AGRAS T30 Shines in Wheat Fertilizer Test in Japan

 

 

 

 

 

In May this year, DJI Agriculture's dealer in Japan, FREEPERSON Co., Ltd., conducted an experiment about fertilizer spread with the DJI AGRAS T30 at one of Kasuga Cooperative's wheat cultivation bases in Kagawa Prefecture. The operation intended to test the improvement of drone operation efficiency and results. Since 2018, the cooperative has been conducted crop protection services on rice, wheat, and soybeans, but this was their first time using a drone to apply fertilizers.

 

Kagawa Prefecture is located on Shikoku Island, with the Seto Inland Sea to its north and the Sanuki Mountains to its southwest. With a warm climate and little rainfall, the region is ideal for growing wheat, which explains why Kagawa Prefecture is the major wheat producing area in Shikoku, with its wheat flour output ranking first in the country. To meet the criteria for protein content, nitrogen-based fertilizers must be added during the crop heading phase. For the wheat under test, the requirements in Kagawa Prefecture dictate that fertilizer usage must reach the amount of 300 kg/ha. Therefore, even spreading was crucial during the growing phase.

 

For this experiment, two fields of equal size, 0.174 hectares, were selected to compare the efficiency and spreading uniformity of the T30 agricultural drone to manual fertilizer spreading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five workers from the cooperative started by spreading the fertilizers manually in one field, which took 20 minutes. Upon completion, it was the T30's time to shine. After setting the parameters and flight path on the app, the pilot launched the drone with a tap. In about two minutes, it completed the fully autonomous operation.

 

Spreading Parameters:

Flight Speed (km/h)	15 km	Spread Width (m)	5.5-6 m
Flight Altitude (m)	4 m	Spreading Quantity (kg/ha)	300 kg/ha
Impeller Rotation Speed (r/min)	1,100 rev/min	Operation Mode	Manual & Auto

 

Conclusion

Judging by the photos taken 30 days after fertilizing, spreading uniformity does make a significant difference in crop growth. Due to uneven application, part of wheat matured late, with their nutritional growth prolonged after receiving excessive nitrogen-based fertilizers. This not only dramatically affects the quality, but also the yield of wheats. On the other plot, the crops fertilized with the T30 showed noticeably healthier and uniform growth.

 

 

 

 

After seeing the results of the T30, local farmers commented that they no longer had to step into the fields. It offers both an easier and more efficient way to take care of their crops while ensuring even spraying and spreading. The local farmers' association decided to adopt drones in aerial fertilizer application: "We will be holding a brief information session with wheat farmers to introduce them to DJI agricultural drones."

 

"The protein content requirements for the wheat can also be met using the T30. That's wonderful!" said the head of the farmers' association.

 

 

 

 

DJI Agriculture in Japan

 

Japan is facing problems of an aging population and a reduced workforce. The five farmers from the Kasuga Cooperative exemplifies that: all of them were over 65. According to data from the World Bank, Japan's population as of 2021 was 120 million, of which its rural population accounted for only 8%. Of the 1.7 million agricultural practitioners in the country, 75% were over 60 years old, and 50% were over 70.

 

 

 

 

In addition, the country's relatively small land area also means limited arable land, making it more suitable for small-scale machine cultivation methods. Overcoming the restrictions of terrain and with higher efficiency than manual labor, drones are evidently equipped to address the issue of labor shortages.

 

 

 

 

In 2016, DJI Agriculture established its presence in Japan and has since grown into a sought-after brand in the market. It has set itself apart as a provider of smart, advanced agricultural technology services to Japanese farmers to help them solve problems arising from an aging population. To date, DJI agriculture makes up over 70% of the Japanese market for multi-rotor crop protection drones.

 

 

Local rural news report on the DJI AGRAS T30 and T10

 

 

In the future, DJI Agriculture will continue to work with more countries around the world in deploying intelligent agricultural technology to promote higher quality and efficiency of agricultural production and help ensure food security for the global population.

 

Dealer: FREEPERSON Co., Ltd.

Official Website: https://www.freeperson.info