesticide during troubleshooting.

Step 17 — Remove Trapped Air From the Fluid System

Prime the system according to the current DJI procedure until air is cleared from the pumps, lines, and sprinklers. Trapped air can delay spray initiation and create fluctuating output.

Keep personnel clear of nozzle discharge and collect test water appropriately.

Step 18 — Test the Sprinklers

Command a brief clean-water spray test. Confirm:

• every intended sprinkler activates;
• output begins promptly;
• spray appears stable and symmetrical;
• no line, pump, connector, tank, or outlet leaks;
• the controller does not report an abnormal condition; and
• actual flow is plausible for the configuration.

Resolve any fault before adding pesticide.

Step 19 — Confirm the Remote-Controller Link

At the proposed staging point, check controller signal, video transmission, GNSS/RTK status, interference warnings, and the physical line between the crew and the orchard.

Then consider the worst point on the route—not only the takeoff point.

Step 20 — Preserve a Real-Time View of the Aircraft

Position the pilot and visual observer, when used or required, so the crew can observe the aircraft and the area around it. Trees should not eliminate the crew’s ability to assess real-time status.

Do not treat an FPV image as a substitute for any visual-observation requirement in the operating documents.

Step 21 — Identify Signal Shadows

Mark ridges, dense rows, buildings, water tanks, metal structures, and windbreaks that can block or reflect the signal. Test conservatively without a chemical load where appropriate.

Step 22 — Deploy DJI Relay When Obstacles Make It Necessary

If unavoidable terrain or vegetation threatens the communication path, DJI recommends considering DJI Relay and configuring it according to its instructions.

Place the relay where it has suitable line of sight to both the controller side and the intended aircraft area. Secure it, protect it from contamination, verify charge and status, and test the link before the mission.

DJI publishes model-specific T100 Relay specifications and range figures under controlled, unobstructed conditions. Orchard vegetation and terrain can materially reduce real-world performance.

Step 23 — Brief the Crew

Review roles, commands, signal-loss response, emergency landing areas, exclusion zones, chemical hazards, spill response, fire response, communication method, and the authority to stop the job.

Every crew member should know that unexpected people, animals, aircraft, weather, drift, signal loss, or obstacle behavior can trigger an immediate pause.

Phase 1 Gate — Do Not Load Until These Checks Pass

Gate	Pass condition
Authorization	Aircraft, mission, material, pilot, and location are covered.
Label	Crop, aerial use, rate, weather, droplet, buffers, PPE, REI, and PHI reviewed.
Route	Current 3D model and obstacle review complete.
Staging point	Level, open, central when practical, with safe vertical clearance.
Battery	Serviceable and above 80% at takeoff.
Spray system	Filter clear, outlet secure, air purged, test spray normal.
Signal	Route communication plan validated; relay installed if needed.
Crew	Roles, stop criteria, and emergency actions briefed.

Phase 2 — Task Parameter Settings

Step 24 — Identify the Orchard Block Type

Classify the block by:

• fruit species and variety;
• tree age;
• crown diameter and height;
• planting density;
• canopy density;
• row and tree spacing;
• slope and terrace structure;
• growth stage;
• pest or disease target; and
• sparse, mixed, or missing-tree areas.

A single orchard may require multiple tasks because young, sparse trees and mature, dense trees should not automatically share identical settings.

Step 25 — Prioritize Preventive Timing

DJI emphasizes preventive fruit-tree management. Waiting until a severe outbreak can increase cost, reduce control, and threaten yield.

Preventive does not mean applying on a calendar without justification. Use scouting, thresholds, disease models, crop-stage guidance, label directions, resistance-management practices, and professional agronomic recommendations.

Step 26 — Review Environmental Conditions

Record wind speed and direction at canopy height, temperature, relative humidity, inversion risk, sunlight, precipitation forecast, wet foliage, and terrain-driven airflow.

Orchards can channel wind between rows or create sheltered pockets that differ from a nearby weather station. Recheck conditions during the job.

Step 27 — Confirm the Pesticide and Mixture

Verify formulation, compatibility, water quality, agitation needs, mixing order, adjuvant permission, maximum concentration, and whether the product supports aerial application at the intended carrier volume.

Do not use the aircraft to compensate for an incompatible or illegal mix.

Step 28 — Choose the Correct Fruit-Tree Operation Mode

The tutorial discusses three parameter-setting approaches:

• Standard mode: area-based application volume, expressed in L/ha.
• Targeted mode: individual tree targets or centers, with flow commonly managed per unit time.
• Custom mode: operator-planned 3D flight paths, with flow commonly managed per unit time.

Select the mode that matches orchard geometry and the mapped data—not simply the mode used on the previous job.

Step 29 — Set Standard-Mode Application Volume

DJI gives a general Standard-mode reference range of 60–225 L/ha for the fruit-tree conditions described.

The actual value must remain within the label and treatment plan. Young sparse trees may require less carrier volume, while dense mature crowns may require more. More liquid does not automatically mean better control; excessive volume can increase runoff, ground loss, refill cycles, and payload demand.

Step 30 — Set Targeted or Custom Flow Rate

DJI gives a general 5–15 L/min reference range for Targeted and Custom modes.

Because this value is time-based, calculate the resulting volume per hectare or per tree from:

• flow rate;
• aircraft speed;
• route length;
• number of passes;
• route spacing;
• tree count;
• spray-on and spray-off segments; and
• actual measured output.

Do not assume 10 L/min produces the same dose at 1 m/s and 3.5 m/s.

Step 31 — Calculate Product and Carrier Separately

Distinguish between:

• amount of formulated pesticide or active ingredient per hectare;
• total spray mixture per hectare;
• tank concentration; and
• aircraft flow rate.

Confusing these units can create a serious underdose or overdose. Have the calculation independently checked before mixing.

Step 32 — Adjust for Young, Sparse Trees

For sparse young trees with small crowns, DJI recommends reducing application volume. Consider also whether Targeted mode can avoid spraying empty spaces.

The reduction must still satisfy label minimum carrier volume and deposition requirements.

Step 33 — Adjust for Mature, Dense Trees

For dense mature trees with large crowns, DJI recommends increasing the application volume as appropriate. A slower speed, tighter spacing, additional crown routes, and a validated droplet setting may also be required.

Change one or a controlled group of variables at a time so the crew can understand the result.

Step 34 — Set Flight Speed

DJI recommends 1–3.5 m/s for the described fruit-tree workflow.

• Use the slower end for tall, dense canopies when downwash time and penetration are needed.
• Consider the faster end for short, sparse trees only when deposition and dose remain acceptable.

Slower is not always safer or better. It increases time over each point, liquid deposition, battery use, and potential phytotoxic exposure if the rate is not recalculated.

Step 35 — Set Flight Height

DJI recommends 2.8–5 m for the fruit-tree conditions discussed.

A height that is too low can produce uneven distribution and may damage thin or small trees through concentrated rotor wash. A height that is too high can reduce the amount reaching the crown, weaken penetration into the middle and lower canopy, and increase drift.

Confirm whether the app’s displayed height is relative to terrain, canopy, route surface, takeoff point, or another reference. A correct number with the wrong reference is still unsafe.

Step 36 — Set Standard-Mode Route Spacing

DJI recommends reducing Standard-mode route spacing to 3–4 m to support orchard application effectiveness.

Validate overlap with water-sensitive paper or another accepted deposition method. Crown width, height, speed, droplets, nozzle layout, wind, and terrain can change the effective pattern.

Step 37 — Cover Wide Crowns in Custom Mode

If the tree-crown diameter exceeds 5 m, DJI recommends setting two routes evenly above the crown in Custom mode.

The purpose is to distribute the application across the crown rather than relying on one centerline. Both routes must remain clear of branches and obstacle margins.

Step 38 — Represent Large Crowns in Targeted Mode

For a large tree crown, DJI recommends identifying two or more tree centers in Targeted mode.

Review the generated approach, spray behavior, and departure around each center. More centers increase route complexity and must not create unsafe turns or repeated over-application.

Step 39 — Select Droplet Size

DJI states that fine droplets can distribute more evenly through large fruit trees. For low-wind conditions, the tutorial recommends droplets smaller than 100 microns, with droplet size increased when there is a breeze.

Apply that guidance only when:

• the pesticide label permits the droplet category;
• wind, temperature, humidity, and inversion conditions are suitable;
• buffers and exclusion zones are satisfied;
• sensitive areas are protected; and
• a test confirms acceptable deposition without off-target movement.

If the label requires medium, coarse, or another specified spray quality, the label controls.

Step 40 — Confirm Flow Through Calibration

Run the manufacturer’s calibration procedure and verify commanded versus actual output. Check every sprinkler, pump, line, and tank measurement.

Calculate the expected tank use for a known test area and compare it to the measured use.

Step 41 — Conduct a Small Water-Only Test Pass

Before full pesticide loading, conduct a controlled test over representative crowns where permitted. Observe:

• route clearance;
• height control;
• obstacle responses;
• downwash effect;
• signal quality;
• spray onset and shutoff;
• overlap; and
• return path.

Use water-sensitive paper or another approved method to evaluate the upper, middle, lower, outer, and inner canopy.

Step 42 — Correct the Plan, Not the Symptoms

If deposition is poor, identify whether the cause is rate, flow, speed, height, droplet size, route spacing, crown representation, wind, nozzle condition, or mapping error.

Do not randomly increase every variable. That can hide the original problem while creating runoff or drift.

Orchard Parameter Interaction Table

Change	Potential benefit	New risk to check
Increase application volume	More liquid available for canopy coverage	Runoff, refill demand, payload, overdose, label maximum
Increase flow rate	More output per minute	Dose rises unless speed/coverage is recalculated
Reduce speed	More downwash and exposure time	Higher dose, lower productivity, higher energy use
Reduce height	Stronger local downwash and less fall distance	Uneven pattern, crown damage, collision risk
Increase height	More clearance and potentially wider pattern	Drift, weak deposition, poor lower-canopy penetration
Reduce spacing	More overlap	Repeated dose, longer task, greater battery use
Use finer droplets	More droplets and potential distribution	Greater drift and evaporation risk
Add crown routes/centers	Better representation of wide crowns	Duplicate dose, more turns, route complexity

Phase 2 Gate — Parameter Review

Before loading pesticide, the pilot and applicator should be able to explain:

• why the selected mode fits the orchard;
• how the product rate was calculated;
• how the carrier volume or flow produces the intended dose;
• why speed, height, spacing, and droplet size are label compliant;
• how sparse and dense zones are handled;
• how crowns wider than 5 m are covered;
• what weather triggers a stop; and
• what evidence from calibration or test passes supports the settings.

Phase 3 — Task Execution Along Three-Dimensional Routes

Step 43 — Select Hover for the First Flight of a 3D Route

For the first flight of a three-dimensional route in complex terrain, DJI recommends selecting Hover as the signal-loss action.

Hover prevents an unproven route from continuing automatically while the controller link is unavailable. Confirm that hovering itself does not place the aircraft near a crown, slope, wire, or other hazard.

Step 44 — Define the Signal-Loss Recovery Plan

If the link is lost, the remote-controller crew should move toward a position that can restore the signal while remaining clear of:

• operating propellers;
• chemical spray and drift;
• steep terrain;
• roads and vehicles;
• wires and irrigation equipment;
• treated foliage; and
• the aircraft’s potential landing area.

Do not run blindly through the orchard while looking only at the controller.

Step 45 — Verify Good Lighting for the First 3D Route

DJI recommends good lighting during the first flight over complex terrain. The T100 safety-system specifications require adequate light and discernible surroundings for supported sensing performance.

Low sun, glare, deep canopy shadow, fog, dust, rain, and darkness can reduce what cameras and crew can interpret.

Step 46 — Confirm the Route Does Not Enter an Obstacle State

Before starting, inspect whether any segment will bring the aircraft close enough to a tree, slope, wire, pole, or mapped margin to trigger obstacle detection.

A route that repeatedly triggers braking is not operationally proven merely because no collision occurs.

Step 47 — Avoid Aggressive Climbs on Steep Slopes

DJI warns that steep climbing routes may cause the aircraft to enter obstacle-detection status. Smooth the route or divide the orchard into safer tasks where possible.

Also check payload, battery demand, clearance below the aircraft, and route geometry at the top of the climb.

Step 48 — Start With a Conservative Payload

The first validation flight should not combine the heaviest load, most aggressive speed, smallest margin, poorest light, and most complex route. Use a controlled setup that preserves stopping and landing options while complying with the treatment plan.

Step 49 — Establish Stable Hover Before Entering the Route

After takeoff, confirm normal aircraft response, battery behavior, positioning, RTK, controller signal, video link, spray-system status, and obstacle-system status before proceeding.

Abort if the aircraft, app, route, or environment does not match the brief.

Step 50 — Monitor the FPV Camera

Use the FPV view to observe the situation ahead of the aircraft, especially on the first 3D route. Look for branches, wires, terrain changes, unmodeled obstacles, people, animals, and route behavior.

FPV is one input. Maintain the external visual observation and crew responsibilities required by the operation.

Step 51 — Monitor More Than the Video

Continuously cross-check:

• aircraft position and direction;
• altitude/terrain-follow behavior;
• battery and power demand;
• RTK/GNSS status;
• control and video signal;
• spray flow and tank level;
• speed and route progress;
• wind and drift;
• obstacle messages; and
• crew callouts.

Tunnel vision on the camera can hide a declining battery or changing wind.

Step 52 — Suspend the Task With the Control Stick When Necessary

If an unexpected obstacle, route deviation, person, animal, aircraft, drift condition, or warning appears, use the prescribed control-stick action to suspend the task.

Pause early. Waiting for the aircraft to resolve an unsafe geometry on its own reduces recovery margin.

Step 53 — Read the Obstacle-Detection Prompt

If the aircraft enters obstacle-detection status, follow the prompt displayed in the upper-right corner of the controller screen. The prompt identifies the supported method to exit or resolve the current state.

Do not repeatedly force movement toward the detected obstacle.

Step 54 — Manually Bypass the Obstacle

After exiting the obstacle state as directed, use the controller’s displayed return/bypass point workflow and manually route around the obstacle with adequate clearance.

Confirm the bypass does not enter a different tree crown, wire, terrain face, exclusion area, or treated-zone conflict.

Step 55 — Revalidate Before Resuming

Before resuming autonomous work, verify:

• aircraft location and heading;
• route segment and next waypoint;
• obstacle clearance;
• signal strength;
• battery margin;
• spray state;
• wind and drift; and
• whether the stored route needs editing.

If the obstacle is permanent, edit the map or route rather than repeating the same manual bypass on every tank.

Step 56 — Complete the First Route as a Validation Flight

Treat the first successful route as evidence to review, not automatic approval for every future condition. Record signal strength, obstacle events, manual interventions, battery use, application volume, weather, and deposition.

Step 57 — Decide Whether Continue Task on Signal Loss Is Appropriate

DJI states that Continue Task may improve efficiency after a route has been proven safe in earlier flights.

Enable it only when:

• the route has been flown and inspected successfully;
• no unresolved obstacle or terrain issue remains;
• link-loss continuation is permitted by the operating documents;
• the crew can maintain required observation;
• the signal-loss path does not create an unauthorized operation;
• battery and payload margins are adequate; and
• the emergency plan supports the behavior.

Step 58 — Never Use Continue Task to Conceal Poor Communications

If disconnections are routine, improve relay placement, staging location, crew position, route segmentation, or infrastructure. Automation should not normalize an unreliable command-and-control link.

Step 59 — Monitor Weather Throughout the Mission

Wind can change as the aircraft crosses a ridge or leaves a protected row. Fine droplets may begin moving off target even when the initial weather check passed.

Stop when the label, exemption, crew plan, or drift-control limit is reached.

Step 60 — Manage Battery Changes and Refills Deliberately

At each turnaround:

• confirm motors have stopped;
• prevent inadvertent arming;
• use required PPE;
• inspect for leaks or clogged filters;
• verify battery condition and state of charge;
• confirm the correct route-resume point;
• update mixture and application records; and
• check conditions before relaunch.

Step 61 — Complete the Post-Operation Inspection

After the task, follow DJI and product-label procedures for unloading, cleaning, rinsate management, decontamination, filter and nozzle inspection, battery cooling, aircraft cleaning, and storage.

Do not allow chemical residue to remain on sensors, connectors, structural joints, or handling surfaces.

Step 62 — Close the Application Record

Record the operator, pilot, aircraft, registration, location, date, start and end times, treated crop and area, product and EPA registration number, mixture, rate, carrier volume, weather, equipment settings, route, interruptions, signal-loss events, obstacle events, and outcome.

Retain records for the periods required by the label, WPS, state law, Part 137, exemption, and company procedures.

Signal-Loss Decision Table

Situation	Recommended behavior	Why
First flight of a new 3D route	Hover on signal loss	Prevents unobserved continuation along an unproven route.
Route has an unresolved obstacle event	Hover; correct the route	Prior success is not established.
Signal shadow is caused by staging location	Reposition crew or relay	Fixes the communication geometry.
Route is proven and operating authority allows continuation	Continue Task may be considered	Can reduce interruption while preserving an already-validated path.
Crew would lose required visual observation	Do not use automation to proceed	Aircraft settings do not override legal or operational limitations.
Battery margin is low	Use the approved safe recovery action	Continuing may remove the energy needed to land safely.

Hover vs. Continue Task: Practical Difference

Hover

Hover is conservative for an unproven route because the aircraft stops progressing while the crew restores the link. But it is only safe when the hover point has clearance and enough battery margin.

Continue Task

Continue Task can preserve productivity on a validated route, but it increases reliance on accurate mapping, obstacle clearance, aircraft health, and the selected automation. It should never be the first solution to frequent disconnections.

Common Orchard Operation Mistakes

1. Taking Off With Less Than the Planned Energy Margin

A displayed percentage below the planned threshold, an aged battery, a hot battery, a long transit, and a steep climb can combine into a premature return or landing.

2. Loading Pesticide Before the Clean-Water Test

This turns a simple filter, air, leak, or sprinkler fault into a chemical-handling event.

3. Ignoring the Bottom Filter

A partially blocked filter can reduce real output while the task appears to progress normally.

4. Choosing the Center Without Checking Safety

The mathematical center may be under branches, beside workers, on soft terrain, or inside a signal shadow.

5. Placing Water, Electricity, Fuel & Chemicals Together

Convenience can create electrical, fire, contamination, and exposure hazards.

6. Assuming Higher Ground Is Automatically Better

A sloped or unstable high point can be worse than a safe, level site with a properly placed relay.

7. Copying “60–25 L/ha” From a Bad Caption

The corrected DJI reference is 60–225 L/ha, and even that range remains subordinate to the label and treatment plan.

8. Confusing Product Rate With Carrier Volume

Liters of spray mixture per hectare are not automatically liters of formulated pesticide per hectare.

9. Setting L/min Without Recalculating Dose

Flow, speed, route length, spacing, and number of passes jointly determine the delivered amount.

10. Using One Parameter Set Across Mixed-Age Trees

Young sparse blocks and mature dense blocks can require different tasks.

11. Flying Too Fast Over Dense Crowns

The aircraft may cover acreage quickly while leaving poor inner-canopy deposition.

12. Flying Too Slowly Without Reducing Flow

This can raise dose, runoff, residue, and phytotoxicity risk.

13. Flying Too Low

Excessive downwash and narrow distribution can damage young crowns and create uneven coverage.

14. Flying Too High

Droplets may drift or fail to reach middle and lower canopy layers.

15. Using One Route Over a Crown Wider Than 5 m

The edges may not receive the intended distribution; Custom mode may need two even routes.

16. Marking Only One Center on a Large Crown

Targeted mode may need two or more centers to represent the canopy.

17. Treating Under-100-Micron Droplets as Universal

The label or conditions may require larger droplets. Fine spray can move off target rapidly.

18. Enabling Continue Task on the First Flight

The route has not yet demonstrated safe clearance or communication behavior.

19. Treating Continue Task as BVLOS Permission

Automation does not change the approved operating rules.

20. Ignoring Repeated Obstacle Detection

A route that repeatedly brakes needs correction, not operator habituation.

21. Flying the First Route in Poor Light

Low visibility makes it harder for sensors and crew to distinguish branches, wires, and terrain.

22. Looking Only at FPV

Battery, signal, spray flow, wind, and external aircraft position can deteriorate outside the camera view.

23. Bypassing an Obstacle Without Updating the Route

The same hazard returns on the next battery, tank, or day.

24. Failing to Document the First Route

Without records, “proven safe” becomes an unsupported memory rather than evidence.

Troubleshooting Orchard Operations

Symptom	Likely cause	Corrective action
Sprinkler output pulses	Air remains in lines or inlet is restricted	Stop, inspect filter and connections, reprime with clean water.
One side sprays weakly	Nozzle, line, pump, or filter restriction	Power down and inspect the affected fluid path.
Tank loses volume faster than planned	Flow/rate calculation, leak, speed, or duplicate route issue	Stop and reconcile commanded and actual output.
Tank use is lower than planned	Clogged filter/nozzle, air, pump fault, or spray-off segments	Inspect, calibrate, and repeat a measured clean-water test.
Battery drops rapidly in transit	Payload, distance, climb, heat, battery condition, or wind	Land safely; reduce load and reassess mission energy.
Signal weakens behind rows	Vegetation or terrain blocks link	Reposition crew/staging point or install and test DJI Relay.
Video fails but control remains	Link quality or obstruction issue	Use the approved interruption procedure; do not continue an unproven route.
Aircraft repeatedly brakes	Route is too close to crown, terrain, wire, or obstacle margin	Suspend and edit the 3D route.
Aircraft struggles on steep segment	Aggressive terrain change, payload, or route geometry	Divide/smooth route and reassess load and clearance.
Upper canopy is wet, lower canopy is dry	Insufficient penetration, excessive height/speed, or route issue	Validate with deposition testing and adjust within label limits.
Crown edges are under-covered	Spacing too wide or crown represented by too few paths/centers	Add validated routes/centers and recalculate dose.
Spray drifts beyond crown	Droplets too fine, height too high, or weather unsuitable	Stop; increase droplet size only if label allows and wait for compliant conditions.
Young foliage is disturbed or damaged	Height too low or downwash too concentrated	Stop and increase safe height within the supported treatment plan.
Resume point repeats treatment	Incorrect route-resume selection	Pause, verify route history and choose the correct supported resume point.

Ares Acres Recommended Orchard Workflow

1. Confirm FAA, Part 137, airspace, state pesticide, and landowner authority.
2. Review the complete pesticide label and treatment recommendation.
3. Inspect or update the orchard map and 3D model.
4. Divide materially different canopy blocks into separate tasks.
5. Walk the route for wires, poles, terrain, workers, and new obstacles.
6. Choose a level, open staging site near the orchard center when safe.
7. Establish separate aircraft, mixing, charging, water, fuel, and crew zones.
8. Verify serviceable battery condition and more than 80% charge.
9. Calculate transit, climb, spray, reserve, and landing energy.
10. Reduce payload when a long transit or terrain demands more margin.
11. Inspect the T100 and spray system.
12. Clean and seat the bottom tank filter.
13. Secure the water outlet.
14. Add clean water, clear air, and test every sprinkler.
15. Validate controller, RTK, video, and relay coverage.
16. Classify crown size, age, density, and target.
17. Select Standard, Targeted, or Custom mode.
18. Set the label-compliant area rate or flow.
19. Select speed within the 1–3.5 m/s DJI reference as appropriate.
20. Select supported height using the 2.8–5 m reference and correct datum.
21. Use 3–4 m Standard-mode spacing when validated for the block.
22. Add two Custom routes for crowns over 5 m when required.
23. Add two or more Targeted centers for large crowns when required.
24. Select a label-compliant droplet size; treat under 100 μm as fine-spray guidance only for suitable low wind.
25. Calibrate commanded and actual flow.
26. Conduct a water-only route and deposition test.
27. Correct the map and parameters.
28. Brief crew, stop criteria, signal-loss response, and emergencies.
29. Select Hover for the first 3D route.
30. Fly the first route in good light with a conservative load.
31. Monitor FPV, external position, signal, battery, flow, weather, and obstacles.
32. Pause immediately for an unsafe condition.
33. Follow the controller prompt to exit obstacle detection.
34. Manually bypass only with verified clearance.
35. Revalidate before resuming.
36. Document the first route and correct permanent hazards.
37. Consider Continue Task only after the route is proven and authority allows it.
38. Recheck weather, aircraft, battery, filter, and resume point at every turnaround.
39. Complete cleaning, inspection, records, and post-job review.

Related DJI Agras Operator Academy Tutorials

• DJI Agras T100 Fruit Tree Mapping Tutorial
• DJI Agras T100 Route Mode Field Planning and Task Execution
• DJI T100/T50 Pre-Flight Safety Tutorial
• DJI Agras Remote Operation View for T100 and T50
• DJI Agras Remote Controller Activation for T100 and T50
• DJI T100 D-RTK 3 Setup, Linking and RTK Coordinates
• DJI Agras T100 A-B Operation Mode Tutorial
• DJI Agras T100 Manual and Manual Plus Operations

FAQ: DJI T100 Orchard Operations & Fruit-Tree Precautions

What are the three parts of DJI’s fruit-tree precautions workflow?

They are pre-takeoff preparation and site selection, task-parameter settings, and safe execution along three-dimensional routes.

What battery level does DJI recommend at takeoff?

DJI recommends more than 80% for the described orchard workflow. Battery condition, load, transit, terrain, weather, and reserve must also be acceptable.

Why is an orchard flight more demanding than open-field spraying?

The target is three-dimensional, trees and terrain block signals, routes climb and descend, obstacles can be hidden, and canopy deposition is more complex.

What spray-system items should be checked before loading chemical?

Inspect the bottom tank filter and water outlet, add clean water, clear trapped air, and verify all sprinklers and connections with a test spray.

Why should trapped air be removed?

Air can delay spray onset, cause fluctuating flow, and create inaccurate delivery.

Should I use pesticide for the initial function test?

Use clean water unless current DJI or product procedures specifically require otherwise. Troubleshooting with pesticide increases exposure and disposal risk.

Why reduce the load when the route start is far away?

A long loaded transit consumes additional energy and reduces the margin available for climbing, spraying, interruption, return, and landing.

Where should takeoff and landing points be located?

DJI favors a central orchard location when it is level, open, accessible, and safe. The safest suitable location takes priority over the geometric center.

Why does DJI prefer higher terrain?

Higher terrain can improve the radio path and visual overview, but the site must still be level, stable, and clear of drop-offs and obstacles.

Why are water and power access important?

They simplify mixing, clean-water testing, rinsing, battery charging, and turnaround. Water, electricity, chemicals, fuel, and heat sources must remain safely separated.

When should DJI Relay be used?

Consider it when unavoidable trees, terrain, or structures threaten the communication path. Install and test it according to current DJI instructions.

Does DJI Relay authorize BVLOS flight?

No. It supports communication; it does not change the operator’s FAA or visual-observation authority.

What is the corrected Standard-mode application range?

DJI’s mirrored training material gives 60–225 L/ha. The actual treatment rate must comply with the pesticide label and agronomic plan.

Why does one transcript show 60–25 L/ha?

The automatic caption appears to omit the leading “2” from 225. Verify numerical settings against official material before use.

What flow range does DJI give for Targeted and Custom modes?

DJI gives a general reference of 5–15 L/min. Calculate the resulting dose from flow, speed, path, tree count, and spray time.

Is L/min the same as L/ha?

No. L/min is time-based flow. L/ha is area-based application volume. Speed, spacing, and route geometry connect the two.

What speed does DJI recommend for fruit trees?

The tutorial gives 1–3.5 m/s. Dense mature crowns generally favor slower travel, while short sparse crowns may support higher speed after validation.

Why can slower flight improve penetration?

It gives the rotor wind field and spray more time over the canopy. Flow must be recalculated to prevent over-application.

What height does DJI recommend?

The tutorial gives 2.8–5 m for the described tree conditions. Confirm the app’s height reference and the label-compliant operating setup.

What happens if the aircraft flies too low?

Distribution may become uneven, downwash may damage small trees, and collision risk increases.

What happens if the aircraft flies too high?

Fewer droplets may reach the trees, drift may increase, and deposition in middle and lower canopy layers can decline.

What Standard-mode route spacing does DJI recommend?

The tutorial recommends 3–4 m to support coverage, subject to calibration and orchard-specific testing.

How should Custom mode handle a crown wider than 5 m?

DJI recommends two routes distributed evenly above the crown when one route would not cover it adequately.

How should Targeted mode handle a large crown?

Identify two or more tree centers when needed to represent the full crown. Recalculate the dose and avoid duplicated application.

Does DJI always recommend droplets under 100 microns?

No. The tutorial recommends them for low-wind conditions in the described scenario and larger droplets with a breeze. The product label may require a coarser category and always controls.

Why are fine droplets risky?

They remain airborne longer and are more susceptible to evaporation and off-target drift.

What signal-loss action should be used on the first 3D route?

DJI recommends Hover while the crew approaches a better communication position and restores the link.

When can Continue Task on signal loss be considered?

Only after earlier flights have proven the route safe, communications and emergency plans are understood, and the action is permitted by the operating documents.

Why can steep slopes trigger obstacle detection?

Aggressive route climbing can bring terrain or crowns into the sensing envelope, causing braking or an obstacle state.

Why should the first 3D route be flown in good light?

Good light improves what the crew and supported vision systems can distinguish in complex terrain.

What should I do if an unexpected obstacle appears in FPV?

Suspend the task with the prescribed control input, stabilize safely, and follow the controller guidance. Do not continue toward the obstacle.

How do I exit obstacle-detection status?

Follow the prompt shown in the upper-right of the controller screen, then use the supported return/bypass point workflow to route around the obstacle manually.

Should a permanent obstacle be bypassed manually every time?

No. Update the map or route so the stored task provides safe, repeatable clearance.

Does Part 107 alone authorize a loaded T100 orchard mission?

No. Part 107 applies to UAS under 55 pounds at takeoff. Covered T100 agricultural operations require the large-UAS and Part 137 framework applicable to the operator and mission.

What records should be retained?

Retain aircraft, pilot, location, product, rate, carrier volume, weather, settings, times, treated area, interruptions, incidents, and other records required by the label, WPS, state law, Part 137, exemption, and company procedures.

Final Takeaway

Safe DJI Agras T100 orchard work begins before the aircraft is loaded. Choose a level, open staging point that supports coverage, water, power, visual observation, and a stable controller link. Verify a serviceable battery above 80%, inspect the tank filter and outlet, purge the system with clean water, and test every sprinkler before pesticide enters the aircraft.

Then build the task around the orchard—not a copied preset. Young sparse trees, mature dense crowns, steep terrain, wide crowns, and individual-tree targets require different rate, flow, speed, height, spacing, route, and droplet decisions. DJI’s reference values—60–225 L/ha in Standard mode, 5–15 L/min in Targeted or Custom modes, 1–3.5 m/s speed, 2.8–5 m height, and 3–4 m Standard-mode spacing—remain subordinate to the pesticide label, current DJI limits, calibration, weather, and deposition results.

Finally, treat the first 3D route as a validation flight. Use Hover on signal loss, fly in good light, monitor FPV and external aircraft status, avoid steep obstacle-triggering climbs, pause early, and correct permanent hazards in the stored route. Continue Task on signal loss belongs only on a proven route and never expands the operation’s legal authority.

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Complementary DJI T100 Orchard Equipment & Resources

Orchard reliability depends on the complete aircraft, spray system, intelligent batteries, power supply, positioning, communication, nozzles, filters, and OEM replacement parts.

• DJI Agras T100 Aircraft — explore the T100 agricultural platform.
• DJI T100 OEM Parts — browse model-specific spray, power, propulsion, sensor, and structural components.
• DJI Agras Parts — search the full agricultural-drone parts catalog.
• DJI Agras Accessories — review operational and support accessories, including compatible positioning and communication equipment.
• Ares Acres Product Catalog — search batteries, charging systems, spray components, spreading systems, and air-seeder equipment for orchard and cover-crop programs.
• Ares Acres Technical Support — contact our team for T100 configuration, parts identification, orchard mapping, or equipment questions.

What Is Ares Acres?

Ares Acres is a U.S.-based agricultural robotics company focused on DJI Agras aircraft, OEM parts, diagnostics, operator support, and technical education. Our DJI Agriculture Tutorials library helps agricultural operators understand the aircraft, application systems, mission-planning tools, and safety decisions behind field performance.

Need DJI Agras T100 Parts or Orchard Support?

Explore the DJI Agras T100, browse DJI T100 Parts, search DJI Agras Parts, or contact Ares Acres for help with the right component or system for your operation.

Operational, pesticide, and regulatory note: DJI app labels, route modes, signal-loss actions, parameter ranges, supported droplet sizes, spray-system output, obstacle behavior, and sensing performance can change with aircraft configuration, nozzles, app version, firmware, region, and operating conditions. Follow the current DJI manual and in-app instructions. The pesticide label, state pesticide law, applicator certification, PPE, buffers, weather restrictions, WPS/AEZ, REI, PHI, environmental protections, and treatment recommendation control chemical use. In the United States, a Remote Pilot Certificate or Part 107 compliance alone does not authorize a T100 operation at or above 55 pounds. Verify the aircraft registration, Section 44807 or other exemption authority, Part 91 conditions, Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate, COA or airspace approval, operating limitations, and all state and local requirements before flight.